To be considered for this position, you must apply at CalCareers.ca.gov. To apply, you must first create a CalCareers account. Once your account is created, you can search for job code 525049 to locate the job posting and apply. 

Link: CalCareers

Note: This position will no longer be available on CalCareers once the job closes on 8/12/2026. No applications will be accepted after the job closing date.

Job Description and Duties

Please note, the Water Boards do not participate in E-Verify.

Please note: this position is paid on an hourly basis and limited to 1500 hours in a rolling year.  The salary range for Scientific Aid is $18.26 - $21.67 per hour. New hires start at the bottom of the salary range.

This is an exciting entry-level position to protect and preserve California’s waters in the San Francisco Bay Area. Apply to join our team!

The San Francisco Bay, Regional Water Quality Control Board, has an opening for a Scientific Aid in its Planning Division. The position is located at 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400, Oakland, CA 94612 near the 12th Street Oakland City Center BART Station.

Duties: 

Working under established policies and guidelines, the Scientific Aid performs scientific and technical support work related to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Wastewater, Planning, and Watershed Management Divisions’ water quality programs which may include the Total Maximum Daily Load Program, Dredging Program, Non-point Source Program, NPDES stormwater and wastewater programs, Waste Discharge to Land Program, Recycled Water Program, and 401 Certification Program. Using scientific skills, the incumbent is expected to support staff to evaluate, review, check, and interpret permit applications, technical reports, specifications, and monitoring data; conduct compliance inspections and audits; prepare reports and complete outdoor fieldwork to support monitoring, site visits, inspections, and investigations. The incumbent will assist staff to manage case information using the appropriate internal web-based databases such as the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS), Stormwater Multiple Application Reporting & Tracking System (SMARTS), GeoTracker, and Paperless Office (ECM).

Additional information:

Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.

If the position requires driving, you must possess a current and valid driver’s license. Please Do Not include full Social Security Number, method of eligibility, and LEAP information in your application package.

Please let us know how you heard about this position by taking this brief survey: Recruitment Survey.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position and might be expected to comply with Executive Order (EO) 22-25 after July 1, 2026.

In accordance with the Statewide Telework Policy and GC 14200, the successful candidate must reside in California upon appointment.  Proof of residency may be required.

Salary Information - CalHR salary rules allow appointment at the entrance rate (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 599.673) of a classification. For classes with alternate ranges, placement is based on education/experience. Employees appointed to the Attorney or Water Resource Control Engineer classification will receive Recruitment Higher Above Minimum (HAM) rate in accordance with the approved Civil Service Pay Scales.

In addition, note: Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee’s monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period in accordance with the applicable bargaining contract. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.

Job type: Full-Time

$18.26 - $21.67 per Hour

The Water Resources Control Board is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL) Qualified Employer.