Are you looking to make a difference and join a highly motivated team working on issues critical to ensuring the safety and sustainability of California? The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety's Environmental Science Division is seeking a Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist based in Sacramento, Oakland, or Los Angeles to analyze performance with vegetation management commitments in electrical utility Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMP) which duties include:

• Lead inspections of vegetation near electrical infrastructure, write and review inspection reports, lead development of inspection plans to assess electrical corporation’s performance with approved Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs) and other regulatory requirements of the Department associated with forestry, wildfire science, and the environment.
• Lead investigations into concerns raised by external parties and other potential WMP non-performances.
• Conduct critical and/or sensitive scientific investigations and studies and prepare guidance, policy, planning, or regulatory documents and legislative proposals on issues of importance to the department.
• Identify issues found in the field and elevate to the Supervisor with proposed recommendations.
• Provide guidance to and assist the branch Environmental Scientists with document reviews and deliverables prior to submittal to management.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with internal and external agency partners.
• Be the subject matter expert on vegetation management programs to assess electrical utility performance with approved WMPs and other regulatory requirements of the Department associated with forestry, wildfire science, climate change and the environment
• Travel will be performed up to 35% of the time. Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

   

Desirable qualifications:

• Knowledge of wildfire, vegetation management and/or forestry science and approaches to reducing wildfire risk.
• Experience performing inspections, documenting and communicating findings.
• Experience as a lead technical scientist working with members of the public, external stakeholders, and agency representatives
• Ability to effectively communicate and present complex scientific findings to non-scientific audiences through written reports and presentations.
• Ability to coordinate with individuals from different professional backgrounds.
• Experience with regulatory processes and compliance and enforcement of regulations.
• Experience working under tight timelines.

Required Qualifications:

• Pattern I: Two years of experience in the California state civil service performing the duties of an Environmental Scientist, Range C. OR
• Pattern II: Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience as a scientist in environmental analysis, research, management, planning, regulation, or investigation, two years of which have included responsibility in the development or implementation of environmental policies, programs, plans, or research projects; or conducting an environmental monitoring and surveillance, enforcement, or environmental management program; or in the direction of the work of a multidisciplinary environmental investigatory or regulatory staff, at a level equivalent to that of an Environmental Scientist, Range C, in the California state civil service.
• Possession of a master's degree in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline may be substituted for one year of the required general experience; possession of a doctorate in the above-named disciplines may be substituted for two years of the general experience.

AND

• Education: Possession of a bachelor's or advanced degree with a major in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline.
• (Admission to a masters or doctoral degree program in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline shall be considered to meet these education qualifications.)

To learn more about the daily responsibilities associated with this role, please view the duty statement located on the job posting.

The assigned location will be based on the selected candidate and will report to the closest OEIS office. To view our office locations, please click here.