Environmental Scientist or Senior Scientist

The San Francisco Estuary Institute is hiring an Environmental Scientist or Senior Scientist for a full-time, permanent position based in Richmond, California. The role involves leading contaminant monitoring studies, data analysis, and stakeholder communication to support water quality initiatives. Candidates should have relevant education and experience in environmental science or engineering, with strong communication skills. The position requires fieldwork during winter rainstorms and is hybrid office-based.
Environmental Scientist or Senior Scientist Location: Richmond, California

Program: Clean Water

Type: Full-time

Min. Experience: Mid-Level Experience

Position Type: Permanent

Salary: $107k - $135k depending on experience

Position Description Posted: April 15, 2026

First review of applications: April 22, 2026

Application closing date: May 6, 2026

The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) seeks an Environmental Scientist/Engineer or Senior Scientist/Engineer to join an interdisciplinary team to support or lead projects investigating contaminant sources and loadings in watersheds and their impacts on water quality. The goal of this work is to support policy development that prevents or minimizes impairments to beneficial uses. This work will be carried out in support of the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) and other Clean Water Program efforts to address pivotal pollution issues with regional, state, and national implications.

This is a full-time, Bay Area-based, hybrid office position for a candidate wishing to advance their career in environmental research. Responsibilities for this position include

Leading design and implementation of contaminant monitoring studies within a collaborative team environment

Analyzing data and preparing written reports

Communicating findings to local stakeholders and the broader scientific community

Working with stakeholders to build consensus and articulate priority information needs and

Leading or strongly contributing to fundraising.

The position responsibilities will include conducting stormwater fieldwork during winter rainstorms.

Qualifications Required Skills and Experience Education and relevant work experience in environmental chemistry, environmental science, environmental engineering, or another related scientific field. Experience in environmental monitoring, environmental study design, conceptual and mechanistic models, environmental statistics, or fate and transport processes.

PhD and 2+ years work experience or MS and 9+ years work experience.

Experience leading scientific teams on complex environmental projects, including field work to collect environmental samples, synthesizing peer-reviewed literature, data analysis, and report writing for scientific and public audiences.

Excellent communication, presentation, and writing skills, and the ability to effectively communicate technical details to scientific and public audiences.

A team player who inspires staff and is enthusiastic about the Institute’s mission of providing science to inform decisions.

Ability to do fieldwork that may involve driving; a valid Driver’s License is required.

Desired Additional Skills and Experience Technical experience with pollutants in urban stormwater.

Experience managing multiple projects at once and juggling multiple deadlines.

Experience in stakeholder governance and meetings, meeting facilitation, and working with a diverse group of stakeholders.

Experience doing field work that may involve working unusual hours (e.g., late nights, early mornings, and weekends) and carrying 40-pound field equipment for short durations.

If you’re excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may still be the right candidate for this, or one of our other roles.

Salary & Benefits highlights This will be an Environmental Scientist or Senior Scientist position. The anticipated starting salary range for full-time employment is $107k-$135k for this position (Please note that this is a Bay Area position. Fully remote work isn’t possible). Salary ranges take into account many factors for making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, education, internal salary structure, and organizational needs. We expect to offer starting salaries at or near the lower end of the salary range.

Matching contributions to retirement plan (immediate vesting) (403B)

Medical Insurance: health, vision, dental with employer and employee contributions

12 paid holidays

Vacation days starting at 3 weeks accrual/year

Hybrid workplace

About the Clean Water Program The Clean Water Program is one of the nation’s premier water quality science programs. It anticipates and meets the water quality data needs of policy-makers, resource managers, and the public. It helps the public, regulators, and those who discharge into our waters create more effective policies to ensure the health of our waters. The Environmental Informatics Program utilizes the latest technology and design concepts to deliver scientific information to a wide range of stakeholders in dynamic, expressive, and cogent ways. The Data Services (DS) team takes to heart its massive responsibilities in ensuring that the best available science SFEI produces is truly the best it can be. Their role in data processing and custody, as well as data analysis and visualization, contributes to SFEI’s reputation as one of the nation’s best sources for scientific data

About SFEI San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has a 25-year track record of providing robust and innovative science to decision-makers, policy-makers, practitioners, and community members to measurably improve the health and resiliency of Bay-Delta ecosystems. As a boundary organization, SFEI operates at the interface between science and policy, recognized nationally for our ability to build consensus to support effective environmental decision-making and policy. Our mission is to deliver visionary science that empowers people to revitalize nature in our communities.

SFEI employs an interdisciplinary staff of more than 90. Our operations and IT staff are the backbone of our organization and keep everything running smoothly. SFEI has three major programs: Clean Water, Environmental Informatics, and Resilient Landscapes. Our program staff represent numerous scientific and technological fields, including chemistry, modeling, ecology, wildlife biology, landscape planning, historical ecology, geomorphology, geospatial analysis, and web development.

For more information on our mission, values, programs, and staff, visit the San Francisco Estuary Institute website.

Employment Considerations The San Francisco Estuary Institute is committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, family or parental status, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Accommodations Statement If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website or application portal as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact us at 510-746-7355 or admin@sfei.org.

Other Key Information Please note that SFEI cannot sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B) to fill this position.

In the spirit of a fair hiring process, no phone calls or emails please.