ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

Caltrans is hiring an Environmental Scientist in Oakland, CA, to address environmental issues related to transportation projects. Responsibilities include field analyses, preparing environmental documents, ensuring compliance with laws, and implementing mitigation strategies. The role requires strong communication skills and collaboration with various stakeholders. It is a permanent, full-time position with a hybrid telework option, involving site visits to remote areas.
Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-513477

Position #(s):

904-136-0762-011

Working Title:

Environmental Scientist

Classification:

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

$4,418.00 - $6,035.00 A

$5,370.00 - $7,350.00 B

$6,796.00 - $9,321.00 C

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

Multiple

Work Location:

Alameda County

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Caltrans Mission: Improving lives and communities through transportation.

Caltrans Vision: A thriving and connected California.

The Caltrans workforce is made up of diverse and unique individuals who contribute to our organizational success.

Department Website: www.dot.ca.gov

Director’s EEO Policy : https://dot.ca.gov/programs/equal-employment-opportunity

Director’s EEO Policy Statement: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/equal-employment-opportunity

Job Description And Duties

Caltrans Environmental Scientists perform a broad range of work concerning environmental issues related to protecting California's resources as related to transportation projects. Incumbents do field analyses; prepare environmental documents and technical studies, environmental permitting packages and regulatory permits; ensure compliance with various environmental laws and regulations; and conduct environmental protection, planning, and mitigation activities. Incumbents apply scientific methods and principles to analyze and evaluate available data on the effects of transportation projects on all aspects of the environment; prepare and review CEQA/NEPA and other technical documents to determine the effects; and implement mitigation strategies to lessen the impact of those projects.

Under the general direction of the Environmental Branch Chief, the incumbent is an interdisciplinary team member who must establish and maintain a professional working relationship with internal project delivery partners, various regulatory agencies, local partners and interested parties involved with Caltrans' projects. The incumbent must be solution oriented and will need to investigate innovative solutions to meet deliverables. This work requires strong oral and written skills with the specific ability to prepare technical reports as well as written and verbal correspondence. This position may require site visits, sometimes to remote areas, which may require driving a personal or state vehicle on public roadways or on uneven terrain.

PARF# 04-26-0392 / JC-513477

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Environmental Scientist exam . For those who do not have current eligibility (e.g., transfer, permissive reinstatement, or voluntary demotions) and/or who will be new to state civil services employment, you must be on the state examination list to be eligible for these positions. To apply for the exam, please click here and search by typing in the classification title.

Please take this 1-minute Caltrans Recruitment survey to tell us how you found out about this job.

https://forms.office.com/g/RyK102ty4G

https://youtu.be/oC9wIp8QalI

Apply today to join our team! We especially encourage applicants to check out our Caltrans Career Compass tool! The Caltrans Career Compass is a tool to assist and help candidates understand and succeed in applying to Caltrans positions.

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

Special Requirements
• Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.
• Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required.Failure to submit a Statement of Qualifications will disqualify candidates from the hiring process.

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) serves as documentation of each applicant’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Please follow the instructions below; failure to include and complete the SOQ as instructed may result in the SOQ not being considered and in disqualification from the interview. Each question must be numbered and addressed in the same order as the questions below. The SOQ must be typed, no more than two pages in length, and 12-point Arial font.
• Describe your experience working with environmental regulations.
• Describe your experience working with environmental regulatory or resource agencies.
• Describe how your prior work experience has prepared you for work in environmental project coordination or management.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification. Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment. Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent. Please visit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: https://www.naces.org/members or https://aice-eval.org . Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 4/14/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Transportation

N/A

Attn: Caltrans DHR Contact

Certification Services MS-90

P O Box 168036

Sacramento , CA 95816-8036

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Transportation

Drop-Off Address

Caltrans DHR Contact

Classification and Hiring Unit - ECOS

1727 30th Street, MS 90

Sacramento , CA 95816

Closed on weekends and State holidays.

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications -
• Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see the Special Requirements section for SOQ instructions.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.