SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SPECIALIST)

Department of Resources Recycling & Recovery · Sacramento County

Salary: $8,055 – $11,269 per month

Closes: 2026-11-12T00:00:00.000Z

Job description and requirements

Job Description and Duties Do you have a passion to perform a variety of scientific, analytical, and technical assistance duties to implement enforcement requirements and assist with program analysis of compliance policies for Product Stewardship Compliance Branch? Do you enjoy working in a collaborative, dynamic environment? CalRecycle is seeking an enthusiastic Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) to join our talented team that is passionate to work in the Product Stewardship Compliance programs! Position Description:Under the general direction of the Environmental Program Manager II (Supervisory) (EPM II) in the Product Stewardship Compliance Branch, the Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) will act as a lead technical expert on the product stewardship compliance programs. The incumbent performs difficult, complex, sensitive scientific and technical duties related to CalRecycle’s product stewardship compliance, including environmental and materials management research, analyses, investigations, and enforcement. The incumbent utilizes principles of scientific research, physical and environmental sciences, and statistical analysis, along with expertise in integrated waste management, industry economics, public health, and resource management. Responsibilities include assessing and enforcing regulations, reviewing and analyzing technical documents, evaluating operations and monitoring records, and conducting inspections and compliance assessments. The incumbent is responsible for determining the significance of violations and their general effect on public health, safety, environmental justice, and the environment for the program. Key duties include providing training and mentoring of staff in the determination of compliance with state minimum standards, offering technical expertise on evaluation and enforcement matters; reviewing findings and reports for technical adequacy; and ensuring that enforcement information in the Department’s databases has been accurately input by staff. Additional duties include process development, monitoring, and evaluation to support various functions of the branch. The incumbent will independently identify problems, develop courses of action, and conduct investigations and studies that yield information and recommendations to improve the department’s oversight of product stewardship compliance programs. Additionally, the incumbent will play a key role in the development and implementation of new enforcement programs related to products with extended producer responsibility (EPR) and product stewardship requirements. This position involves traveling throughout California involving multiple, consecutive days away from the office and overnight stays. The incumbent must have a current California Driver’s License and participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Employer Pull Notice Program. This position is required to be in office a minimum of four days per week. This position may be eligible for one day a week telework under Government Code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California, subject to the candidate meeting telework eligibility criteria set forth in the CalEPA telework policy and/or future program need. Employees not residing in California are not eligible for telework. Regardless of telework eligibility, all employees may be required to report to the position’s designated headquarters location, as indicated on their duty statement, at their own expense. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements • The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions. • When submitting application in hard copy, applicants are required to submit a standard state application (Form Std.678) with an original signature, and clearly indicate HRC0005631 & Position # 835-813-0765-001 in the “Job Title(s)” section of the Standard State Application or you will not be considered for the position. • Please attach a copy of your transcripts (unofficial or official) to your application to ensure the educational requirements have been met for this position. Failure to do so will result in your application being rejected. Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: • Experience applying scientific methods to enforcement matters• Experience or knowledge regarding in the development and implementation of regulations• Experience conducting scientific research• Experience presenting to executives, legislature, state and local entities, or the general public• Experience with writing technical and scientific reports• Experience being the lead on cross functional research projects• Experience creating and reporting on technical data reports. • Experience or knowledge regarding the conducting of inspections Statement of Qualifications A completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted with your State Application to be considered. The SOQ must follow the specifics as stated in the “Special Requirements” section.Instructions:• No more than two pages in length• Normal 1 inch margins• Single line spaced• Times New Roman font, 12 point• Indicate your name on the top of the page Directions:Please describe your experience as it relates to the desirable qualifications. Please include the dates duties were performed along with your position title. Please note Resumes, letters, Supplemental Questionnaire, transcripts, degrees, your state application, cover letters and other materials will not take the place of the Statement of Qualifications. Simply copying and pasting your resume will also not be accepted. Responses must be numbered and submitted in the same order. Applications received without an SOQ may be rejected.
Show full description and requirements

Job Description and Duties

Do you have a passion to perform a variety of scientific, analytical, and technical assistance duties to implement enforcement requirements and assist with program analysis of compliance policies for Product Stewardship Compliance Branch? Do you enjoy working in a collaborative, dynamic environment? CalRecycle is seeking an enthusiastic Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) to join our talented team that is passionate to work in the Product Stewardship Compliance programs!
Position Description:Under the general direction of the Environmental Program Manager II (Supervisory) (EPM II) in the Product Stewardship Compliance Branch, the Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) will act as a lead technical expert on the product stewardship compliance programs. The incumbent performs difficult, complex, sensitive scientific and technical duties related to CalRecycle’s product stewardship compliance, including environmental and materials management research, analyses, investigations, and enforcement. The incumbent utilizes principles of scientific research, physical and environmental sciences, and statistical analysis, along with expertise in integrated waste management, industry economics, public health, and resource management. Responsibilities include assessing and enforcing regulations, reviewing and analyzing technical documents, evaluating operations and monitoring records, and conducting inspections and compliance assessments. The incumbent is responsible for determining the significance of violations and their general effect on public health, safety, environmental justice, and the environment for the program. Key duties include providing training and mentoring of staff in the determination of compliance with state minimum standards, offering technical expertise on evaluation and enforcement matters; reviewing findings and reports for technical adequacy; and ensuring that enforcement information in the Department’s databases has been accurately input by staff. Additional duties include process development, monitoring, and evaluation to support various functions of the branch. The incumbent will independently identify problems, develop courses of action, and conduct investigations and studies that yield information and recommendations to improve the department’s oversight of product stewardship compliance programs. Additionally, the incumbent will play a key role in the development and implementation of new enforcement programs related to products with extended producer responsibility (EPR) and product stewardship requirements.

This position involves traveling throughout California involving multiple, consecutive days away from the office and overnight stays. The incumbent must have a current California Driver’s License and participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Employer Pull Notice Program.

This position is required to be in office a minimum of four days per week. This position may be eligible for one day a week telework under Government Code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California, subject to the candidate meeting telework eligibility criteria set forth in the CalEPA telework policy and/or future program need. Employees not residing in California are not eligible for telework. Regardless of telework eligibility, all employees may be required to report to the position’s designated headquarters location, as indicated on their duty statement, at their own expense.

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

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.
  • When submitting application in hard copy, applicants are required to submit a standard state application (Form Std.678) with an original signature, and clearly indicate HRC0005631 & Position # 835-813-0765-001 in the “Job Title(s)” section of the Standard State Application or you will not be considered for the position.
  • Please attach a copy of your transcripts (unofficial or official) to your application to ensure the educational requirements have been met for this position. Failure to do so will result in your application being rejected.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: • Experience applying scientific methods to enforcement matters• Experience or knowledge regarding in the development and implementation of regulations• Experience conducting scientific research• Experience presenting to executives, legislature, state and local entities, or the general public• Experience with writing technical and scientific reports• Experience being the lead on cross functional research projects• Experience creating and reporting on technical data reports. • Experience or knowledge regarding the conducting of inspections

Statement of Qualifications

A completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted with your State Application to be considered. The SOQ must follow the specifics as stated in the “Special Requirements” section.Instructions:• No more than two pages in length• Normal 1 inch margins• Single line spaced• Times New Roman font, 12 point• Indicate your name on the top of the page

Directions:Please describe your experience as it relates to the desirable qualifications. Please include the dates duties were performed along with your position title.

Please note Resumes, letters, Supplemental Questionnaire, transcripts, degrees, your state application, cover letters and other materials will not take the place of the Statement of Qualifications. Simply copying and pasting your resume will also not be accepted. Responses must be numbered and submitted in the same order. Applications received without an SOQ may be rejected.

About this opportunity

Salary context

The annualized midpoint for this posting is $115,944. That is $1,290 above the $114,654 median among 9 current California public jobs with the same normalized title.

More jobs at this employer

Department of Resources Recycling & Recovery currently has 13 other open positions in this database.

Regional hiring context

There are 658 current state openings in Sacramento County, including this position.

Application timeline

Applications close in 8 days, on November 12, 2026.

Similar roles at other employers

These employers are currently listing the same normalized role:

Posting history

This posting appears on CalCareers. CA Public Jobs first observed it on November 3, 2026. It was last verified open on November 4, 2026.

View the official posting