Department of Food & Agriculture
Location
Sacramento County, CA | United States
Job description
Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.
The Pest Exclusion Branch - Nursery, Seed, and Cottom Program (NS&C) is recruiting to fill one (1) Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) position located in Sacramento.
Under the direction of the Environmental Program Manager I, the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) (SES) oversees the statewide administration and coordination of activities and enforcement of regulations by state and county staff within the NS&C Program. The SES supervises and directs the work of both field and office staff that perform duties related to the licensing, registration, and certification of nursery stock and seed.
Duties include but are not limited to:
• Provides statewide oversight on the application of nursery and seed regulatory measures, environmental standards, and environmental related regulations by state, county, and local agencies and invested stakeholders to ensure that the State’s agricultural lands and natural resources remain free of invasive species, diseases and contaminations. Activities may include the development of statewide work plans and guidelines, authorizing contracts and grants, and overseeing distribution of funds for regulatory work performed.
• Oversees budget reporting for components of the Nursery, Seed, and Cotton Program, including expenditure and revenue projections, monthly expenditures, and other annual and monthly reports.
• Directs enforcement by state and county personnel of nursery and seed regulatory measures for invasive pests that could negatively impact the State’s natural and agricultural resources.
• Oversees environmental analysis, studies and surveys by program staff concerning present and future environmental health and natural resource management issues to address concerns regarding regulatory pest prevention measures related to nursery stock and seed.
• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of program staff in protecting the State’s natural resources and agricultural industry from the spread of invasive plant pests and diseases. Evaluates work completed to ensure that program and regulatory standards are met.
• Takes personnel actions for program staff, including hiring, promotions, discipline, performance appraisals, and development of Individual Development Plans. Provides training and access to learning resources as needed for staff development.
• Serves as Secretary or Board Manager to one or more industry advisory boards.
• Oversees planning and preparation for public Board meetings. This includes the preparation of agendas and minutes, scheduling of meeting times and locations, and preparation of materials.
• Meets with individuals such as growers, ranchers, nurseries and commercial agricultural entities as well as stakeholders to provide regulatory guidance in order to obtain statewide compliance with current laws and regulations.
• Attends and participates in meetings of California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA), California Nursery Advisory Group (CNAG), National Clean Plant Network (NCPN), Association of American Seed Control Officials (AASCO) and meetings and conferences with other agencies, universities, research institutes, and industry groups.
Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
You will find additional information about the job in the .
The duties of this job are performed indoors approximately 90 percent of the time in an office. The employee’s workstation is located inside an office building equipped with standard office equipment. The remainder of the time is spent traveling to meetings or district offices, outdoor locations, warehouses or facilities of nursery stock or seed production or sale. The employee may be exposed to extremes in temperature, dusts, fumes, gases and odors.
Overnight and/or extended travel to various locations throughout the state may be required to provide program oversight and monitoring. State vehicles are used to travel to these worksites. Rental vehicles and/or air travel may also be used. Incumbent may be required on short notice to work on emergency projects for the Branch or any other program for the Plant Division.
Regular or recurring telework may occur as part of the incumbent’s ongoing regular schedule in accordance with CDFA’s Telework Policy.
This is the first supervisory level of the series. Incumbents supervise and direct the work of professional or technical staff and other related work. Incumbents performing in this capacity have the authority and responsibility in the interest of management to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline employees. Incumbents have the responsibility to direct employees, adjust employee grievances, or effectively recommend such actions.
Incumbents may be required to travel to various locations (federal, state, county offices and project sites; business; and field stations) to conduct all aspects of essential and non-essential functions. Travel overnight and on weekends may be required.
As a leader in State government, the incumbent is responsible to develop and inspire their workforce and deliver great results for Californians and CDFA. The incumbent must set a clear vision to achieve productive results by developing plans to meet goals, leverage staff skills, and solve problems; build collaborative relationships and foster an inclusive environment for consensus-building and decision-making; coach, guide, train, instruct, and develop team members; empower staff through a sense of shared ownership and decision-making; create an open and transparent environment for the exchange of information; foster a team environment through the support and recognition of team members; promote customer service and accountability; motivate loyalty to the Department’s mission and commitment to drive continuous improvement for better results. The incumbent must inspire personal credibility through authenticity, confidence, consistency, courage, decisiveness, generosity, honesty, integrity, and judgment.
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:
- Knowledge of Field Plant Pathology;
- Familiarity Production Nurseries;
- Ability to interpret and apply rules, regulations, and policies.
Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.
If you are dropping off or mailing in your application, please use the Examination/Employment Application, STD 678 Revised 10/2023 version.
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:
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