BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM MANAGER

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is hiring an Environmental Scientist to help advance efforts to conserve coastal, marine, and estuarine biodiversity in California. This includes conserving 30 percent of California’s coastal waters by 2030, adaptively managing California’s marine protected area network, improving coordination of coastal, marine, and estuarine monitoring and data management, and strengthening conservation at California’s land-sea interface.

The Environmental Scientist will be responsible for collaborating with other OPC staff, state and federal regulatory agencies, California Native American tribes, academic scientists, non-profits, community representatives, and others to advance OPC’s strategic priorities related to coastal, marine, and estuarine biodiversity. The Environmental Scientist will also be responsible for grant and contract management including developing scopes of work and budgets, tracking deliverables, and coordinating with grantees. Overall, this role will be responsible for supporting implementation of OPC’s mission and California Natural Resources Agency’s (CNRA) policy initiatives, which include embedding equity and environmental justice into programs and actions to support statewide efforts to enhance, protect, and restore biodiversity.

Applicants should have a strong scientific background, working knowledge of coastal and ocean issues and stakeholders in California, and experience working on projects and/or research related to coastal, marine, and estuarine biodiversity in California or elsewhere. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to become proficient in new and emerging topics, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks are a must. Specific knowledge and experience related to coastal and/or marine protection or restoration, biological and environmental monitoring, the land-sea interface, and data management is preferred. Experience working with the state’s natural resource management agencies is beneficial, but not required. 

This position is categorized as Office-Centered. This position is Sacramento-based and required to be in office 4 days per week. In limited circumstances, the position incumbent can telework with a management approved telework agreement and schedule. Satisfactory job performance is required to maintain a teleworking agreement.

Personal Leave Program 2025: 

Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR

All job applicants must provide their employment history on the State Application STD 678. 

• "To" and "From" dates (month/day/year)
• Hours worked per week
• Private sector job titles
• Supervisor name and phone number
• Job duties performed
• State experience should list the department and indicate the specific civil service classification titles held (not working titles).

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If it is determined a candidate does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position.

Transcripts

If you are meeting minimum qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcript for verification. Foreign transcripts must include official verification of U.S equivalency prior to appointment by an organization found here. 

Personal Identifying Information
Please do not include your Social Security Number, date of birth, veteran status, personal photos, LEAP information, or any personally identifying information.

The Minimum qualifications can be found in Environmental Scientist classification specifications.

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.

Who May Apply

How To Apply

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 required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is REQUIRED and must be submitted with your application to be considered for this position. Failure to include the Statement of Qualifications as required shall result in disqualification from the hiring process. Please see the section labeled "Statement of Qualifications" for further information.

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.