JOB INFORMATION

See NOTE(S) below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Senior Environmental Scientist positions plan, coordinate, and direct the work activities of a State-certified laboratory, or for a scientific, or regulatory program through subordinate supervisors; review and approve data and regulatory reports; serve as subject matter experts in their field and disseminate information to other Department groups as necessary; design, and coordinate special studies; coordinate lab permits, and certifications; develop service level agreements and invoices for services; assess lab costs, and workload efficiencies; develop, and conduct efficiency programs; and perform other duties as assigned.

Senior Environmental Scientist positions at the City of San Diego include areas of specialty in:

Marine biology & ocean operations
General and analytical chemistry
Reservoir, freshwater biology and limnology
Microbiology and toxicology
Regulatory permits and compliance
Quality systems and quality control

NOTES:

Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
- 2% effective 1/1/25
- 5% effective 7/1/25
Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
Senior Environmental Scientist employees may be required to lift heavy equipment weighing up to 50 pounds (e.g., lifting manhole lids, ice chests in and out of boats).
Senior Environmental Scientist employees may be required to work with sewage, sludge, industrial and hazardous wastes, and chemicals.
Senior Environmental Scientist employees may be required to work overtime or be on stand-by on weekends or holidays.
Senior Environmental Scientist employees may be required to work in the field including rough terrain, shorelines, and on boats in lakes and in the ocean.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EDUCATION: A Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Oceanography, Zoology, or a closely related biological, chemical, or physical science.

NOTE:

Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education lacked on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.

EXPERIENCE: Three years of full-time professional level experience performing laboratory work, field work, regulatory compliance assessments OR quality systems/control in biology, chemistry, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, toxicology, bacteriology, virology, or a closely related scientific field which MUST include one year of supervising the work of professional staff.

NOTES:

Qualifying supervising experience must include supervising the work of professional staff engaged in biological, chemical, bacteriological, microbiological, molecular, or toxicological laboratory analyses, field work, regulatory compliance assessments or quality systems/control.
A Master’s Degree or higher in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Oceanography, Zoology, or a closely related biological, chemical, or physical science may be substituted for a MAXIMUM of one year of the required experience, indicated below.
The Master’s Degree or higher may NOT waive the one year of the required supervisory experience.
City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

Proof of degree/transcripts if, utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

SCREENING PROCESS

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

City of San Diego jobs

Senior Environmental Scientist