This posting states its location as San Luis Obispo County rather than a street address. The work is assigned within that county.

Classification: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

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 supervision 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.

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program:.

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

Working Conditions

Position located at 2885 S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County 

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’s evolving telework policy. Caltrans supports telework, recognizing that in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksites with minimum notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate will be required to commute to the headquartered location as needed to meet operational needs. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquartered location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations or applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Qualifications

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid driver's license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle
• 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
• Resumes and cover letters will not take the place of the SOQ. The SOQ must be typed, no more than two pages in length, and 12-point Arial font
• 1
• Describe your experience in biological resource related fields, including experience in regulatory permitting
• 2
• Describe your experience writing and preparing biological technical documents, preferably documents for regulatory permitting
• 3
• Describe your experience coordinating with State and Federal biological regulatory agencies
• 4
• Describe your knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations relating to biological resources
• 5
• Describe any experience you have with GPS or GIS mapping
• 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: or
• Please redact birthdates and social security numbers

Work for Warriors is a no-cost employment program of the California Military Department for Service Members, Veterans, and military family members. The Veteran Staffing Consultant for CalTrans is Chuck Callahan.