The CA Dept. of  Food and Agriculture is hiring an Environmental Scientist to work on Pest Plant Rating Forms. Deadline March 2. In order to apply, you will need to pass the online Environmental Scientist exam, fill out the online application form, and mail your application to CDFA. The job is in Sacramento.

http://jobs.spb.ca.gov/wvpos/more_info.cfm?recno=598220

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services (PHPPS) mission is legislatively mandated in the California Food and Agriculture Code, Section 403. These mandates serves as the basis for the pest prevent program’s mission, vision, values, and goals: to protect California from the damage caused by the introduction or spread of harmful plant pest, provide leadership of pest prevention and management programs that effectively protect California’s agriculture, horticulture, natural resources, and urban environments from invasive plant pest, and prevent the entry, spread, and establishment of invasive plant pest that could be detrimental to the State’s agriculture, public natural resources.

DUTIES:

Under the supervision of a Senior Environmental Scientist, the Environmental Scientist performs a broad range of scientific duties involving pest rating and mitigation activities, environmental analysis of program field activities, data analysis and outreach activities. The program evaluates draft proposed California Pest Rating Forms and as required by regulation, works with the state primaries in the Division and evaluates the appropriate temporary pest rating. The incumbent is responsible for the following activities:

• Conduct scientific research and evaluates draft proposed California Pest Rating Forms submitted by the public or other outside interested entities for initial completeness and making recommendations to the submitter.
• Evaluate comments submitted that pertain to specific proposed pest ratings and ensures they are formatted for public posting for viewing, including the posting of any proposed pest ratings received from outside stakeholders.
• Prepare pest rating documentation and evaluates all temporary “Q” pest ratings yearly, as required by the regulation, with the appropriate state primary.
• Gather and prepare pest rating documentation to evaluate all permanent pest ratings every two years, as required by regulation, with the appropriate primary.
• Make recommendations to the supervisor regarding comments reviewed on specific pest ratings evaluations.
• Coordinate with branch staff on pest rating and mitigation actions, including organizing meetings with staff and external stakeholders regarding proposed pest ratings to perform scientific research.
• Conduct preliminary research on current program activities as requested, verbally or by email, by the Division program lead staff pertaining to activities that are described in the Programmatic Environmental Impact Report.
• Collect and analyze biological data and information for preliminary environmental review of the impacts of quarantines and related activities.

Elizabeth D. Brusati, PhD

Senior Scientist

California Invasive Plant Council

1442-A Walnut St. #462, Berkeley, CA 94709

edbrusati@cal-ipc.org | www.cal-ipc.org

510-843-3902 (main office) | 510-843-1255 ext. 305 (direct)