Sonoma Water Senior Environmental Specialist - Promotional

Position Information

THIS RECRUITMENT IS PROMOTIONAL ONLY. YOU MUST PRESENTLY BE A FULL- OR PART-TIME REGULAR OR PROBATIONARY COUNTY OF SONOMA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, SONOMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, OR SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY EMPLOYEE IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.

The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) has requested a department promotional certification to fill a Senior Environmental Specialist position. Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Department employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised position.

Sonoma Water is seeking a Senior Environmental Specialist to lead the collection, analysis, and reporting of ecological data from the Russian River watershed. Typical duties include managing water resources in compliance with state and federal regulations, and:

• Gathering information related to the abundance and distribution of fish and wildlife
• Assessing the quantity and quality of riparian, lake, river, stream, and estuarine habitats
• Determining the effectiveness of mitigation and habitat enhancement projects in the Russian River Watershed
• Leading and directing the work of junior staff
• Interacting directly with regulatory agencies, elected officials, and members of the public
• Overseeing data management, analysis, and reporting in written communications and oral presentations
• Employing specialized sampling methods and devices and operate boats, vehicles, and equipment in a manner determined to be safe by department policy and rules of regulatory agencies

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• Working knowledge of the methods of natural resources studies, especially in the areas of fish, wildlife, riparian, and ecological sampling techniques
• The ability to create effective working relationships between peers, supervisors, partner agencies, and members of the public
• The ability to work with minimal direction on interdisciplinary teams
• The ability to train and lead field workers, operate a computer and use software applications for data compilation and analysis (e.g. Excel and Access), and to manage relational databases in order to synthesize monitoring data
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Experience with specialized software applications, as necessary (e.g., GIS, statistical software, modeling software, relational database software)

Please note: Employees of Sonoma Water are employees of a special district and are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include a Bachelor's degree in planning, engineering, water related, physical, and/or biological sciences, environmental studies, environmental law, natural resource or watershed management, or a closely related field; and three years of experience with engineering, environmental impact assessments and permitting, including at least one year at the level of Water Agency Environmental Specialist II, or equivalent.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: Federal, State and local laws, regulations, current programs, and court decisions pertaining to environmental protection; environmental considerations in the design, location, and construction of public (such as flood control, water supply, stream maintenance, sanitation, renewable energy, recycled water, restoration and environmental enhancement) projects; citizen and public interest groups dealing with environmental matters; physical, biological, and ecological principals; construction principles, practices, and terminology; the use of noise meters, cameras, and various audio-visual aids; contract management; English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and composition; and office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to: analyze and design project reports and determine probable effect on environment; write effectively and to use good judgment in the assembling, evaluation, and use of information; prepare and present various reports on the effect of projects on the environment to advisory boards, commissions, and elected bodies; assist in planning, scheduling, and training of other employees; make mathematical calculations; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; establish and maintain effective relationships with other staff members, staff of other agencies, organizations, and the general public; prepare and disseminate information to media and others; prepare a wide range of clear, concise and informative reports, correspondence and brochures; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

Specialized assignments require the following:

Fish and Wildlife
Working knowledge of: fishery and wildlife management principles and methods; the classification, life histories, ecology, habitats, parasites, and diseases of fresh-water fish and California wildlife; research methodology; wildlife resource management, including watershed, range, forestry, fishery, wildlife and recreation techniques and equipment in making biological investigations of fish and wildlife; materials, equipment, and techniques used in fishery and wildlife habitat improvement; fishery considerations in the design, location, and construction of public works projects relating to streams, lakes, and ecological areas.

Botanical, Wetland Resource and Soil Morphology
Working knowledge of: vegetation and soil management principles and methods; the classification and morphology of soil, and botanical identification, classification, and life histories of plants; botanical soil research methodology; techniques and equipment in making botanical and soil investigations; materials, equipment, and techniques used in botanical habitat enhancements or soil structure improvements; botanical considerations in the design, location, and construction of public construction projects relating to wetlands, riparian areas and other ecological areas.

Arboricultural/Revegetation
Working knowledge of: the classification and identification of native plants and ornamental trees; the growth habits, parasites, diseases, habitat, and life histories of native plants and ornamental trees; sources of native plants; soil amendments and fertilizers; irrigation methods, needs, and materials; erosion control methods and materials; planting monitoring and maintenance methods; tree management principles and methods; research methodologies; forestry, woodland and range resource management; techniques used in arboriculture; considerations needed to design, locate, and construct revegetation projects in urban and natural settings and to be compatible with the desired function of flood control, water supply, and sanitation facilities; arboricultural considerations in the design, location, and construction of public projects.

Environmental Analysis
Working knowledge of: current standard methodologies for environmental impact analysis and report preparation; principles and methods of effective public outreach including preparation and filing of various environmental notices as required by law; environmental case law particularly in areas affecting water supply, flood protection/control, and recycled water analyses under the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Federal and State Endangered Species Acts; mitigation methods, documentation, and monitoring standards and best management practices for impacts of construction of Water Agency related projects and the operation of such projects; legal processes for challenges to public agency compliance with environmental laws; methods of working with multi-disciplinary teams on compiling large and complicated environmental documents; methods of organizing computer files and standardizing formats for a team of staff preparing documents; methods of organizing work and motivating teams of peers and superiors contributing to environmental document preparation.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) may be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation may be required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT

HR Technician: VH

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan : Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 7/21/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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