Job Type: Hybrid, full-time
Location: Sacramento, CA
Salary: $7,556-$10,221/month
Application Due Date: September 15, 2025
Description:
The Fire and Resource Assessment Program in the State of California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection seeks a Senior Environmental Scientist (a Climate Change and Forest Inventory Specialist). Under the direction of the Forest Health Research & Monitoring Lead (Senior Environmental Scientist, Supervisory), the Climate Change and Forest Inventory Specialist (Senior Environmental Scientist, Specialist) functions as a lead scientist overseeing assessment and reporting functions to support Assembly Bill (AB) 1504’s Annual Forest and Harvested Wood Product (HWP) Carbon Inventory, serving as subject matter expert for forest and HWP carbon inventory methods, and supporting research related to climate impacts on forest condition and nature-based climate solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Duties:
45%
Utilize U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data, Timber Product Output (TPO) data, and other data sources to conduct detailed analysis and annual reporting of forest and HWP carbon stocks, net change in forest and HWP carbon pools, and the drivers of change.
Use Geographical Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing products, field data, other available and relevant statistics, and other data science tools that support spatial tracking of temporal changes in forest and HWP carbon stocks.
Ensure reporting framework meets Board of Forestry monitoring and reporting needs and is consistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reporting guidelines for the forest sector.
Manage large datasets and develop and maintain data visualization and reporting dashboards.
Make presentations to Board members and brief executive staff on forest/HWP carbon and related matters.
25%
Serve as a lead scientist for the department on forest inventory and carbon accounting methods.
Coordinate with state, federal, and academic partners to develop, improve, and update methods and underlying datasets for forest and HWP carbon accounting.
Conduct work related to forest measurements, biometrics, monitoring climate change impacts, and carbon accounting to include modeling disturbance impacts to carbon pools.
Provide technical support and guidance for projects and programs that have forest and HWP carbon monitoring requirements.
Take a lead role in managing research and monitoring projects related to forest and HWP carbon inventories, climate impacts on forest condition, and the forest sector’s role in nature-based climate solutions.
Serve as a subject matter expert on various vegetation/growth yield models, such as the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), Landscape Disturbance and Succession Model (LANDIS), and the Canadian Carbon Budget Model (CBM).
20%
Provide support for the development and updates to the Forest and Range Assessment report.
Take a lead role as a primary author for sections on forest inventory, wood products, forest/HWP carbon, nature-based solutions and related topics.
Serve as a primary author for departmental and inter-agency reports involving forest/HWP carbon inventories.
Assist with reviewing Forest Health Research Grant program proposals, managing research grants related to forest/HWP carbon dynamics and climate impacts, and collaborating with research partners.
Support the department’s intensification of FIA data collection, and collection of TPO and other datasets critical to forest/HWP carbon accounting.
5%
Participate in the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force and other interagency committees that utilize forest inventory information to address climate change issues.
Prepare presentations for committees and for professional meetings.
5%
Other job-related duties as assigned, in accordance with the class specifications; this may include non-fireline assignments on wildfire incidents or post fire damage assessments; this will include current non-safety fireline training typical for prescribed fire monitoring and analysis duties.
Provide support for special projects and program administration as needed.
Qualifications:
This position is eligible for a hybrid telework option, in accordance with CAL FIRE’s telework policy, and will be required to report to the office as needed/required. The successful candidate must reside in California upon appointment
The incumbent must be absent of any medical condition which would preclude the safe and efficient performance of an Environmental Scientist. Persons unsuccessful in the required medical exam cannot be appointed. Ability to travel to remote parts of state, conduct field sampling involving moderate to difficult physical activities including hiking on rough terrain, carrying equipment, and sampling vegetation and other site attributes. The position may require travel up to 5% of the time. This travel may be local or statewide, and may involve overnight stays.
Possession of a bachelor's or advanced degree with a major in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline. (Admission to a masters or doctoral degree program in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline shall be considered to meet these education qualifications.)
Desirable Qualifications:
Experience with computer coding languages such as R, Python or programs such as Microsoft Power Business Intelligence or Environmental Systems Research Institute Experience Builder to manage large datasets and create reporting dashboards
