Environmental Scientist

and Duties

Are you interested in a meaningful and impactful career? Would you like to contribute to protecting people and the environment and accelerating a statewide transition to sustainable pest management? The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) could be the place for you!

Are you looking to join a dynamic team and work on a variety of projects to help protect human health and the environment? The California Department of Pesticide Regulations (DPR) Worker Health and Safety (WHS) Branch is seeking a highly motivated individual with an excellent technical and analytical background in environmental and human health sciences for an Environmental Scientist position in the Human Health Mitigation Program (HHMP). Mitigation of human health risks involves protecting workers and the public by developing measures to reduce unacceptable exposures and hazards associated with pesticide use. The HHMP takes a multi-disciplinary approach to develop risk mitigation strategies by collecting and evaluating data from various sources including local, state, and federal entities. These strategies involve comprehensive evaluations of pesticide use practices and label requirements, assessments of risk, and, if necessary, development and implementation of risk mitigation measures.
Under the supervision of a Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) the Environmental Scientist performs a full range of tasks focusing on the evaluation of pesticide use and the development of mitigation measures for pesticides identified in the risk assessment process as having unacceptable risks to humans associated with exposure (inhalation from ambient air, dermal, dietary from food and drinking water).
Duties include but are not limited to:
Gathering and analyzing environmental and human health data to determine potential worker health impacts due to pesticide exposure, developing mitigation measures intended to reduce unacceptable human health exposure to pesticides, and assessing the effectiveness of mitigation actions.
Researching the interaction of pesticide chemical and physical properties, use patterns, application methods and equipment, cultural practices, soil sealing methods, cropping patterns, and environmental conditions that affect movement of pesticides in order to develop mitigation measures.
Participating in field studies and scientific investigations to provide missing data on human health exposure issues associated with pesticides; and providing recommendations for increased protection of workers and persons near pesticide applications.
Preparing clear, complete, and technically accurate documents and reaching sound conclusions to help mitigate pesticide exposure.
Participating in outreach and training programs needed before and after implementation of mitigation measures, preparing training materials, making presentations, and responding to questions submitted to DPR following training sessions.
Developing and presenting outreach materials focused on reducing agricultural workers exposure to pesticides.
Evaluating DPRs Pesticide Worker Safety Program to assure compliance with federal, state, and local worker protection regulations.
Evaluating Train-the-Trainer (T2) Program submissions, providing feedback, and periodically auditing T2 training courses.

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

Working Conditions

• May be required to work irregular hours and/or travel overnight on occasion.
• Occasional travel to conduct field work throughout California.
• Prolonged periods of standing, bending, sitting, and/or kneeling.
• Working in a high-rise building.
• Working outside in varying temperatures and weather conditions.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Occasional work where exposure to pesticides or pesticide-treated areas may be possible and would require appropriate personal protective equipment to be worn.

NOTE: This position may be eligible for hybrid telework under Government Code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California, subject to the candidate meeting telework eligibility criteria set forth in the CalEPA telework policy and/or future program need. Employees not residing in California are not eligible for telework. Regardless of telework eligibility, all employees may be required to report to the positions designated headquarters location, as indicated on their duty statement, at their own expense.