City of San Diego
Overview
Environmental Scientist III positions supervise the work of professional and technical staff performing chemical, physical, bacteriological, microbiological, biological, and/or molecular analyses and reporting for regulatory compliance and special studies; oversee staff analyses for source water, drinking water domestics, and industrial wastewater, biosolids, recycled water, purified water, stormwater, ocean water, ocean sediments, and other marine and freshwater environments; assess compliance with regulations and permit requirements; review plant and animal species identifications, and perform other duties as assigned.
Specialties
Marine biology & ocean operations
General and analytical chemistry
Reservoir, freshwater biology and limnology
Microbiology and toxicology
Regulatory permits and compliance
Quality systems and quality control
Notes
Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
Environmental Scientist III employees may be required to lift heavy equipment weighing up to 50 pounds (e.g., lifting manhole lids, ice chests in and out of boats).
Environmental Scientist III employees may be required to work with sewage, sludge, industrial and hazardous wastes, and chemicals.
Environmental Scientist III employees may be required to work overtime or be on stand-by on weekends, holidays.
Some Environmental Scientist III employees may be required to work in the field including rough terrain, shorelines, and on boats in lakes and in the ocean.
Education A Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Oceanography, Zoology, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related biological, chemical, or physical science.
NOTE: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education lack on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.
Experience Two years of full-time professional-level experience in a scientific field to include at least one of the following: laboratory work, regulatory compliance assessments, quality control, or field work.
Qualifying laboratory experience must be obtained in a laboratory accredited by the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP).
Qualifying experience must include either laboratory or field experience in biology, chemistry, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, or toxicology performing analyses and interpretations, or experience working in a regulatory and/or permitting environment.
A Master’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Oceanography, Zoology, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related science may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.
City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours.
License A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.
Required documents
Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
Pre-employment requirements Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the FBI and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 1 – September 26, 2025 (New Recruitment Date)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Specialties
Marine biology & ocean operations
General and analytical chemistry
Reservoir, freshwater biology and limnology
Microbiology and toxicology
Regulatory permits and compliance
Quality systems and quality control
Notes
Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
Environmental Scientist III employees may be required to lift heavy equipment weighing up to 50 pounds (e.g., lifting manhole lids, ice chests in and out of boats).
Environmental Scientist III employees may be required to work with sewage, sludge, industrial and hazardous wastes, and chemicals.
Environmental Scientist III employees may be required to work overtime or be on stand-by on weekends, holidays.
Some Environmental Scientist III employees may be required to work in the field including rough terrain, shorelines, and on boats in lakes and in the ocean.
Education A Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Oceanography, Zoology, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related biological, chemical, or physical science.
NOTE: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education lack on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.
Experience Two years of full-time professional-level experience in a scientific field to include at least one of the following: laboratory work, regulatory compliance assessments, quality control, or field work.
Qualifying laboratory experience must be obtained in a laboratory accredited by the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP).
Qualifying experience must include either laboratory or field experience in biology, chemistry, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, or toxicology performing analyses and interpretations, or experience working in a regulatory and/or permitting environment.
A Master’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Oceanography, Zoology, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related science may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.
City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours.
License A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.
Required documents
Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
Pre-employment requirements Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the FBI and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 1 – September 26, 2025 (New Recruitment Date)
#J-18808-Ljbffr