This is a continuous filing exam. Next filing cut-offs are at 5:00 pm on:
8/6/2026, *8/20/2026 (final)
Environmental Specialist IV is the supervisory/advanced practitioner level in the series. Under direction, incumbents have first-line supervisory duties for a team of scientific, professional and technical staff. Duties include arranging, directing, prioritizing, reviewing, and evaluating the unit’s processes and final products as well as administering line personnel functions.
Some positions have advanced practitioner responsibilities requiring a professional certification or registration designated by law (and described in Special Requirement) and/or have indirect supervisory responsibilities over the final outputs and products rather than direct supervision of staff or processes. These positions require the consistent application of scientific expertise above the advanced journey level.
Knowledge of
-
Principles of environmental compliance assurance
-
Principles of environmental sciences
-
Mathematical compilation and analysis
-
Principles of chemistry and chemical reactions
-
Effects of waste material on water quality and land quality and the interactions of waste with the environment
-
Environmental practices with special reference to their general effect on public health and the quality of the environment
-
Laws, codes, regulations, and policies affecting the department’s operations and programs
-
Applicable tools, equipment and materials
-
Principles and procedures of interviewing and fact-finding
-
Principles, practices and techniques of customer service
-
Statistical methods and analysis
-
Team dynamics and team building
-
Principles and practices of leadership, mentoring and conflict resolution
-
Principles, practices and techniques of supervision, training, and employer-employee relations
-
Principles of public administration, budgeting and cost allocations
-
Sacramento County Personnel Policies and Procedures
-
Principles and practices of technical problem solving
-
Principles and methods of project management
-
Specialized, in-depth knowledge of a scientific field closely related to environmental research and compliance
Ability to-
Read English at a level necessary to examine, interpret, and apply scientific, legal, technical, and complex guidelines, documents, records and reports
-
Speak English at a level necessary to communicate clearly and effectively
-
Write English at a level necessary to produce concise, accurate and impartial reports, narratives, summaries and recommendations
-
Communicate, verbally and in writing, scientific and technical terminology into terms understandable to the general public
-
Locate, research, interpret, and apply environmental laws and regulations
-
Work independently within established guidelines, prioritize and coordinate activities, and meet critical deadlines
-
Perform work assignments related to environmental inspections, compliance, monitoring, regulation, and research
-
Work cooperatively with others; build and maintain constructive relationships with those encountered during course of work; respond effectively and tactfully to hostility, confusion or concerns expressed by others
-
Collect, process, evaluate, and summarize scientific and technical data and ideas to make effective decisions and develop appropriate solutions
-
Develop, prepare, and present studies and reports to governmental boards, civic organizations and other groups
-
Effectively represent the department in contacts and relationships with the public, local business community and other government agencies
-
Use sound judgment and personal initiative to accomplish assignments
-
Use appropriate interpersonal style and approach to ensure team cohesiveness and cooperation
-
Perform complex work regarding environmental inspections, compliance, monitoring, regulation, and research
-
Lead complex or sensitive work projects
-
Provide work direction and instruction to scientific, technical and professional staff; review work for pertinence, accuracy and completeness
-
Analyze complex environmental compliance problems, make statistical inferences from complex data, and develop recommendations or solutions
-
Represent the department in contacts and relationships with the public, local business community, other government agencies, and media
-
Plan and organize the work of an assigned group of scientific, professional and technical staff
-
Establish, monitor and control projects and schedules to meet goals and objectives
-
Supervise, train, coach, and evaluate staff
-
Investigate and resolve disciplinary issues and customer complaints
-
Represent management in responding to and adjusting first level grievances
-
Serve as a technical expert in a scientific discipline
-
Perform a wide scope of the more complex and difficult studies, reports, and projects related to environmental inspections, compliance, monitoring, regulation, and research
-
Recognize problems, develop recommendations and solutions for difficult and complex environmental management problems, and oversee corrections
-
Review and interpret impact of legislative changes
Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited college or university with major in health science, public health, natural science, physical science, environmental science, or a related field.
And: 1. Two years of advanced-journey level professional experience in environmental regulation, analysis, environmental research, conducting a monitoring or surveillance program, and/or providing lead direction for a multi-disciplinary staff performing duties and responsibilities equivalent to the Environmental Specialist III class in Sacramento County service.
Or: 2. Four years of professional experience in environmental inspections, enforcement, regulation, analysis, and/or research performing journey level duties and responsibilities equivalent to the Environmental Specialist (Level II) class in Sacramento County service.
Note: Up to one year of the required education may be substituted by full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience similar to that described on the basis of 173.6 hours = 21.7 days = 1 work month = 3 semester or 4.5 quarter units.
Note: Possession of a Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in health science, public health, natural science, physical science, environmental science, business or public administration, or a related field may substitute for one year of the required experience.
Note: Employees granted status in the class of Senior Environmental Health Specialist and possessing split off rights as granted by the Civil Service Commission and Board of Supervisors via SRA #90-85, may be appointed to Environmental Specialist IV positions, in accordance with County Personnel Policies and Procedures #C-7, without appearing on the certification list.
Note: Applicants interested in Environmental Health positions are required to provide documentation of the Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS).
Note: If the word “experience” is referenced in the minimum qualifications, it means full-time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.
Note: If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate/license requirement, applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application. Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. For guidelines on submitting acceptable proof of educational requirements, please click here (Download PDF reader) or speak to someone in our office before the cut-off date listed in this notice.
Special Requirements
Physical Requirements: Ability to stoop and kneel to conduct inspections, take water and other environmental samples, and inspect equipment; climb fences, stairs, and ladders; walk rough terrain and muddy fields; work in an underground environment; climb in and out of swimming pools under construction; wear protective clothing; normal hearing; normal verbal communication ability; visually distinguish between colors; calibrate and use technical and monitoring instruments; read gauges and meters; and see in dimly lit areas.
Work Schedule and Conditions: Incumbents are subject to work in adverse weather conditions, emergency situations, and perform duties outside of normal working hours, as necessary.
Professional Certification/Registration Requirements: Failure to maintain required certification/registration constitutes cause for suspension or termination from the class in accordance with Civil Service Rules.
Some positions, allocated to Environmental Specialist (Level II) and higher levels, require possession of a valid certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the State of California. (Registration as a REHS is not required for appointment to Level I positions.)
Some positions, allocated to Environmental Specialist (Level II) and higher levels, require possession of a valid certification as a Registered Dairy Inspector, issued by the State of California.
Some positions allocated to Environmental Specialist Level IV require possession of valid certification as a Registered Geologist, issued by the State of California.
Some positions, allocated to Environmental Specialist (Level II) and higher levels, may require possession of valid certifications, as deemed necessary by legislative mandate or appropriate regulatory authority in the State of California.
General License Requirements: All classes in this series require possession of, or ability to obtain a valid California Driver’s License, Class C or higher, before the date of appointment. Failure to obtain and maintain a valid California Driver’s License constitutes cause for suspension or termination from the class in accordance with Civil Service Rules.
Special Skills: Some positions in the series may require the ability to speak, read, and/or write a language, in addition to English, or working knowledge of a specific culture, such as Black Culture, Mexican/Spanish Culture, or Asian Culture.
Probationary Period
The probationary period for this classification is six (6) months.
APPLICATION
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit an online County of Sacramento employment application by 5:00 PM on the posted cut-off date.
County of Sacramento
Department of Personnel Services
Employment Services Division
700 H Street, Room 4667
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 874-5593; 7-1-1 California Relay Service
Inter-Office Mail Code: 09-4667
www.SacCountyJobs.net
-
Employment applications and all documentation requested in this announcement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
-
Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
-
Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the cut-off date.
-
Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. You may only apply for this recruitment once. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.
-
A resume may be included with your application, however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE
Applicants are required to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question. The Supplemental Questionnaire is located in the tab marked "Supplemental Questions". Please be descriptive in your response.
Note: Responses of "See Resume" or "See Application", or copy and paste of work experience are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.
-
Supplemental Questionnaires must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
-
The supplemental questions are designed to elicit specific information regarding a candidate's experience, education, and training. Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification.
-
Please provide place of employment, pertinent dates, and concise, descriptive and detailed information for each question.
-
If a job included responsibilities applicable to several questions, separate the different functions of the job to answer all the questions completely.
-
Resumes or referral to the application or other questionnaire responses will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question.
-
If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.
-
For many individuals, it is more efficient to develop responses to the supplemental questions in a word processing document and then paste them into the final document to be submitted. Changes or corrections to your Supplemental Questionnaire cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.
-
If the Supplemental Questionnaire is used in the Formula Rate exam, failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score. While scoring the Supplemental Questionnaire, the candidate's application and/or attachments will not be reviewed, therefore, a candidate's responses to the questions should be accurate, thorough, detailed, and complete.
FORMULA RATE EXAMINATION (Weighted 100%)
All candidates meeting the minimum qualifications by the cut-off date will have their Supplemental Questionnaire scored in the Formula Rate Examination.
This examination will evaluate the relevance, level, recency, progression and quality of candidate's education, training and experience. The candidate's application or other materials will not be included in this examination. Therefore, the candidate's responses to the supplemental questionnaire should be thorough, detailed and complete. The score from the Formula Rate Examination will determine the ranking on the eligible/employment list for this job.
All candidates competing in the testing process will receive written notice of their examination results by email. Notices can also be accessed in their governmentjobs.com inbox. Applicants achieving a passing score will be placed on the eligible list in rank order. The rank is determined by the test score attained from the examination.
