Salary : $135,203.63 - $164,339.83 AnnuallyLocation : Santa Rosa, CAJob Type: Full-TimeJob Number: 25/01-0919-OWADepartment: Sonoma County Water Agency (WTR)Division: SCWA - General (7210)Opening Date: 01/02/2025Closing Date: 1/21/2025 11:59 PM PacificBargaining Unit: 50Position InformationBring your environmental compliance experience to the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) as a Principal Environmental Specialist! At Sonoma Water, this Principal Environmental Specialist is responsible for managing staff in the Environmental Resources Division, including coordinating and participating in efforts related to environmental resources and regulatory affairs. They ensure compliance with federal, state, and/or local laws and ordinances, and develops and recommends measures to minimize, and mitigate the potential environmental effects of projects. The Principal Environmental Specialist is also responsible for:
- Preparing and reviewing documents related to environmental laws and regulations, land use planning projects, grant applications, and right-of-way activities
- Collaborating with state and federal regulatory agency staff, Tribal representatives, government officials, consultants, the public and other stakeholders
- Collecting and analyzing data, and communicating results of scientific and technical investigations, especially pertaining to habitat, fish, wildlife, and botanical resources
- Characterizing habitats and their potential to support associated special-status and common species and overseeing development of habitat mitigation plans
- Evaluating potential for impacts related to a range of resource categories, including biological resources, hydrology and water, aesthetics, air quality and greenhouse gases, geological, noise, climate change, and transportation
- Preparing technical reports, as well as regulatory compliance permit applications and supporting information
The ideal candidate for this position will be collaborative and passionate about the environment and Sonoma Water's commitment to environmental stewardship. They will have extensive knowledge of environmental regulations and recent court decisions related to environmental protection and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will also possess many of the following:
- Experience leading the preparation of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance documents for public works (preferably water resources) projects
- Experience analyzing the environmental impacts of complex public works (preferably water resources) projects
- Experience leading the preparation of permit applications under state and federal laws such as the Clean Water Act (Section 401 and 404), Fish and Game Code (Section 1600), Porter-Cologne Act (Waste Discharge Requirements, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System), and state and federal endangered species acts
- Advanced project management skills such as attentiveness to project details, and the ability to manage time, set priorities, and adhere to project schedules for multiple concurrent projects and staff
- Experience with cultural resources and Tribal cultural resources evaluations and Tribal consultation under CEQA and the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106)
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively manage a team, work with staff from other Sonoma Water divisions, and communicate regulatory requirements to agency staff, government officials, and the public
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Basic wetland delineation training, along with attendance at CEQA basics and advanced training workshops is desired (not required)
About Sonoma WaterSonoma Water is a special district formed by the California State Legislature in 1949 and is responsible for providing a safe and reliable water supply to its customers in Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma Water also maintains 75 miles of flood control channels and provides sanitation services. Employing approximately 250 employees, Sonoma Water consists of four divisions including Engineering & Resource Planning, Environmental Resources, Business Services & External Affairs, and Water/Wastewater Operations & Maintenance. Sonoma Water supports the concept of environmental sustainability, focusing on renewable power sources, and strives to be a leader in its water use efficiency and fishery restoration programs. 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.What We OfferWorking at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
- Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
- Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
- Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the and our .Sonoma Water is currently recruiting to fill a Sonoma Water Principal Environmental Specialist position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment The formal title for this position is Water Agency Principal Environmental Specialist.APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BECOMPLETED.Minimum QualificationsExperience & Education: 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 science, environmental studies, environmental law, natural resource or watershed management, or a closely related field; and four years of progressively responsible experience with engineering, environmental impact assessments and permitting, and/or public works projects, including at least one year at the level of Water Agency Senior Environmental Specialist, or equivalent. One year of lead or supervisory experience is highly desired.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 AbilitiesThorough knowledge of: principles, methods, and techniques of environmental planning; Federal, State and local laws, regulations, current programs and court decisions pertaining to environmental protection; Federal, State, and local agencies which must coordinate work with the Water Agency; principles and practices of habitat restoration; environmental considerations in the design, location, construction and maintenance of public (flood control, water supply, recycled water, renewable energy, sanitation) projects; citizen and public interest groups dealing with environmental matters; physical, biological, and ecological principles; construction principles, practices, and terminology; the use of noise meters, cameras, and various audio-visual aids; principles and practices of 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.Working knowledge of: management and leadership styles and techniques designed to train, supervise, motivate and lead a group of employees, which includes understanding employee behavior and performance standards; effective supervision; techniques and methods of training employees in work procedures; interviewing techniques; modern personnel and fiscal administration; modern principles and practices of budget preparation and control; public speaking principles and practices; public relation styles and techniques; and safe and efficient work practices.Ability to: lead, assign, prioritize, train and monitor the work of others; determine work priorities and effectively coordinate and schedule the necessary personnel and other resources; deal tactfully and effectively with department personnel, government officials, representatives of specific interest groups, and the general public; ensure that stringent deadlines are met; analyze and design project reports and determine probable effect on environment; write effectively and 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; 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; communicate verbal and written ideas clearly and logically; use a personal computer to do word processing, spreadsheets, graphics and modeling; determine appropriate research methodology for project studies and insure that analysis is complete and accurate; supervise the preparation of, or perform difficult, complex, and specialized resource studies and projects; prepare and disseminate information to media and others; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications. 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 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 used in assessing minimum qualifications. 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.The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:AnApplication & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will 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 & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & 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 INFORMATIONA background investigation is 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 to determine the requirements for this position.HOW TO APPLYApplications are accepted online at . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-###-####), 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. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. 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: JTHR Technician: KK IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 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 generous County 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 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 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) ###-####. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at or (707) ###-####.*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.01 How did you first learn about this opportunity?
- BC Water Jobs
- CA Water Jobs
- California Association of Environmental Professionals
- Careers in Government
- College or University
- Craigslist
- DiversityJobs
- Employee of Sonoma County
- Facebook
- Glassdoor
- GovernmentJobs.com
- Indeed
- Instagram
- Job Fair
- Latino Service Providers
- LinkedIn
- Los Cien
- Minority Organization or Group
- Press Democrat
- sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
- Sonoma County Human Resources Office
- Sonoma County Job Line
- Start Here!
- X (Twitter)
- Veterans Services Office
- Women's Organization or Group
- Other Internet Site
- waterdistrictjobs.com
02 Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
- I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
- I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
- I am only interested in full-time positions
03
For this question and all subsequent questions, please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.Please detail how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, which normally includes:
- Four years of progressively responsible experience with engineering, environmental impact assessments and permitting, and/or public works projects, including at least one year at the level of Water Agency Senior Environmental Specialist, or equivalent. Lead or supervisory experience desired.AND
- Possession of a Bachelor's degree in planning, engineering, water related science, environmental studies, environmental law, natural resource or watershed management, or a closely related field
For each position you list, detail your relevant experience and include your job title, employer's name, dates of employment (mm/yy to mm/yy), and a description of your primary responsibilities. Please make sure to list your relevant degree(s), coursework, and/or training. 04 Please describe your experience obtaining regulatory approvals (such as Section 404 Clean Water Act permits; California Department of Fish and Wildlife streambed alteration agreements, and federal and state endangered species act permits) for a project involving natural resources. In your response, please describe your interaction with regulatory agencies, permit applications you developed, and project outcomes. 05 Please describe your experience analyzing the environmental impacts of a public works project under the California Environmental Quality or National Environmental Quality Act. Highlight a project you worked on, the stakeholders involved, any challenges you faced, and the outcome. In your response, please describe resource categories included in your analysis, project effects, proposed mitigation measures, and any public engagement you participated in for the project. 06 Please describe your experience supervising staff or leading teams. Specify the number of staff and types of positions you supervised/led (e.g., clerical, professional, technical, etc.) and detail the scope of your responsibilities (i.e., hiring, training and development, performance management, etc.). Required Question