Under the direction of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the Environmental Scientist (incumbent) as a Range A (entry level employee) works under direct supervision, performing least complex scientific work; as a Range B (intermediate level employee) works under general supervision, performing moderately complex work; or, as a Range C (a journey person level employee), works independently, performing the most complex work. The incumbent, within standardized guidelines, performs a variety of scientific, analytical, and technical assistance duties to implement enforcement requirements and assist with program analysis of compliance policies for CalRecycle’s existing and future statewide Product Stewardship and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs including, but not limited to, the Carpet, Mattress, and Paint products programs.
The Unit seeks to enforce EPR laws governing regulated communities including, but not limited to, product manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, renovators, recyclers, and stewardship organizations. The Environmental Scientist will determine if regulated communities are in compliance by performing field inspections and investigations. On a daily basis, the Environmental Scientist will conduct research of businesses, products, and industries to plan inspections and conduct investigations; compile defensible facts for legal documents; and, develop sound conclusions and recommendations for the issuance of timely, concise and complete inspection reports. The Environmental Scientist will serve as an EPR compliance program liaison and educate stakeholders verbally and in writing; accurately explain the law and potential enforcement consequences; prepare correspondence; meet regulatory deadlines and implement established enforcement processes.
Working in coordination with CalRecycle’s other supporting technical and legal offices the Environmental Scientist will evaluate the significance of violations of non-compliant entities and program trends; and will compile, organize data and use mathematical formulas and develop databases and tools to perform statistical analyses to track compliance trends of the regulated community to evaluate overall program success, and recommend corrective actions, or penalties and fines to effectively achieve the program(s) mandates to protect public health and safety and the environment. The Environmental Scientist will prepare findings to present and conduct technical trainings to supervisors, technical offices, Executive Management and Stakeholders.
This position involves traveling throughout the State involving multiple, consecutive days away from the office and overnight stays.