Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Incumbents in one of these classifications, where a Master’s Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.

This position supports the CDPH Center for Laboratory Science’s mission and strategic plan by protecting the public’s health by enhancing California’s resilience to current and emerging health threats, promoting health and wellness by advancing protective measures and reducing risk, and by strengthening the Public Health workforce through recruitment and development and talent acquisition.  All of these contribute to CDPH’s Mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities.

The Research Scientist III (Chemical Sciences) (RS III (CS)), plans, organizes, and directs scientific research studies of a highly developed scope and complexity. The RS III (CS) works, independently develops, implements, optimizes, validates new method developments and conducts high complexity scientific research studies on illicit drugs such as opioids and others and supports method development, adaptation, optimization, and validation of high complexity analytical methodologies for the detection and identification of the above mentioned chemicals in different matrices such as powders, solids, wastewater, and others as needed. The RS III (CS) assists other programs and analysts with the analysis of marine biotoxins such as paralytic shellfish toxins in shellfish, when necessary or as directed. Provides technical leadership to advance existing analytical methodologies (e.g., High-Res LC-MS, (UP)LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, ICP-MS and other). Generates technical data to support regulations, good laboratory practices, and compliance protocols. Maintains expertise by assessing recent scientific developments and new technologies about technology and analytical instrumentation needs in emerging contaminants of concern to public health.

The position requires 5% out-of-state travel to program-sponsored meetings, scientific conferences, and specialized training. The incumbent works in the laboratory, which is regulated and certified and required to follow certain accreditation protocols and procedures.

The incumbent works under the general direction of the Research Scientist Supervisor I (Chemical Sciences) (RSS I (CS)) of the Chemistry and Radiochemistry Section in the Chemistry Unit of the Drinking Water and Radiation Laboratory Branch (DWRLB).

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts official or un-official and/or Degree for education verification.

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions,  hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) .  Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference  Job Control # (472665)  and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email  apply@cdph.ca.gov  for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or,  a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 4/21/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Public Health

CCAU Mailing

Attn: Classification & Certification Unit

P.O. Box 997378

MS 1700-1702

Sacramento , CA 95899-7378

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Public Health

CCAU Drop Off

Classification & Certification Unit

1615 Capitol Avenue Suite 73.430

Sacramento , CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other -

  Please see Supplemental Questionnaire instructions below at end of Posting . Any applications received that  do not provide a written response to the  SQ will not  be scored/reviewed.  

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website:

Human Resources Contact:
Human Resources Division
(916) 445-0983
apply@cdph.ca.gov

Hiring Unit Contact:
Thomas Maldonado
(510) 620-2914
thomas.maldonado@cdph.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
(916) 445-0938

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) Instructions

Please provide a response to the Supplemental Questionnaire below. Limit your response to one (1) page or less per question (font: Arial, size 11).

1. Describe your experience working in a regulatory environmental laboratory. If such experience is not available, please describe if you are aware with laboratory certification protocols and their requirements especially on data reviewing and reporting.
2. Describe your experience working on both targeted and non-targeted unknown compound identification project.  Specifically discuss sample preparation process, instruments you used and spectral libraries or databases you relied on for the compound identification.
3. Describe a situation from your laboratory experience that you had to take independent actions to resolve. Describe your actions and the outcome.

PLEASE NOTE: Resumes, letters, Statement of Qualifications, transcripts, degrees, your state application, cover letters and other materials will not take the place of the Supplemental Questionnaire.   Simply copying and pasting your resume will also not be accepted. Applications received without an SQ may be rejected.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time,

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