Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Are you interested in a meaningful and impactful career? Would you like to contribute to protecting people and the environment and accelerating a statewide transition to sustainable pest management? The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) could be the place for you!

Associate Toxicologist is the key entry-level toxicologist position in the Human Health Assessment Branch (HHA). You will work on a team conducting a variety of risk assessments to predict how pesticides can impact human health.

As an Associate Toxicologist, you will have the opportunity to:

• Evaluate and interpret toxicological studies and a variety of in vivo and in vitro data to advise on acute, subchronic and chronic health effects.
• Participate in various phases of comprehensive human health risk assessment including the development of toxicological profiles, establishing critical points of departure, hazard identification, and risk characterization.
• Interact with HHA’s Exposure Assessment Section to incorporate specific pesticide exposure scenarios into our risk estimations.
• Participate in a variety of rapid or short-term risk analyses of exposure to pesticide residues in diet (food and drinking water), in surface water or groundwater, in air, in cannabis products, and occasionally emergency releases or spray drift events.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Must be able to use a computer for up to 8 hours per day. Occasional travel by car or plane may be required.

NOTE: This position may be eligible for hybrid telework under Government Code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California, subject to the candidate meeting telework eligibility criteria set forth in the CalEPA telework policy and/or future program need. Employees not residing in California are not eligible for telework. Regardless of telework eligibility, all employees may be required to report to the position’s designated headquarters location, as indicated on their duty statement, at their own expense.

Special Requirements

• This position is designated Conflict of Interest and requires disclosure of economic interests.

• Please include a resume or curriculum vitae that lists presentations, abstracts, and peer-reviewed articles, as well as a copy of educational transcripts in English. You must include a copy of your degree and/or unofficial transcripts in order to verify you meet the minimum qualifications. If you use unofficial transcripts to verify you meet the minimum qualifications, you must provide official transcripts prior to your start date, if selected for the position.

• Please do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy. Confidential information includes, but is not limited to: basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, marital status, age, national origin, medical conditions, and use of medical leave.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

The most competitive candidate will possess a broad knowledge of subjects including toxicology, biochemistry, pharmacology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, public health, exposure analysis, and epidemiology.

Must have the ability to creatively adapt methods, techniques, and procedures to conduct assignments, analyze technical data, develop solutions, and present technical information in a clear, concise, and logically organized manner in both written and oral formats.

A strong background in evaluating toxicological data for potential health effects and a working understanding of the human health risk assessment process for pesticides and environmental chemicals is preferred.

The ability to work independently and coordinate as part of a team is essential as well as having substantial computer skills, including experience with modeling, statistics, and database software tools.

The ideal candidate will be flexible, adaptable, and self-motivated, and be able to communicate respectfully and with sensitivity.

Benefits

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

Critical Job Competencies

Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; informs, persuades, builds consensus; knows the audience; facilitates open exchanges of ideas/opinions; selects and uses appropriate communication approaches; actively listens; effectively uses e-mail; avoids mixed messages, the body language says one thing, the words another; and applies business writing principles to all written communications.

Decisiveness - Makes decisions in a decisive and timely manner; willingly shares decision making with direct reports - transparent decision making process as warranted; accepts accountability for decisions; perceives impact and implications of decisions; takes action consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences; and enables others to succeed and make decisions for themselves.

Ethics/Integrity - Creates a culture of trusting relationships; demonstrates trust and principled leadership; promotes organizational vision and values through ethical leadership principles; tells it straight - open and honest even about the bad news; admits mistakes - not as an admission of weakness but as having integrity and being trustworthy; and provides examples of the vision and values of the organization through own authenticity.

Flexibility/Adaptability - Readily integrates changes midstream into work processes and outputs; demonstrates openness to new organizational structures, procedures, and technologies; and shifts gears comfortably.

Political Acumen - Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization; perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly; considers a broad range of internal and external factors (big picture) when solving problems and making decisions; identifies critical, high payoff strategies and prioritizes work efforts accordingly; in taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization; formulates strategies that are achievable, cost effective, and addresses administration and organizational goals; develops and balances operational and strategic management skills; and creates a strategic frame of reference.

Problem Solving - Perseveres in the face of obstacles such as diminishing financial resources; knows there is more than one way to get to the destination; anticipates problems and encourages a culture of proactive problem solving; and ensures comprehensive evaluation of the costs and benefits of all options in determining the preferred solution.

Project Management - Garners support for projects; develops work plans with tasks, timeframes, milestones, resources, and dependencies; uses resources efficiently and manages effectively within budget limits; anticipates potential problems and institutes controls and contingency plans to address them; and monitors project progress.

Self-Motivation, Optimism, Sustained Commitment, Perseverance, Patience - Demonstrates a bias toward optimism and maintains a sense of humor; retains stamina and bounces back from setbacks; views mistakes as opportunities for growth/positive learning experiences.

Teamwork - Facilitates and maintains cooperative working relationships; works toward accomplishment of group goals; values and encourages the input and expertise of others; and fosters commitment, team spirit, pride, and trust.

Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, policies, and regulations related to specialized expertise; integrates technology into the work to improve program effectiveness; possesses up-to-date knowledge in the profession and industry and accesses other expert resources when appropriate; and translates concepts and ideas into strategies and action steps.

PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES:

In addition to the above, the incumbent possesses the willingness and ability to: get along with others; accept direction from supervisor/lead person; abide by work rules; accept constructive criticism; work effectively within a team environment.

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.
• Degree and/or School Transcripts

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Temporary work, Remote job, Flexible hours, Shift work,

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