Job Description and Duties

BCDC is seeking a Climate Adaptation Specialist with experience in climate adaptation research and planning to support BCDC's science-based planning and policy initiative, Bay Adapt. The Climate Adaptation Specialist provides significant support in providing agency and region-wide expertise to ensure that BCDC's adaptation planning and policy initiatives are grounded in science, ecology, and equity, coordinated with BCDC's laws and policies, responsive to local needs, and aligned with other region-wide planning initiatives.

Under general direction of the Assistant Planning Director for Climate Adaptation and in coordination with the Senior Climate Adaptation Planner the Climate Adaptation Specialist will be a member of the Adapting to Rising Tides (ART) program at the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and support the Bay Adapt initiative.

The Climate Adaptation Specialist will perform complex and specialized environmental, natural resource, land use, climate change, and planning analysis, research, surveys, investigations, and studies to advance adaptation planning and projects throughout the Bay Area. This work will involve topics such as shoreline development, nature-based infrastructure, climate adaptation, shoreline recreation, land use and other local policy, environmental justice and social equity, and consideration of major shoreline infrastructure. The Climate Adaptation Specialist provides work that requires competency in baseline climate science, research and data analysis, communication and stakeholder management, adaptation planning concepts, project management, and problem solving/developing new solutions to new problems. Specific tasks may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Apply scientific methods and principles in the identification, analysis, and solutions for problems in areas of vulnerability assessments, climate adaptation planning, environmental planning, resource assessment, habitat restoration, and land and water use.

• Support innovative planning and policy programs to address emerging problems related to sea level rise and other climate impacts.

• Review and analyze policy proposals, vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans, natural resource programs, or land use and development issues or projects.

• Contribute to major projects and initiatives related to local and regional adaptation planning, including assisting in the development and application of technical assistance programs and process to support adaptation planning and participating in initiatives to strengthen relationships with local governments, identify their planning needs, and assist in developing local plans.

• Support the development of, and participation in, engaging and interactive community and stakeholder outreach efforts.

• Coordinate with staff, other agencies and organizations, technical, scientific, planning, and policy experts in the appropriate fields to support the development of projects and policies that are integrated, interdisciplinary and comprehensive.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

BCDC's office is our headquarters in downtown San Francisco. BCDC is a hybrid workplace and offers telework for all employees. Telework is available for this position in accordance with BCDC Telework Policy and Procedures with two days a week in-person.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist

• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-427803

Position #(s):

722-101-0762-006

Working Title:

Climate Adaptation Specialist

Classification:

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

$4,145.00 - $7,926.00

of Positions:

1

Work Location:

San Francisco County

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is a State of California government agency located in the City of San Francisco with a mission to protect and enhance San Francisco Bay for this and future generations. Through its laws and policies, BCDC protects hundreds of miles of shoreline, collaborates with local, regional, state and federal agencies and communities, and facilitates the implementation of the San Francisco Bay Trail and the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail. In 2019, BCDC introduced Environmental Justice and Social Equity policies into the San Francisco Bay Plan, which guide all of its activities. BCDC's Planning Division is a leader in preparing the Bay Area for faster, better and more equitable adaptation to rising sea level, in particular through its Adapting to Rising Tides program and Bay Adapt, a regional strategy for a rising Bay. BCDC recognizes the challenges dealt to frontline communities over centuries of injustice and is committed to understanding these deep-seated historical injustices so that they are not repeated as we endeavor to protect and enhance the Bay for this and future generations.

The Adapting to Rising Tides Program (ART) is a unit in BCDC's Planning Division and provides staff support, guidance, tools and information to help agencies and organizations understand, communicate, and begin to resolve complex climate change issues along the bay shoreline. The ART Program supports Bay Adapt, an initiative to establish regional agreement on the actions necessary to protect people and the natural and built environment from rising sea levels, and implements the Bay Adapt Joint Platform, a series of tasks designed to support this agreement.

Department Website: https://www.bcdc.ca.gov

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: 5/10/2024

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list 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.

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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:

San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission

Attn: Human Resources

455 Market St. Suite 228

San Francisco, CA 94105

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission

Human Resources

455 Market St. Suite 228

San Francisco, CA 94105

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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

• Cover letter.

• Other

• Brief writing sample (5 pages or less).

• Other

• Three professional references.

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.

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:

• Knowledge

• Background or expertise in climate adaptation planning, particularly sea level rise.

• Understands the dynamics of regional and local scale planning contexts in California.

• Working knowledge of Bay Area geography and communities.

• Some familiarity with California land use, environmental, and environmental justice issues.

• Awareness of current trends in coastal and land use planning and policy.

• Some familiarity with environmental analysis, research, management, planning, regulation, or investigation.

• Skills

• Effective and analytical problem solver.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Capacity to build cooperative relationships with professionals from a variety of disciplines at multiple scales.

• Ability to synthesize multiple inputs, viewpoints, needs, and request into a cohesive solution.

• Demonstrated ability to translate science concepts into policy, plans, and technical guidance.

• Experience in science communication and community outreach and engagement is desired.

• Abilities

• Ability to work towards independent tasks with limited oversight; maturity and confidence in problem-solving and a willingness to try solutions and options without a guaranteed outcome.

• Willingness and ability to support complex projects with multiple tasks and deadlines; ability to roll with changes.

• Value BCDC's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice, and actively contribute to creating these conditions.

• Appreciate BCDC's mandate to balance conservation and development of the Bay's diverse resources.

Don't have every single one of these qualifications? Studies have shown that applicants are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with everything in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

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: https://www.bcdc.ca.gov

Human Resources Contact:

Anusha Ragunathan

(415) 352-3639

anusha.ragunathan@bcdc.ca.gov

Hiring Unit Contact:

Dana Brechwald

(415) 352-3656

Dana.Brechwald@bcdc.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:

Melanie Wong

(415) 904-5433

humanresources@coastal.ca.gov

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.

Benefits

Benefits include paid vacation/sick leave or annual leave; public transit subsidy; 11 paid holidays each calendar year; health, dental, and vision benefits; and deferred compensation and retirement benefit programs. For a list of benefits, go to https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/salary-and-benefits.aspx.

Eligibility

Candidates must be eligible for appointment to the California civil service classification of Environmental Scientist. Current State employees or former State employees with transfer or reinstatement rights at the environmental scientist classification may apply. To be eligible for transfer or reinstatement, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications of the respective classification. Appointment is subject to the State Restriction of Appointment (SROA) provisions. Applicants must clearly indicate the basis of their eligibility, including SROA, surplus, transfer, reinstatement status, or list eligibility in the Examination or Job Title section on the CA State Application (std 678).

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.