Job Posting at the Department of Pesticide Regulation: Assistant Director, Environmental Justice and Equity, Closes 11/04

By -

Department of Pesticide Regulation
JC-331813  -  Assistant Director, Environmental Justice and Equity C. E. A.
$9,471.00 - $11,183.00 per Month
Final Filing Date: 11/04/2022


For more information and details on the application process, please visit the CalCareers page.


Job Description and Duties

Under the administrative direction of the Director, the Career Executive Assistance (C.E.A.) A, Assistant Director for Environmental Justice and Equity is responsible for leading, developing and coordinating the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) Environmental Justice (EJ) and Tribal Affairs programs and activities and related stakeholder coordination, and for supporting department initiatives such as sustainable pest management. The EJ and Tribal Affairs programs facilitate and support meaningful community engagement at the Department/state level and with County level staff, promote environmental justice and equity considerations in decision-making throughout the Department, and support government-to-government consultation with tribes.

 

The Assistant Director serves as a strategic advisor to the Director on environmental justice and tribal policy matters and provides comprehensive and authoritative assistance to staff responsible for environmental justice and tribal affairs programs and projects. The position provides advice on the resolution of sensitive policy and other issues requiring sound programmatic judgment and coordinates the resolution of EJ issues across the department. The Assistant Director is a key leader in the Department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that seek to deepen and promote the understanding of and respect, and just and equitable outcomes, for all people. The Assistant Director works closely with and is supported by DPR’s Director and executive staff, and the CalEPA Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice, Tribal Affairs and Border Relations and CalEPA board, department and office Environmental Justice leaders, to identify program goals and objectives, as well as targeted initiatives, to promote engagement with and responsiveness to the needs of impacted communities and tribes and ensure their voices are represented in the Department’s implementation of its mission of protecting public health and the environment and its strategic priorities.


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


Working Conditions

  • Maintains accessibility for communication 24/7.
  • Job requires occasional statewide and overnight travel.
  • Ability to work in a high-rise office environment.
  • Ability to use a smart phone, computer monitor, mouse, and keyboard within an 8-hour day.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on DPR’s current telework policy. While DPR supports telework, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department.

This position is eligible to candidates anywhere in the State of California. Depending on the location of the candidate hired, the physical reporting location may be any one of the following:

  • Headquarters Office, Sacramento
  • Bradshaw Regional Office, Sacramento
  • Central Regional Office, Clovis
  • Southern Regional Office, Santa Ana

Department Information

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), part of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), is a predominantly self-funded department dedicated to protecting human health and the environment by regulating pesticide sales and use, and by fostering reduced-risk pest management. DPR is primarily a scientific department of about 400 employees. DPR Headquarters is located in the CalEPA building at 1001 I Street in Sacramento, CA.

DPR values diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the organization.  We foster an environment where employees from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive.  We believe the diversity of our employees is essential to inspiring innovative solutions.  Together we further our mission to protect human health and the environment by regulating pesticide sales and use, and by fostering reduced-risk pest management.  Join DPR to improve the lives of all Californians.

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


Knowledge and Abilities

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:

1.     Knowledge of the organization and funtions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices, and trends of public administration, organization, and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; and oersonnel management techniques; the department's or agency's Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; and a manager's role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.

2.     Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislature and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; and prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the department's or agency's Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.

These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):

CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.


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:

·        Experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), environmental justice, tribal affairs, or a related role for an organization in government, non-profit, or the private sector.

·        Exemplary writing, editing, and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated ability and experience in mastering complex technical issues and preparing outreach and educational material that conveys information to the public and stakeholders accurately, concisely, and in plain language.

·        Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts. Experience working with stakeholders who hold widely diverse perspectives on regulatory issues. Ability to facilitate productive conversations between stakeholders with varied priorities.

·        Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing meaningful and effective community engagement, environmental justice, DEI, or tribal affairs programs, with expertise on issues of high emotion, conflict or controversy.

·        Experience with operational and strategic planning.

·        Bilingual in written and verbal Spanish.

·        Demonstrated experience serving as a spokesperson for an organization on issues of high emotion, conflict or controversy. Ability to effectively represent DPR in meetings with advisory groups, advocacy groups, other stakeholders, and the public.

·        Demonstrated knowledge of DPR's mission, organizations, goals, functions and policies. Familiarity with CalEPA's environmental justice mandates and programs. Familiarity with the functioning of regulatory agencies that oversee environmental protection.

·        Ability to promote a culture of inclusion and engagement.

·        Ability to exercise resourcefulness and initiative in planning strategies for outreach and engagement, and in developing new means of solving problems not previously encountered.

·        Demonstrated ability to work with colleagues and external stakeholders to successfully implement change.

·        Ability to use independent judgment in applying broad guidelines from the Directorate to changing situations, or to resolve specific issues or problems.

·        Demonstrated skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting complex information and drawing appropriate conclusions from varied, conflicting sources. This includes determining what kind of information is needed and the methods of obtaining and communicating that information. 

·        Ability to lead a team of motivated staff.