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!

The Senior Toxicologist will serve as the Section Chief of the Active Ingredient Section (AIS) of the Human Health Assessment (HHA) Branch of DPR. The primary function of AIS is to support the goals and mission of DPR by reviewing, interpreting, and evaluating scientific data covering the full range of toxicological tests and studies (in vitro and in vivo) submitted to support registration of new active ingredients, database evaluation of “legacy chemicals,” and review of adverse effects reports. The scientists responsible for this work identify potential hazards to human health based on submitted data and published scientific studies.

As a Senior Toxicologist/AIS Section Chief, you will have the opportunity to:

Direct Toxicological Data Evaluation for Pesticide Registration: Conduct final technical review and approval of the review, analysis, and summary of all relevant toxicological data submitted for pesticidal active ingredient registration to ensure a complete and thorough examination by section toxicologists and scientists. The incumbent will direct staff in the evaluation of registrant-submitted toxicity data for new pesticidal active ingredients of all categories and new major uses of current active ingredients for pesticide registration and use in California.

Oversee Day to Day Management and Development of Section Staff: Providing opportunities for professional and technical development, growth, interaction and training to section staff and transparent and active section management of projects, assignments, and equitable division of labor. Empowering staff to use the latest New Approach Methodologies and providing training opportunities to remain current in the latest developments of 21st Century Toxicology.

Arbitration of Technical Decisions. Using their expertise in toxicology, providing guidance and recommendations on the scientific merit and acceptance of studies for registration purposes including but not limited to metabolism and pharmacokinetics, acute, subchronic and chronic toxicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity.

SB 950/Birth Defect Prevention Act Legacy Chemicals Evaluation. Responsible for the timely and accurate review of the toxicology data evaluation and data gap analysis for legacy active ingredients under SB 950 in coordination with DPR’s Pesticide Registration Branch. Ensuring that the section meets SB 950 legislative mandates for review of legacy active ingredients, completes long-standing departmental obligations, and reduces risk horizons for unexamined legacy chemicals.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Any work performed in the office will be conducted in a climate-controlled office within a high-rise building. 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.

• If education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, 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:

• Ability to lead with integrity, purpose, and vision; a high degree of initiative and flexibility
• Inspire confidence and effective working relationships with employees, managers, and leaders within the department and with stakeholders
• Embrace opportunities to resolve conflicts and facilitate better solutions through shared goals and collaborative efforts
• Encourage novel idea generation among direct reports and peers, with a focus on forwarding the mission and vision of the department
• Critically review and evaluate highly complex scientific situations that may garner a high degree of public scrutiny; do so with a focus on facilitating rapid departmental responses and actions
• Produce high quality work products that clearly convey scientific findings and concepts to lay audiences
• Welcome changing and challenging environments as an opportunity to innovate and create better systems, methods, and approaches
• Training and/or experience in incorporating concepts and principles of project management, change management, leadership, communication, critical thinking, human factors and emotional intelligence
• Ability to communicate respectfully and with sensitivity
• Uphold HHA's Branch Expectations and Principles of Community

Benefits

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

Supplemental Questionnaire

You must answer the supplemental questionnaire in its entirety and follow all instructions in order to be considered interested/eligible in the position.

Instructions:
The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) serves as documentation of your ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. The SOQ is a narrative discussion, not a bulleted summary. Please answer each of the following questions for the SOQ. Identify each response with the number of the SOQ question, single-spaced, and using Arial 12-point font. The SOQ should be no more than three (3) pages in length.

Questions:

1. Discuss your role and contributions to a project that involved the evaluation and analysis of a complex set of toxicological issues and/or human health data. Include a brief description of your approach to evaluating the data, the analyses conducted, and the key outcomes of the project.

2. DPR’s core organizational values of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and integrity are standards for how we work and apply ourselves in carrying out our mission and achieving our goals. Pick a value that resonates with you and describe how you would bring that to your role as Senior Toxicologist/Section Chief.

3. A critical role of a Senior Toxicologist within the Human Health Assessment Branch is to provide subject matter expertise and sound decision making to the Branch Chief and Deputy Director regarding complex and sensitive toxicological issues, often under constrained timeframes. Describe your understanding of these types of situations and how you would use your skills of upward communication, decisiveness and political acumen to meet the challenge.

Please include a resume or curriculum vitae that lists presentations, abstracts, and peer-reviewed articles, and list any formal training courses in leadership, communication, project management, change management and other soft skills. Also include a copy of your college transcripts in English. Unofficial is acceptable, however if you are offered the position you will need to provide official transcripts at that time.

Note: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not take the place of the supplemental application.

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.
• School Transcripts
• Supplemental Application - A response to the supplemental questions is required to be considered interested/eligible in the position. The supplemental questions and instructions are listed in the "Supplemental Questionnaire" section of this advertisement. You must answer each supplemental question in its entirety and follow all instructions for answering the questions in order to be considered interested/eligible in the position.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Remote job,

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