Air Quality Specialist I/II (Rules & Strategic Policy)

Join an agency committed to creating a healthy breathing environment for every Bay Area resident while protecting and improving public health, air quality, and the global climate!
 
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices. The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma.
 
At the Air District, we take pride in our commitment to fostering a workplace that values diversity and promotes cultural awareness. We prioritize employee engagement by providing a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages active participation and open dialogue. Additionally, we believe in pay equity and strive to create an equitable compensation structure. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, we understand the importance of supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside the workplace. Join us in a dynamic and inclusive culture where your contributions are celebrated and your growth is nurtured.
 
The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Air Quality Specialist I/II in the Rules and Strategic Policy Division. This is an open recruitment for two (2) full-time, limited-term contract positions. Both positions are for a 3-year term.
 
This is a Limited Term Contract Employee (LTCE) Position.  LTCE positions are funded by grants or other designated funds which are not part of the Air District’s ongoing general fund budget.  LTCE positions are subject to individual employment contracts and are limited to the duration of their funding source.  Regular employees have the right to apply for an LTCE position.   However, LTCE positions are not subject to the terms of the Employee Association MOU, and LTCE employees serve on an at-will basis.  
 
About You in the Position
Are you interested in reducing air pollution and improving health outcomes in the most impacted and overburdened communities in the Bay Area? Are you motivated to develop and implement plans, projects and policies that address air pollution injustices and inequities?
 
The Assembly Bill 617 Air Quality Specialist I/II will work closely with professional and technical staff to perform research and analyses aimed at developing regulations to control air pollutants that contribute to localized air quality impacts in overburdened communities.  You will review and draft regulatory language; develop cost effectiveness calculations, analyze emissions inventories to determine baseline emissions and reduction estimates; work closely with the Community Engagement and Planning Section staff to strengthen partnerships with key community stakeholders; and perform related work as assigned. To be successful in this role, you must be a strong team player, have strong communication and analytical skills and be able to work with people of varied backgrounds and perspectives, including low-income communities of color and communities overburdened by air pollution.
 
Assembly Bill 617
Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (C. Garcia, Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017) was signed into law alongside Assembly Bill 398 which extended California’s cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions. AB 617 addresses environmental justice concerns regarding the extension of the cap-and-trade program by requiring the California Air Resources Board, with input from community groups, air districts and others, to select locations around the state to prepare community-led plans to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria pollutants. Communities can also be selected to prepare community-led monitoring plans. The primary requirement for community selection is a demonstrated high cumulative exposure burden to air pollution and associated health disparities. In the Bay Area, and around the state, these communities are often low-income communities of color.

In 2017, West Oakland and Richmond were selected as the first communities to participate in the AB 617 program. Since then, East Oakland and Bayview Hunters Point/Southeast San Francisco communities have been added to the program. The Air District works closely with these communities to both develop and implement emission reduction and monitoring plans.

Examples of Duties for this Position

(Illustrative Only)

• Reviews and develops draft regulatory language.
• Develops and implements cost effectiveness and incremental cost effectiveness calculations for a wide variety of sources in industries with a variety of control options.
• Coordinates and works closely with internal and external professional and technical staff and perform complex scientific research and engineering evaluation for developing regulations to control air pollutants (including those contributing to climate change and contributing to localized air quality impacts in overburdened communities).
• Works closely with internal and external professional and technical staff to perform and review economic analyses and environmental analyses.
• Analyzes and develops emissions inventories to determine baseline emissions and reduction estimates for rules under development.
• Engages and interacts with external stakeholders such as affected industry representatives, community advocates and residents, other governmental staff members, and technical experts.
• Works closely with other Air District divisions to enhance engagement and strengthen partnerships with key community stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university with major coursework in chemistry, computer science, electronics, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, meteorology, physical sciences, physics, or a closely related field.

AND

Experience:

Air Quality Specialist I: Two (2) years of experience performing duties equivalent to the Air District’s Assistant Air Quality Specialist II, including performing air quality inspections; installing, operating and maintaining air monitoring and quality assessment instruments and equipment; or developing and administering air quality programs.  

Air Quality Specialist II: Four (4) years of experience performing air quality inspections; installing, operating and maintaining air monitoring and quality assessment instruments and equipment, or developing and administering air quality programs, of which at least two (2) years included performing work equivalent to the Air District’s Air Quality Specialist I.

Substitution:  Any combination of relevant training and work experience in the listed or related fields may substitute for the education criteria on a year for year basis.

Desirable Qualifications

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of structural and institutional racial inequities and environmental injustices causes and solutions.
• Awareness of interpersonal skills necessary to effectively work in a team setting.
• Experience with data analysis including evaluation of emissions inventories and air quality exposure modeling results.

Other Requirements
Must be willing to attend meetings outside of regular working hours.

How to Apply

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application, chronological resume, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 13, 2024. Applications are accepted online; please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply.