Air Pollution Specialist (Limited Term)

We are announcing this vacancy in both Sacramento and Riverside. This position is for 12 months and may be extended up to 24 months or may become permanent.

The Office of Community Air Protection (OCAP) is looking for an engaging, creative, and technically savvy Air Pollution Specialist (APS) to join the Community Assessment Section (Section). OCAP is focused on developing and implementing the Community Air Protection Program (Program), as directed by Assembly Bill 617 (C. Garcia). AB 617 is transformative legislation with the goal of ensuring that all communities, particularly those that bear the greatest burdens, benefit equitably from clean air programs. OCAP is actively engaging internal and external stakeholders on policies, plans, and strategies to develop and implement the Community Air Protection Program (Program) in partnership with Air Districts across the State. The Program requires significant collaboration with public and private stakeholders to identify, prioritize, and ultimately recommend actions to improve air quality in highly impacted communities, including regulations, incentives, and coordination with planning and other land use agencies whose decision-making affects air quality.

The primary responsibility of the Section includes assessing and communicating progress made through the program. Additional functions for which the team is responsible include characterizing air pollution burdens in disadvantaged communities, supporting community emission reduction programs (CERP’s) within the selected communities, and serving as liaisons to communities. The Section also leads a CARB-wide goal of operationalizing racial equity through the implementation of a racial equity lens. The Section includes a team of enthusiastic staff working collaboratively with OCAP community liaisons, other CARB divisions, technical staff from air districts as well as stakeholders from community groups, industry, and other government agencies to address AB 617 technical and policy requirements.
 

The incoming LT APS will join the section and join a team within OCAP charged with designing and executing an extramural contract to evaluate the Program. The evaluation will assess how well the Program has achieved statutory goals, adhered to environmental justice principles and addressed community priorities. The evaluation will be guided by external input. In addition to qualitative data sources, the evaluation will rely on previous evaluative efforts, and information such as, but not limited to, Blueprint, Draft Blueprint 2.0, CERPs, and annual reports. The evaluation will identify lessons learned, unanticipated benefits, and outline key barriers to be addressed for future implementation.

Engagement with community members, community-based organizations (CBO's), community steering committees (CSC's) as well as air districts is an essential function for both the evaluation and overall section responsibilities. The evaluation team will be responsible for outreach and engagement to ensure stakeholder feedback is considered and incorporated in the evaluation. The LT APS will be expected to exercise tact, judgment and sensitivity in these conversations to ensure every voice is heard and a sound final recommendation is based on robust public feedback.

The LT APS will be expected to familiarize themselves with various aspects of the Program, including, but not limited to CERP’s, community air monitoring plans (CAMP’s), community air grants, community air protection (CAP) incentives, etc. in order to support design of the contract to evaluate programmatic elements relating to funding, emissions reduction, exposure reduction, enforcement actions, outreach, and training. The LT APS will be required to track and ensure contractual obligations are being met and communicate the progress to stakeholders throughout the contract life. The LT APS may be required to develop and maintain a website or a data visualization tool to communicate evaluation progress.

Under the direction of the Section supervisor, the ideal candidate should be able to work independently as well as in teams and balance and prioritize assignments. This position requires completing both short and long-term tasks that will often involve completing critical assignments under tight timeframes.

• Occasional overnight travel will be required.
• Class C driver’s license is required for consideration.
• CARB interview options include remote phone and video interviews.

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

Working Conditions

The positions at the CARB may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position 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 hybrid telework eligibility, all employees may be required to report to the position’s designated headquarters location at their own expense, as indicated on their duty statement.

• Position located in a high-rise building.
• Requires being stationary, consistent with office work, for extended periods.
• Standard office environment (artificial lighting, controlled temperature, etc.).
• Daily use of a personal computer, office equipment, and/or telephone.
• Occasional overnight travel required.