Air Pollution Specialist

 We are announcing this vacancy in both Sacramento and Riverside.

The Office of Community Air Protection (OCAP) is looking for an engaging, creative, and enthusiastic Air Pollution Specialist (APS) to work in a fast-paced, high-profile, team-oriented, collaborative environment to develop and implement the Community Air Protection Program (Program), as directed by Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (C. Garcia, Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017). AB 617 is transformative legislation to ensure that all communities, particularly those that bear the greatest burdens, benefit equitably from clean air programs. The Program prioritizes CARB's goal of operationalizing racial equity through the development and implementation of a racial equity lens, while also promoting the principles of environmental justice.

 Under direction of the Air Resources Supervisor I, the APS will work with a collaborative team of policy staff to guide the implementation of the statewide strategy (also known as the Program Blueprint) for reducing toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutant emissions within highly impacted communities throughout California. The APS will help promote the exchange of ideas and innovative community-driven and community-focused grant projects in the Community Air Grants Program (CAG) under OCAP's State Strategy Section. The APS will serve as an OCAP community liaison to local community emission reduction plan projects (L-CERPs), AB 617 communities, and their respective air districts.

CAGs are statutorily required to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in the process of developing community emissions reduction plans and air monitoring plans. The APS will clearly and effectively communicate the results and implications of technical air monitoring projects to AB 617 stakeholders and CAG grantees. The APS will be required to engage and collaborate with community representatives, air districts, academia, business/industry, local, state, federal, and tribal government representatives, and other AB 617 stakeholders. The APS will evaluate the accomplishments and lessons learned through the Community Air Protection Program and Community Air Grants Program to develop reports, tools, and presentations to highlight the benefits and opportunities within these Programs to transfer immediate and long-range outcomes to other impacted and vulnerable communities throughout the state. The APS will build upon and foster the Program’s relationships with vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and other AB 617 stakeholders statewide. The APS will coordinate with other staff and community representatives to design easy-to-understand communication products and tools to uplift the successes of projects of the CAGs Program.

 The APS will liaise with vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, air districts, and other AB 617 stakeholders to reduce cumulative air quality emission reductions. The APS will coordinate Program and CAG Program work with other CARB Division staff, air districts, and AB 617 stakeholders to reduce cumulative criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants and maximize health benefits and environmental equity goals in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden throughout the state. The APS will respond to evolving programmatic needs to adapt, improvise, or create additional strategies to support new directions for the Program.

The APS will plan and coordinate with other units within OCAP and other CARB Divisions to evaluate and leverage CAG and Cap and Trade incentives funding benefits in highly impacted communities. As a Community Project Liaison, the APS will work cooperatively with other CARB programs to address issues with extreme sensitivity and complexity usually dealing with emerging, or undefined challenges or problems regarding the implementation of the AB 617 Program. The APS will also participate in community meetings as necessary and act as an information resource broker for CARB's Community Air Protection funding to coordinate broadly across OCAP and other CARB Divisions to bring the necessary expertise to AB 617 community steering committees in support of community emissions reduction plans (CERPs) development and implementation.

The Strate Strategy Section is a collaborative policy and technical assistance team working with 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 primary responsibility of the Section includes communicating progress made through the Program while also supporting and leveraging effective community-focused air quality strategies to reduce cumulative criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants and maximize health benefits and environmental equity goals in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden throughout the state. The ability to write, speak, and communicate clearly, in a concise matter is key to being effective in this position. 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.
 

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

Working Conditions

This position may be eligible for hybrid in-office work and in-state telework. The amount of telework is at the agency's discretion and is based on the California Air Resource Boards' (CARB) current telework policy. While the CARB may support telework, some in-person attendance is also required. 

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 outlined 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.