Air Quality Specialist (Community Emission Reduction Program)

South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated environmental regulatory agencies in the Nation.  We serve a four-county region that includes large areas of Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley, which is home to more than 17 million people.  South Coast AQMD's headquarters is located in Diamond Bar, 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, at the junction of the 57 and 60 freeways.   With a highly diverse "Clean Air Team" of over 850 employees, an annual budget of $211.4 million, and a state-of-the art air quality laboratory, our mission is to ensure clean air and a healthy environment. South Coast AQMD is an organization you can be proud to work for -- we make a difference in the quality of life in Southern California!

• Review complex technical data or analysis in preparation of a program plan.
• Collect and review South Coast AQMD permits, compliance information, emissions data, or other data to help develop implementation approaches for proposed plans.
• Prepare plan concepts, staff reports, and presentation materials as part of a program development and implementation process.
• Develop and implement air pollution reduction programs in disproportionally impacted communities.
• Outreach and collaboration with other agencies to address air toxic issues in communities.
• Interact and work with community representatives and local governments to develop solutions for issues impacting disproportionally communities and to help ensure that the key concerns from the communities are addressed.
• Support community outreach, public communication, and health risk communication around high-profile situations.
  • Develop and conduct presentations at public meetings.
  • Address public inquiries related to air pollution concerns and program plans.
  • Develop written materials (fact sheets, reports) for a public audience to address the key questions regarding program elements.

The general Example of Duties for this classification are highlighted below, for full description of duties please refer to this link here.

• Works with engineers, planners, other environmental professionals, Information Management staff, and other personnel to develop and implement methods and techniques for the analysis and evaluation of air quality studies and plans.
• Applies mathematical, statistical, and engineering modeling and analytical techniques to the analysis of research and survey data; prepares graphs, charts, and statistical summaries from derived data; determines appropriate data collection methods for use in research projects; and may assist in determining methods for more complex studies.
• Assists in developing or develops recommendations concerning air quality management programs, plans, and rules and prepares related reports and correspondence.
• Assists in preparing technical analyses and recommended positions on proposed and pending legislation relating to air quality management.
• Reviews and analyzes a wide variety of environmental documents; conducts air quality impact analyses and assessments; and writes or coordinates the writing of Environmental Impact Reports.
• Evaluates economic impacts of air quality regulations and develops economic incentives to achieve designated air quality standards.
• May assist in organizing and participating in workshops and meetings, and provide consultation and advice to individuals and businesses in matters related to area of expertise.
• May assist in preparing and making presentations on proposed rules, rule amendments and other air quality-related projects and studies.

• Training and experience in air pollution science, environmental health, public health, toxicology, environmental engineering, community program planning and implementation, and/or risk communication.
• Proven abilities in designing and implementing community air pollution programs and working with community groups on air pollution-related issues or abilities in designing similar programs or working with community groups on issues that would be transferable to air pollution reduction programs.
• Strong technical abilities in research and analysis, including the use of spreadsheets, databases, and other automated statistical software.
• Knowledge of procurement and contracting procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to gather and analyze data and prepare reports on complex technical issues in succinct, easily understood formats.
• Ability to research and review complex air quality issues and technical documents, make recommendations, and communicate key issues, orally and in writing.
• Proven ability to work under extremely aggressive timelines.
• Knowledge of and experience with relevant federal and State laws and South Coast AQMD environmental rules and regulations.
• Proven ability to handle controversial issues and concerns raised by special interest groups and other members of the public.
• Skill with related computer applications and tools for data analysis, research, and report preparation.
• Ability to effectively communicate agency positions and potential air pollution issues at meetings, workshops and public hearings.

1. A completed employment application covering at least the past 10 years of employment history (or longer if you have other relevant experience), and your entire South Coast AQMD employment history if you are a South Coast AQMD employee.
2. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ). The SQ is a form of written test, and will be evaluated as such.  Your responses should be well written, clear, concise, and directly responsive to the question.
3.  Up to four references which include the names and phone numbers of your present and past supervisors or managers, and/or college professors or persons for whom you have directly provided services, not peers.
4. An unofficial copy of your transcripts (or equivalency evaluation if your education was obtained outside the U.S.), documenting all qualifying education claimed, submitted as an attachment to your online application*.

*You MUST submit acceptable documentation for all education claimed on your application. Acceptable documentation consists of an unofficial copy of your transcripts/equivalency evaluation attached to your application.  At a later date, candidates under final consideration will be required to arrange for original, official transcripts (or equivalency evaluation, if applicable) to be mailed directly from their college/university to South Coast AQMD, documenting all education claimed on their application.

Job applications must be completely filled out.   A resume cannot be substituted for the required information. Be sure to detail any education, training or other relevant coursework that would make you a particularly strong candidate.

Application packets, including responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire, will first be screened, and the most competitively qualified candidates will be invited to a multiple-choice examination, to be rated on a pass/fail basis.  Candidates who pass the exam will advance to the next step in the process, which may include a panel interview. (Please note that all assessments will be conducted remotely).

Following the assessment process, a ranked eligible list is expected to be created, from which the current vacancy may be filled, during the 6–12-month life of the list. Only those who demonstrate at each successive step of the selection process that they are among the most competitively qualified will be advanced to the next step. (Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to future steps in the process.)

Important note for potential candidates who do not have the continued and unrestricted right to work full time in the United States:  If you currently, or will in the future, require sponsorship (i.e., H1-B Visa) in order to maintain your right to work in the United States, please be aware that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. 

Candidates who may need accommodations during the selection process must call the Human Resources Department at least one week prior to any test dates.

Salary : $94,414 - $130,368