What are the responsibilities and job description for the Indoor Air Quality Program Specialist - Physical Science Researcher/Scientist II position at State of Colorado Job Opportunities?
Department Information
This position is ONLY open to current Colorado state residents.
This position is a hybrid position with one day a week in office.
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical conditions related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a TERM-LIMITED position and funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 01/15/2027. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.
Be BOLD.....Make a REAL difference . . . and join us in serving our communities advancing Colorado's health and protecting the places we live, work, learn, and play, to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.
Our mission… is to advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, work, learn, and play.
Our vision… is to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.
In addition to free parking, access to RTD bus lines, Cherry Creek bike path and flexible working arrangements, click the link below to review additional benefits and perks!!! https://cdphe.colorado.gov/careers
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch
The referral list generated by this position announcement may be used to fill multiple position vacancies and may be extended.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) serves Coloradans by providing high-quality, and cost-effective public health and environmental protection services that promote healthy people in healthy places. Staff members focus on evidence-based best practices in the public health and environmental fields and play a critical role in educating people in Colorado so they can make informed choices. In addition to maintaining and enhancing our core programs, the Department continues to identify and respond to emerging issues affecting Colorado's public and environmental health.
Description of Job
The Work Unit:
Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR)
This position is within the Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Unit of the Health Equity Branch, within the Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) Division. The DCPHR Division is responsible for ensuring that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and, more broadly, the State of Colorado has the ability to effectively prepare for, monitor, detect, diagnose, investigate, and nimbly respond to all types of conditions, events, and disasters that impact the public’s health. The DCPHR Division leads the planning, prevention, detection, testing, data management, analysis, investigation, mitigation, preparedness, and response to communicable diseases and other acute health conditions.
DCPHR’s Health Equity Branch exists to expand and promote equitable access to opportunities and resources that impact an individual’s or community’s health and wellbeing. The Branch partners with community-based organizations, healthcare entities, and local public health agencies in Colorado by promoting health equity and implementing strategies tailored to address the varying complex causes of health disparities. The Branch works collaboratively to set strategic priorities, collect and disseminate data, identify and implement effective strategies, and align resources within the division and across the department and other state agencies.
The Health Equity Branch includes an Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Unit. This Unit consists of several lines of work focused around tasks of providing support and prevention for workforces impacted by various exposure and health concerns. The Unit is driven by a foundational understanding that work is a social determinant of health and that there are a number of intersectionalities between what people do for work and health equity. Supporting workers in ensuring a healthy work environment is an integral part of CDPHE’s mission to advance Coloradoan’s health and protect the places where we live, work, and play.
The Indoor Air Quality Team serves to support the general public in understanding how building ventilation, HVAC operations, and other building management decisions can impact indoor air quality and the connection between indoor air quality and health, as well as what can be done to improve indoor air quality in workplaces, schools, community-use buildings, congregate housing settings, and other public indoor settings. The team consists of subject matter experts in the field of environmental health, air pollution, building science/facilities management and operations, and emergency planning and response. The work focuses on protecting public health through education, outreach, and research-to-action programs that focus on the area of how poor indoor air quality contributes to poor health outcomes, and how improvements to indoor air quality can be made to improve health outcomes and reduce risks.
DCPHR, and the Health Equity Branch, operate on the belief that all people (no matter their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, ability or geographic location) should have the opportunity to live healthy lives.
What You Will Be Doing:
The Indoor Air Quality Program Specialist is a position that exists to implement work under the Indoor Air Quality Team. In general, this Program’s work involves assisting communities and partners – with a focus on vulnerable and/or high risk populations - in understanding indoor air quality within workplaces, schools, and community-use buildings. This includes topics of sources of indoor air pollution, how indoor air quality impacts occupant health, how to assess or evaluate the status of indoor air quality in a building, and steps to improve indoor air quality or maintain healthy indoor spaces. The position requires understanding of risk factors contributing to disparities in health outcomes, specifically related to indoor air quality, ventilation, and built environments. This position also requires technical expertise and a deep scientific understanding of sources and measurements of indoor pollutants, as well as how indoor air quality impacts occupant health and workplace safety and wellbeing. This position requires the ability to communicate technical and scientific findings in terms that the general public can understand and readily act upon. In addition to the technical subject matter expertise just described, the position also requires skills in general project implementation, including: planning; time and task management; the ability to manage multiple concurrent work streams and deadlines; effectively communication of ideas and work progress to team members across different levels; customer-service oriented communications with stakeholders for outreach and engagement; and a high level of professional written communication skills for generating publicly accessible reports.
This position focuses to implement the “Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings” Program, which is an EPA grant funded initiative that provides outreach, education, and training for local community partners on responding to wildfire smoke and its impacts on community health. Should additional funding be secured to maintain this position after the end of the Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Program, this position would continue to serve other programs to provide guidance and maintain clean indoor air for indoor spaces around Colorado.
Responsibilities of the position include but not limited to:
Content Creation
- This position supports the program’s core functions of providing technical and educational resources, guides, and support to community partners, by taking a lead role in developing educational content for community partners.
- Develops content for newsletters, educational topic flyers, and technical support guidance documents and presentations. Drafts original content and/or uses resources from other agencies as examples, adapting to fit specific communities or partners.
- Develops a cohesive curriculum for educational webinars and workshops that address different areas of technical support to stakeholders in indoor air quality, building management, wildfire smoke preparedness, and other related topics. Generates presentations, worksheets, templates, etc. to be shared with external partners.
- Regularly identifies and reviews current and relevant guidance and research published by other agencies, organizations, and research institutions.
- Effectively translates technical content from outside organizations into publicly accessible educational materials and actionable guidance relevant to local partners.
Internal and External Partner Engagement and Collaboration
- This position helps identify, establish, and maintain partnerships with both external partners (including LPHAs or other local government representatives, school representatives, community based organizations, university partners, business owners/managers, and others) and internal partners (e.g., CDPHE employees in Air Pollution Control Division, Environmental Health & Sustainability Division, or other state agency partners).
- Coordinates and/or participates in content area working groups and partner meetings on a regular basis, to discuss our program and its expertise and support offerings, and collaborate or assist partners in reaching their goals related to indoor air quality, wildfire smoke preparedness, and healthy indoor environments for community and school members.
- Facilitates and manages the development of outreach activities and education opportunities for partners.
- Applies expertise in effectively communicating advice and assistance related to complex public health issues around indoor air quality, wildfire smoke, other air pollution issues, and related emergency preparedness, to stakeholders representing a variety of perspectives and interests, with an understanding of the appropriate cultural, social, and political frameworks, as well as the ethical/legal issues related to the state and nationally. This includes effective communication through presentations to various audiences, active facilitation of/participation in partner and consultation meetings, and written guidance and education materials.
Program Outreach/Marketing and Awareness Building
- Develops and distributes effective outreach and marketing materials to increase program awareness and participation with a variety of potential school and community partners.
- Identifies, and conducts outreach with, key community and school partners that could benefit from the program services.
- Organizes and participates in potential partner meetings to discuss the program, its expertise and support offerings, and how the program can collaborate or assist partners in reaching their goals related to indoor air quality, wildfire smoke preparedness and healthy indoor environments for community and school members.
- Maintains regular communication with partners on program updates, offerings, and services.
Emergency Planning and Preparedness Support
- Develops content and guidance for emergency planning and preparedness for school and community partners, related to air pollution and air quality events.
- Facilitates individual and group consultation meetings to support partner preparedness and planning efforts for air pollution events that impact indoor air quality in community buildings (e.g., wildfire smoke events).
- Provide support to community and school partners conducting emergency planning and preparedness tasks, on how to incorporate actions related to for air pollution events that impact indoor air quality in community buildings (e.g., wildfire smoke events).
- Identify and engage with key community and school partners to advance preparedness efforts related to indoor air quality in school and community buildings during air pollution events (e.g., wildfire smoke events).
Technical Subject Matter Expertise
- Serve as a subject matter expert on topics related to the program’s core functions, for example indoor air quality, building operations/management, environmental health, and emergency preparedness and planning.
- Apply technical knowledge to effectively respond to subject-matter inquiries from the public and program partners.
- Translate technical content to publicly accessible and actionable guidance.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications:
NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.
Work Experience:
Six (6) years of relevant experience in public health, environmental science, indoor air quality, ventilation controls, air quality monitoring/sampling/data analysis, industrial hygiene, emergency preparedness, public health communications, or other closely related experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.
OR:
Education and Work Experience:
A combination of related education from an accredited institution in Public Health, Environmental Health, Occupational Health/Industrial Hygiene, Epidemiology, Biology, Chemistry, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, Engineering, Emergency Preparedness, Communications, or a field of study closely related to the work assignment. AND/OR Relevant experience in public health, environmental science, indoor air quality, ventilation controls, air quality monitoring/sampling/data analysis, industrial hygiene, emergency preparedness, public health communications, or other closely related experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to six (6) years.
**This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.**
**A copy of your transcript must be submitted at the time of application (Unofficial transcripts are acceptable).**
NOTE: Click on the link here How to Apply to submit a complete application that documents your work history giving details of your qualifications, including how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications for this position when listing your work history.
Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:
- Relevant experience with the State of Colorado
- Experience with air quality data
- Experience partnering with community partners and/or schools in conducting emergency planning and preparedness tasks or events
- Experience with developing educational content and curriculum for community partners
- Work or educational experience related to wildfires (e.g., wildfire smoke/air quality considerations, wildfire emergency response/management, education for public or community partners related to wildfire events)
- Knowledge and experience writing technical reports, research studies, and scientific publications
- Experience working with and maintaining relationships with community partners
- Experience/knowledge of buildings operations/management, for community-use buildings (especially schools)
- Experience presenting/communicating scientific work (e.g., at conferences and/or to the public; written reports, presentations, or oral engagements)
- Strong work ethic
- Team player with good people skills
Conditions of Employment:
- Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a background check is required for all positions at CDPHE.
- This is a term-limited position. Funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 01/15/2027. The incumbent in this position must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.
- Critical Status: Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.
- Critical Status: Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.
- Critical Status: Must be available Expected to work and/or remain at their worksite in delayed start, early release, or closure situations.
Appeal Rights:
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director. An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action. For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
Supplemental Information
A complete application packet must include:
- A completed State of Colorado application.
- A cover letter that describes how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position.
- A resume that describes how your experience and/or education aligns with the minimum qualifications, preferred qualifications, and/or job responsibilities of this position.
- If using education to qualify, a copy of your college/university transcripts. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application. (unofficial copy acceptable).
- If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.
The Selection Process:
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All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
- If you submit more than one application, before the closing deadline, only the most recent application submitted will be used in the recruitment process.
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Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
- Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
- A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.
E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
You must currently reside and be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDPHE does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.
ADAAA Accommodations:
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Dan McKenna, at daniel.mckenna@state.co.us or call 303-692-2060, option 5.
