Community Air Monitoring Technical Assessment Specialist (Staff Air Pollution Specialist)

Job Description and Duties The Air Monitoring Support Branch maintains teams in both Sacramento and Riverside; therefore, this position is available for applicants that are able to report to either location. This is a unique opportunity within the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Monitoring and Laboratory Division (MLD) as a Staff Air Pollution Specialist (SAPS). This position will support the Community Air Protection and Environmental Justice programs, established under AB 617 and SB 352, which focus on reducing air pollution exposure in California's most impacted neighborhoods. The Air Monitoring Support Branch implements air monitoring projects using a range of innovative technologies and platforms, including mobile laboratories, fixed-site monitoring, and distributed sensor networks. Our mission is to evaluate and incorporate emerging monitoring technologies to ensure high-quality ambient air data that supports CARB programs, public health, and environmental justice. We collaborate closely with CARB divisions, local air districts, community organizations, industry stakeholders, and scientific experts. We are seeking SAPS to co-lead the community air monitoring network assessment in support of CARB's Community Air Protection Program. This position will help evaluate the effectiveness of community air monitoring networks across California, identify monitoring gaps, and develop recommendations for future monitoring priorities and deployments. The SAPS will work with large and complex air monitoring datasets and contribute technical findings to statewide monitoring plan updates and annual Board and legislative reporting. In this role, you will develop and apply methods for assessing monitoring network performance, data quality, coverage, and effectiveness; maintain pollutant-specific coverage maps; and translate technical findings into clear, defensible recommendations for CARB leadership and the public. You will work closely with air districts, community groups, state agencies, academia, technology vendors, and other partners to incorporate technical feasibility, health relevance, and community priorities into monitoring decisions. Strong skills in technical reporting and public communication, environmental data analysis, air monitoring, and collaborative project work are highly desired. Key Responsibilities:• Co-lead assessment of community air monitoring networks to identify coverage gaps, evaluate monitoring effectiveness, and prioritize future monitoring.• Lead evaluation of advanced and emerging air monitoring technologies for criteria pollutants and toxic air contaminants• Present monitoring findings and recommendations to the Board and brief executive leadership, translating complex technical analyses into clear options for decision-making.• Communicate monitoring data and outcomes to community members and the public through workshops, community meetings, and plain-language materials.• Prepare analyses, presentations, and recommendations for statewide monitoring plan updates, Board materials, and legislative reporting.• Coordinate with air districts, community groups, state agencies, academia, vendors, and other partners on monitoring data, outcomes, and future priorities.• Analyze large, complex air monitoring datasets and develop standardized analysis approaches, coverage maps, gap analyses, and other technical products that support statewide monitoring decisions.• Review scientific literature and emerging monitoring approaches and translate findings into practical guidance. Additional Requirements:- Valid California driver’s license and occasional use of personal transportation for work-related travel.- Availability for field work, including potential changes to work schedule, overtime, and overnight travel.- Use of personal protective equipment (e.g., steel-toed boots, hard hats, goggles, gloves) when required, as determined by the supervisor or Health and Safety Officer. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements • The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions. • The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired. Applicants must include a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for this recruitment. The SOQ is a narrative discussion prepared by the applicant describing how the applicant’s skills, knowledge, abilities, education, training, and experience, qualify them for the position. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. CARB will not consider applicants who fail to provide an SOQ with their application. Resumes do not take place of the SOQ. • Require Name on SOQ • Require Job Control Number on SOQ • Maximum number of pages: 1, Arial 12 pt font Describe your education, training, experience, and skills that enable you to perform the duties listed in the Duty Statement. Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: The ideal candidate will have strong experience analyzing air quality or environmental data, including large and complex datasets, and will understand air monitoring and monitoring-network design. Experience with data management, geospatial analysis, mapping, and data visualization is highly desirable, as is familiarity with tools such as Python, SQL, GIS, or similar platforms. The candidate should be able to develop reproducible analytical methods and use data to identify trends, assess monitoring coverage and effectiveness, and inform priorities for future monitoring. Equally important is the ability to communicate technical work to decision-makers and the public. The ideal candidate will have experience presenting findings and recommendations to executive leadership, boards, or similar decision-making bodies, and explaining technical information to community members in plain language, both in writing and in person. The candidate should be able to synthesize multiple sources of technical information into concise briefings, maps, metrics, and summaries tailored to audiences ranging from technical partners to community groups to senior leadership. Experience with public workshops or community engagement is highly desirable. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project coordination skills are essential. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and effective working with air districts, community groups, state agencies, researchers, and other partners.