Principal Air Quality Specialist (Source Test)

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices. The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma. The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Principal Air Quality Specialist (Source Test) in the Meteorology and Measurement Division (M&M). This is an open recruitment for one full-time position.

About the Division
The Meteorology and Measurement Division supports the mission of the District by monitoring air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area and emissions from industrial facilities; forecasting regional and local air quality; and conducting and supporting community organizations to do community-scale monitoring to guide actions to reduce emissions in the Bay Area and in neighborhoods most impacted by air pollution.

DEFINITION

Under direction, performs the most complex and highly specialized level of program assignments in the areas of inspection, investigation, air monitoring instrument and equipment operation, air quality planning, rule development, enforcement and compliance operations, and other air quality program areas; may provide project supervision or team leadership on a project specific basis; performs related work as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This class provides the most complex and specialized program assignments in support of the Air District's goals and objectives. Incumbents are responsible for providing project leadership for coordinating and developing programs that require considerable technical knowledge and use of independent judgment. This class is distinguished from Supervising Air Quality Specialist, in that the latter assigns, supervises, reviews and evaluates the work of assigned staff on a continuing basis and conducts performance appraisals. This class is also distinguished from manager levels in that the latter performs management duties with responsibilities for a program or defined functional area.

(Illustrative Only)
General Duties:

Coordinates and carries out the most complex assignments relating to the development, review and approval processes for the Air District's new or revised rules and regulations; equipment operation and maintenance; data collection and analysis; technical review; the development of technological justifications; and/or other special projects as assigned.

Develops, recommends and implements Air District policies and programs to enforce statutory and regulatory requirements for enforcement; develops and recommends the Air District's position on various enforcement matters such as hearing board actions and settlement conferences.

Provides input into hiring selection decisions and performance evaluations.

Provides technical development and training.

Develops and implements policies, procedures, and manuals.

Develops, implements, recommends and revises forms, webpages, and other program tools.

Advises staff on technical, regulatory and programmatic issues.

Reviews and summarizes data, prepares special and periodic reports, and ensures program effectiveness.

Conducts and participates in meeting and workshops with a variety of legal, public and private agency officials to explain and interpret technical policies, data rules and regulations regarding programs.

Participates in meeting, conferences, hearing boards and workshops with public and private agencies; serves on special committees and task forces relating to air quality program activities.

Interacts and represents the Air District with industry, attorneys, the public and other agencies; provides technical expertise to Air District staff, to counsel, to industry, the public and other agencies.

Provides lead direction, training and work review to technical and support staff, prioritizes and follows up on work assignments to ensure timely completion.

May provide technical training and participate in program and staff development.

Maintains data and data systems supporting Air District programs.

May provide input to air quality program budgetary needs.

Maintains detailed technical records, standard operating procedures, and logbooks to comply with regulatory guidelines.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Representative Duties (by program area)

Some positions in this classification may be assigned to one or several program areas; an exhaustive list of program-area specific duties is not provided.

In addition to the duties listed above, the following duties (illustrative only) may be performed for positions in the select program areas:

Reviews and examines complex settlement cases and advises staff on technical regulatory issues; approves penalty reductions up to authorized limit and recommends additional reduction, enforcement or other legal action to executive staff.

Conducts the most difficult and complex commercial and industrial inspections and investigations such as, but not limited to, petroleum refineries, power plants, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, toxic and hazardous materials operations and complicated industrial operations.

Reviews and coordinates the most difficult and problematic inspections to determine and ensure the consistent technical application and interpretation of new and revised rules and regulations; develops and tests new inspection and complaint investigation methods and techniques.

Develops enforcement criteria and related inspection policies; contributes to the development and revision of rules, policies and regulations involving inspections.

Coordinates and reviews the work of inspections staff involved in special projects and audits, sensitive complaint investigations and other surveillance activities.

Coordinates contact with particular businesses, industries and other groups to explain rules, policies and inspection procedures; explains the reason for violation notices to concerned parties.

Coordinates and directs difficult and complex field investigations. Participates in various quality assurance activities for inspection activities.

Leads the preparation of enforcement case summaries and makes presentations of same; conducts office conferences with industry violators and their attorneys.

May provide technical testimony on behalf of the Air District.

Coordinates field enforcement activities with other District staff and with other public agencies.

Meteorology and Measurement

Researches and analyzes new technology, procedures, and regulations relevant to air monitoring and source testing, and makes recommendations to management regarding the implementation process.

Leads the procurement, testing, and implementation of new technology and develops operating procedures for new and existing technology.

Leads the development of special study designs by providing input on technical implementation details. Develops study specific procedures for field staff and provides training as needed.

Advises on testing, diagnosis, and repair of non-routine equipment problems. Works with instrument manufacturers to solve instrument problems caused by design, supply, or implementation issues.

Evaluates data to ensure that quality control standards are met, and quality control systems are functioning appropriately to ensure robust data is being produced. Suggests changes to the quality system necessary to correct or prevent data quality issues.

Performs complex duties involving installation, operation, maintenance, calibration and repair of air monitoring, meteorological, and source test equipment and instrumentation.

Evaluates and makes recommendations to ensure that all programs are following applicable regulations in support of Air District goals and objectives.

Works with outside contractors to provide specialized air quality and source test measurements.

Works with the data management team to ensure that data systems meet the needs of the Air District in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations for the storage, processing, and transmittal of regulatory data.

Advises on the development, implementation, and evaluation of new air monitoring and source test programs and makes recommendations to ensure that existing programs continue to comply with federal requirements.

Conducts mobile, portable, or stationary source-oriented monitoring. Prepares and collects various samples of ambient air and source test pollutants at air monitoring sites and stationary sources.

Maintains detailed technical records and logbooks.

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university with major coursework in chemistry, computer science, electronics, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, meteorology, physical sciences, physics, or a closely related field.

AND

Experience:

Five (5) years of experience performing air quality inspections; installing, operating and maintaining air monitoring and quality assessment instruments and equipment, or developing and administering air quality programs, of which at least two (2) years included performing lead or supervisory responsibilities equivalent to the Air District's Senior Air Quality Specialist.

Substitution: Any combination of relevant training and work experience in the listed or related fields may substitute for the education criteria on a year for year basis.

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application, along with a chronological resume and the answers to the Supplemental Questionnaire no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Applications are accepted online; please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply.

Resumes must be attached to the application and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Postmarks, faxes, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Supplemental Questions Instructions
Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the required supplemental questions. Applications must be received by the Human Resources Office no later than the time and date specified in this vacancy announcement. The responses to the supplemental application questions will be used in accordance with the procedures indicated under the Selection Criteria section.

You must provide the following for each question regarding experience: The name of the employer where you gained your experience, your job title, length of time in years/months performing the specific function, and detailed examples that illustrate your duties and responsibilities.

Please limit your responses to no more than one page (500 words) per question. Do not combine your responses or reference your application, resume, or any other requested documentation that you have included with your application packet to answer a question. This information will be evaluated as is and may be used to determine those applicants with the most directly related experience, education, and training to continue in the selection process. It is very important to provide a concise, clear, legible, complete response to each question.