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 Air 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 in the Ambient Air Quality Analysis section of the Meteorology and Measurements Division. This is an open recruitment for one(1) full-time, represented position.
The Meteorology and Measurement Division supports the mission of the District by monitoring air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area ;forecasting regional and local air quality; conducting ambient air quality data analysis to support various District programs and initiatives, 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.
About the Position
The primary objective of the Ambient Air Quality Analysis (AAQA)section of the Meteorology and Measurement Division is to improve the understanding of air quality in the Bay Area using air monitoring and meteorological data. This goal is accomplished by designing air monitoring studies to collect actionable community-scale air quality data; analyzing, interpreting, and communicating the results of air monitoring studies, and supporting the use of air monitoring data in other Air District programs. In addition to supporting our air monitoring efforts, this section also supports community organizations in developing or implementing air monitoring projects, using existing data, or seeking funding for new air monitoring projects.
This Principal Air Quality Specialist in AAQA will specialize in air monitoring study design and data analysis for criteria pollutants and air toxics, support Strategic Plan and AB 617 CERP implementation, conduct local-scale and source-oriented air quality assessments, and will collaborate with community members with their air quality projects. The Principal in this group performs complex assignments in support of the District's goals and objectives, providing project leadership for coordinating and developing programs.
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:
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.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience troubleshooting and working with meteorological and ambient air monitoring data, including concentrations of criteria air pollutants and air toxics from fixed sites and/or mobile air monitoring studies
- Experience using various environmental statistical data methods, including approaches for source apportionment of ambient concentrations
- Experience with air toxics and particle speciation air monitoring and laboratory analysis methods
- Fundamental atmospheric chemistry knowledge
- Experience working with people in areas experiencing disproportionate cumulative impacts, designing and performing technical work aligned with environmental justice principles and centering racial equity.
Other Requirements:
Some positions may require a valid California driver's license.
Some positions may require a California Air Resources Board Visible Emissions Evaluation Certification obtained within 6 months of employment.
Some positions may require the physical ability to work near and in the presence of hazardous and toxic materials, climb high structures to evaluate processes in operation, lift heavy safety and test equipment, and to use self-contained breathing apparatus.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
- Theories, principles and practices of air quality measurements or inspection and enforcement, including environmental research and analysis.
- Applicable Air District, state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
- Basic legal principles of civil prosecution, particularly as they relate to environmental enforcement.
- Basic principles of engineering, chemistry, physics and biology as they relate to air quality programs.
- Industrial processes and equipment used in air pollution control.
- Common biological, chemical and physical processes that cause air pollution and their long and short-term impacts and effects.
- General principles of data quality and control.
- Industrial practices and techniques to modify production processes and equipment to reduce emissions.
- Record-keeping and reporting principles and practices.
- General principles of records management.
Skill in:
- Planning, assigning, directing and reviewing the work of others.
- Training others in work procedures.
- Directing, developing and administering effective air quality programs.
- Analyzing technical air pollution problems, evaluating alternative solutions and developing effective recommendations.
- Analyzing and interpreting technical and legal rules, policies and procedures.
- Reading and understanding technical engineering diagrams and processes.
- Preparing clear and concise technical reports, correspondence, presentations, and other written materials.
- Negotiating settlements tactfully and effectively.
- Communicating technical and non-technical information orally and in writing to various audiences.
- Exercising sound independent judgement within established guidelines.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District
$138,567.88 - $168,430.13 Annually
medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, vacation time, paid holidays, sick time, tuition reimbursement, retirement plan, pension, remote work
Jul 01, 2026