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.
This position may be eligible for hybrid in-office work and in-state telework. The amount of telework is at the agency's discretion and is based on the California Air Resources Boards' (CARB) current telework policy. While the CARB may support telework, some in-person attendance is also required.
The positions at the CARB may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position under Government Code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California, subject to the candidate meeting telework eligibility criteria outlined in the CalEPA telework policy and/or future program need. Employees not residing in California are not eligible for telework. Regardless of hybrid telework eligibility, all employees may be required to report to the position’s designated headquarters location at their own expense, as indicated on their duty statement.
PLP Language:
Effective July 1, 2025, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee shall receive a 3 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 5 hours PLP 2025 leave credits, monthly. The salary range(s) included in the job advertisement do not reflect the 3 percent reduction in pay.
- Requires being stationary, consistent with office work, for extended periods.
- Standard office environment (artificial lighting, controlled temperature, etc.)
- Daily use of a personal computer, office equipment, and/or telephone.
- Must be able to move/transport equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- During instrument deployment, instrument maintenance in the field, and certain meetings telework is not possible and the employee will be required on site.
- Occasional travel may be required.
