Air Pollution Specialist

The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Consumer Products Program plays a critical role in improving California’s air quality by reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxic air contaminants, and greenhouse gases from everyday products used in homes, businesses, and institutions. Although each product emits only a small amount of pollution, Californians use hundreds of millions of consumer products every year, which makes this program essential to the State’s efforts to reduce smog-forming emissions and meet federal air quality standards.

The Technical Development Section (TDS) is seeking a motivated and analytical Air Pollution Specialist (APS) to join the Consumer Products and Air Quality Assessment Branch (CPAQAB) within the Air Quality Planning and Science Division (AQPSD).

This position provides the opportunity to support the development of future regulations that reduce ground-level ozone by evaluating complex datasets, performing emissions calculations, and assessing the technical feasibility and potential impacts of proposed regulatory strategies. The APS will also contribute to updating CARB’s consumer products VOC emission inventory using survey data, market information, and emerging trends. This analysis forms the scientific foundation for developing product standards, establishing reactivity limits, and identifying effective opportunities for emission reductions. The role additionally offers opportunities to design or refine analytical tools that support emissions inventory development, regulatory analysis, and overall program evaluation.

This position requires a person who is very comfortable working on projects both in a team setting and alone, as well as interacting (both verbally and in writing) with the public, industry, air districts, and other governmental agencies. The successful candidate needs to have good writing skills and be capable of communicating effectively with a technical audience, while also being able to translate highly technical material for CARB management and staff, government agencies, community members, industry, and other stakeholders.

Additional details about specific duties and responsibilities can be found in the Duty Statement.

CARB offers various modern interview options including remote phone and video interviews

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

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 Resource 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.

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.

• Position located in a high-rise building.
• 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.