Fire Emission Inventory Specialist

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is looking for a highly adaptable and technically capable scientist to join the Fire Emission Inventory team (“the Team”) in the Emission Inventory Analysis Section of the Air Quality Planning and Science Division. The Team is responsible for developing a comprehensive emission inventory of fire activities across California, including wildfire, prescribed fire, Tribal cultural fire, agricultural burn, and structural/automobile fire incidents. The Team’s data products are part of the official emission inventory of the State of California. The data are used in various applications such as air quality planning, exceptional event demonstration, tracking progress towards pollutant reduction goals, and assessment of fire’s impact on air quality and health.

The project portfolio of this position includes estimating air pollutant emissions generated by wildfire, as well as participating in related emission inventory activities supporting the development of vegetation/fuels datasets and analysis of other intentional/accidental fires on the landscape. The projects have a strong emphasis on geospatial analysis, emission modeling, developing workflow using programming languages, and applying science in continual refinements of inventory methodology.

The position’s responsibilities include: quantifying the amount of criteria pollutant, greenhouse gas, and air toxics emissions generated by fire activities; compiling, collating, and reconciling fire activity datasets collected by state and federal government agencies; characterizing the vegetation fuel and human-made materials consumed by fire; working with government agency partners and researchers in developing emission inventory methodology and ongoing data improvements; developing efficient workflow pipelines using programming languages; evaluating scientific publication and emerging datasets for potential use in continual inventory refinements; conducting data QAQC; performing routine and custom analyses related to fire emissions, responding to requests from internal/external stakeholders; and participating in related emission inventory activities such as vegetation/fuels datasets and intentional/accidental fires on the landscape. Other duties include writing technical reports and documentation; preparing briefing papers and summaries; giving presentations to staff, management, other government agencies, and the general public; and assisting the manager in the planning, organizing, and implementation of the Team’s responsibilities.  

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.