Research Section Manager

Applying electronically via CalCareers is highly recommended. If submitting a hardcopy application (mail/drop-off), please send an email to Essam.Gad@arb.ca.gov to confirm submission.
 

This position is a 12-month Limited Term (LT) and may be extended up to 24 months or become permanent.

If you have permanent status and have passed probation, you have mandatory reinstatement rights into your former position/classification at the end of this LT appointment. You will be separated from state service if you have not had prior permanent or probationary civil service status. During this 12-month limited-term assignment, you may be entitled to receive health, dental, and vision benefits. You will also earn State Service and accrue monthly leave credits.

The Research Division of the California Air Resources Board is looking for an enthusiastic, personable, and technically inclined research section manager to guide one Staff Air Pollution Specialist and four Air Pollution Specialists to design, coordinate, and lead research projects that update our understanding of the interactions between air quality, climate, and NWL at the state, national, and international levels. The candidate will work closely with various program divisions and stakeholders working toward the 2045 carbon neutrality target. Duties include research planning, partner engagement, staff supervision, mentoring, report writing, presentations to technical and non-technical stakeholders, data analysis, and outreach.

Under supervision of an Air Resources Supervisor II, the successful candidate will lead the Lands and Climate Science Section with a similarly capable team of experts with breadths of experiences not limited to data analytics, contract management, ambient air monitoring, computer programming, air quality and emissions modeling, and communication. The section collectively evaluates both the direct and indirect effects of climate change mitigation efforts on NWL in the context of AB 1757, the Scoping Plan, and State Implementation Plan (SIP) objectives, supports the policy decisions related to Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) mitigation strategies, inform emission inventories, natural carbon sequestration, and nature-based climate solution programs, and conducts research to advance the methodologies for tracking GHG emissions and reductions, carbon sequestration, and other benefits from NWL.

This position is for you if you want to use your scientific knowledge and creative research to address complex climate change mitigation challenges for our future generations!

The most competitive candidate will have fluency in AB 1757, SIP, Scoping Plan, carbon stock, wildfires, forest ecosystems, agricultural burning, prescribed burning, climate change, greenhouse gases, satellite remote sensing, air pollution, atmospheric chemistry, croland agriculture, wetlands, dairy and livestock operations, environmental science, Eddy-Covariance flux emission estimation methods, vegetation fuel types, and ambient air monitoring; knowledge of the interactions between air quality, climate, and NWL; various sources that emit volatile organic compounds and air toxics; experiences in database development; demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills; intuitive understanding of quality assessment and quality control techniques; data processing using computer programming languages (e.g., Python); application development (e.g., Power App); expertise in GIS and source apportionment (e.g., Positive Matrix Factorization [PMF] models); knowledge of Federal, State, and local regulations related to air quality; ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both verbal and written forms; strong visual communication skills; experiences in writing technical and non-technical documents; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to independently complete tasks; works well in teams; excellent attention to details; supervision and mentoring experiences; conflict resolution training; team building; ability to travel. 

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.

• 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.