Staff Air Pollution Specialist

This position can be located in Sacramento or Riverside County.

The Innovative Strategies Branch implements incentive projects that equitably transform the transportation, agriculture, and freight sectors, improve the well-being and quality of life for all Californians, and spur and support competitive markets. With open minds we use social, environmental, and economic justice as the guiding principles for our clean transportation policy.

The Innovative Heavy-Duty Strategies Section is at the forefront of designing and implementing incentive programs to advance zero-emission heavy-duty fleet transformation in California, while advancing equity especially in communities most impacted by air pollution. The mission of the section is to enable and motivate heavy-duty fleets to transform to zero-emission by stimulating and supporting a competitive market through incentives.

The Section is seeking a Staff Air Pollution Specialist to apply scientific methods and principles in the identification, study, and solution of air pollution problems. The primary responsibilities of this position are to implement and evaluate innovative, incentive based mobile source control strategies that reduce criteria and toxic air pollutants, as well as greenhouse gases. Specifically, the incumbent will:

• Participate as a lead program staff representing incentive programs in the process of developing settlement agreements for alleged noncompliance with CARB regulations, or in assisting with preparation of incentive program documentation and other materials to resolve civil or criminal litigation related to misuse of incentive programs;
• Oversee incentive program implementation and support programmatic reviews and audits, including identification and resolution of non-compliance with incentive project policies and guidelines;
• Identify emerging areas of potential abuse of incentive funding, and proactively coordinate with multiple incentive programs in the Mobile Source Control Division and throughout CARB to minimize losses;
• Evaluate and recommend potential changes to incentive program eligibility criteria to improve compliance and protect against potential misuse of public incentives;
• Coordinate with and ensure consistency with regulatory requirements and programs, including vehicle and equipment certification, manufacturer regulations, and fleet regulations;
• Analyze and review current technical literature, technical data, market data, and project data;
• Prepare programmatic policy and guidance documents;
• Lead public processes including workgroups and workshops, and coordinate with other external entities on complex incentive topics that are politically sensitive;
• Support the development of an annual Funding Plan via coordination with other Air Resources Board staff;
• Communicate observations, results, and recommendations verbally and in writing to all levels of management by preparing and presenting status reports on project development, implementation, and funding expenditures; and
• Work in conjunction with other groups within CARB as well as outside agencies, including the California Attorney General's Office, California Energy Commission, local air districts, vehicle manufacturers, environmental and community-based organizations, and other interested organizations.

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.? 

Beginning July 1st, 2025, per Executive Order N-22-25, CARB employees will be required to report into office four days a week. 

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. 

• Position located in a high-rise building
• Daily use of a personal computer, office equipment, and/or telephone.
• Requires being in a stationary position, consistent with office work, for extended periods.
• Standard office environment (for example, artificial lighting, controlled temperature, etc.)
• Additional working condition(s): 10% travel will be required