AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST

State of California; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 71,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gym

Daycare facility

Nearby (third-party) parking

Convenient to public transportation

Job summary

California Air Resources Board (CARB) seeks an Air Pollution Specialist to implement AB 617 and advance the statewide strategy to reduce community-scale air pollution through technical, legal, and policy work with districts, tribal governments, industry, and state agencies.

The role emphasizes building trust with residents, traveling to communities across Northern and Central California, and presenting policy recommendations. Strong writing, organization, and collaborative skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong writing and organizational skills.
• Experience engaging diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Fluent in Spanish is a plus.

Skills

Spanish

Driver's license

Job description

Air Pollution Specialist
AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST

$5,918.00 - $11,455.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/31/2026

Join an amazing team focused on advancing environmental justice across California.

Seeking someone who is enthusiastic about working with people, who is motivated to support California communities that face the greatest air pollution burdens, and who has excellent writing and organizational skills. This position is focused on, but not exclusive to Northern and Central California communities and requires occasional travel.

No two days look the same in this position. One day you might be analyzing monitoring data or writing a paper; the next, you're in a community meeting listening to residents describe pollution burdens in their neighborhood; the next, you're presenting policy recommendations to the Board.

This Air Pollution Specialist position (APS) plays a key role in implementing Assembly Bill 617 and advancing CARB's statewide strategy to reduce community-scale air pollution by working at the intersection of technical, scientific, legal, and policy topics in air quality. The APS collaborates across California Air Resources Board divisions on emission-reduction strategies and outreach campaigns. They will build relationships with residents and community leaders, and work with air districts, tribal governments, industry, and statewide and local government agencies to find solutions to meet the local priorities.

This work requires someone who is comfortable navigating multiple projects at once, thrives in collaborative environments, and values building trusting relationships with people from many backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. This work effectively operationalizesCARB's equity goals, ensuring community voices guide decision-making and technical analyses are transparently communicated clearly and respectfully. Core competencies include written and verbal communication, collaboration, technical fluency, and a good understanding of the nuances of legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks that affect communities.

This position will require the candidate to possess a driver license and to pass defensive driving training courses, enroll in the DMV Pull Notice Program, and maintain a “good” driver status. Additionally, the candidate must be willing to occasionally work in an industrial environment including exposure to air emissions, fumes, heat, and vehicle traffic, and to wear personal protective equipment.

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 Resources Boards' (CARB) current telework policy. While the CARB may support telework, some in-person attendance is also required.

The p ositions at the CARB may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the positionunder 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.

• 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.
• Occasional travel may be required.
  

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST

AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST $5,918.00 - $7,059.00A $7,089.00 - $8,872.00B $9,158.00 - $11,455.00C New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: Multiple

Work Location:

United States

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.; for more information about E-Verify, please go to www.dhs.gov/e-verify

CARB values diversity at all levels of the organization and is committed to fostering an environment where employees from various backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. CARB believes the diversity of our employees collectively makes up one of the world’s most respected environmental organizations. CARB offers various modern interview options, including remote phone and video interviews.Join CARB and help us improve the lives of all Californians.

• The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

Applicants must include a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for this recruitment. The SOQ is a narrative discussion prepared by the applicant describing how their skills, knowledge, abilities, education, training, and experience qualify them for the position. The SOQ documents each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Candidates whose applications do not include the required SOQ will not be considered for this position. Cover letters and resumes do not take the place of the SOQ.

• Require Name on SOQ
• Require Job Control Number on SOQ
• Maximum number of pages: 3

Describe your education, training, experience, and skills that enable you to perform the duties listedin the Duty Statement.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Four years of experience working directly with community members, community-based organizations, and a variety of regulatory agencies to find local solutions.
• Four years of project management experience.
• Four years of air quality analysis experience.
• Four years of policy writing experience.
• Fluent in Spanish.
• Located locally in the Bay area or Valley

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

• Gym
• Daycare facility
• Nearby (third-party) parking
• Convenient to public transportaion

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: http://www.arb.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Equal Employment Opportunity Office
(000) -
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Experience and Education

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678), including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week, and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY). Application packages without this information may experience delayed processing times, and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcript or diploma. Applicants who completed their education outside the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of the United States course/degree equivalency.

Failure to submit all the required documentation will result in an incomplete application and disqualification from consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.