We are announcing this vacancy in both Sacramento and Riverside. This position is for 12 months and may be extended up to 24 months or may become permanent.
The Office of Community Air Protection (OCAP) is looking for an engaging, creative, and technically savvy Air Pollution Specialist (APS) to join the Community Assessment Section (Section). OCAP is focused on developing and implementing the Community Air Protection Program (Program), as directed by Assembly Bill 617 (C. Garcia). AB 617 is transformative legislation with the goal of ensuring that all communities, particularly those that bear the greatest burdens, benefit equitably from clean air programs. OCAP is actively engaging internal and external stakeholders on policies, plans, and strategies to develop and implement the Community Air Protection Program (Program) in partnership with Air Districts across the State. The Program requires significant collaboration with public and private stakeholders to identify, prioritize, and ultimately recommend actions to improve air quality in highly impacted communities, including regulations, incentives, and coordination with planning and other land use agencies whose decision-making affects air quality.
The primary responsibility of the Section includes assessing and communicating progress made through the program. Additional functions for which the team is responsible include characterizing air pollution burdens in disadvantaged communities, supporting community emission reduction programs (CERP’s) within the selected communities, and serving as liaisons to communities. The Section also leads a CARB-wide goal of operationalizing racial equity through the implementation of a racial equity lens. The Section includes a team of enthusiastic staff working collaboratively with OCAP community liaisons, other CARB divisions, technical staff from air districts as well as stakeholders from community groups, industry, and other government agencies to address AB 617 technical and policy requirements.
The incoming LT APS will join the section and join a team within OCAP charged with designing and executing an extramural contract to evaluate the Program. The evaluation will assess how well the Program has achieved statutory goals, adhered to environmental justice principles and addressed community priorities. The evaluation will be guided by external input. In addition to qualitative data sources, the evaluation will rely on previous evaluative efforts, and information such as, but not limited to, Blueprint, Draft Blueprint 2.0, CERPs, and annual reports. The evaluation will identify lessons learned, unanticipated benefits, and outline key barriers to be addressed for future implementation.
Engagement with community members, community-based organizations (CBO's), community steering committees (CSC's) as well as air districts is an essential function for both the evaluation and overall section responsibilities. The evaluation team will be responsible for outreach and engagement to ensure stakeholder feedback is considered and incorporated in the evaluation. The LT APS will be expected to exercise tact, judgment and sensitivity in these conversations to ensure every voice is heard and a sound final recommendation is based on robust public feedback.