Air Quality Specialist I/II (Meteorology and Measurement)

Join an agency committed to creating a healthy breathing environment for every Bay Area resident while protecting and improving public health, air quality, and the global climate!

The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Air Quality Specialist I/II in the Meteorology & Measurement Division. This is an open recruitment for three (3) full-time, represented position.

About the Position
Air Monitoring Projects and Technology (AMPT) is a section in the Meteorology and Measurement Division. Our team performs community air quality investigations using air monitoring vans and other equipment to assess air quality at local scales, particularly in disproportionally impacted communities. AMPT is also building a new team centered around developing, constructing, and operating multi-pollutant, ambient air monitoring stations in communities near refineries.

As a field-based team, Air Quality Specialist’s (AQS) in AMPT are the primary operators of Air District monitoring platforms and instrumentation. AQS review data, perform quality control, and troubleshoot scientific instrumentation and data systems to ensure data collected meet program requirements and community expectations. Depending on the program assignment, AQS may operate air monitoring stations, an air monitoring van, or assist with the set up and operation of field samplers. They may also help set up new air monitoring stations and platforms, and deploy and operate cutting edge air quality instruments, documenting new procedures on how to operate them.

View the full classification specification here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/baaqmd

About the Division/Office
The Meteorology and Measurement Division supports the mission of the Air District by monitoring air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area, forecasting regional and local air quality, and conducting and supporting community organizations to do community-scale air monitoring to guide actions to reduce emissions in the Bay Area and in neighborhoods most impacted by air pollution.

About the Air District
Bay Area Air District is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices. The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma. 

At the Air District, we take pride in our commitment to fostering a workplace that values diversity and promotes cultural awareness. We prioritize employee engagement by providing a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages active participation and open dialogue. Additionally, we believe in pay equity and strive to create an equitable compensation structure. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, we understand the importance of supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside the workplace. Join us in a dynamic and inclusive culture where your contributions are celebrated and your growth is nurtured.

The Air District recognizes and values the contributions of every employee and works to sustain an environment where everyone is respected. We incorporate the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion within our decision-making strategies, policies, procedures, regulations, funding initiatives, public outreach, planning, and hiring. 

Position is not eligible for remote work from home.

Examples of Duties for this Position

The following duties are typical for jobs in the class. They are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the full scope of job duties.

General duties:

Maintains detailed technical records, standard operating procedures, and logbooks to comply with regulatory guidelines.

Develops plans and documentation for the measurement, quality control and quality assurance, and analysis of emissions and air quality data. 

Extracts, analyzes and ensures the quality of data, including, but not limited to, devices/operations that emit air pollution, emissions, greenhouse gas, facilities, and meteorological data; prepares graphs, charts, statistical summaries, and reports from data; and may assist in more complex studies. 

Maintains data and data systems supporting Air District programs.

Reviews and summarizes data, prepares special and periodic reports and monitors effectiveness of Air District programs.

Researches and studies air quality and climate issues.

Reviews and develops recommendations concerning air quality and greenhouse gas reports, programs, plans, legislation and regulations and prepares related reports and correspondence. 

Administers air quality programs, including the revision of plans and recommending resolution of problem situations.

May calculate emissions reductions and assess emissions inventories, conduct economic impacts analyses, and perform other technical work.

Confers with industry representatives, Air District staff, the public and other agencies to obtain and disseminate technical and operational information.

Drafts, reviews and analyzes air quality and greenhouse gas reports and other documents; conducts inquiries, compiles and researches information.

Drafts, implements, recommends and revises forms, webpages, and other program tools.

Responds to oral and written requests for technical, operational and administrative information about air quality programs; explains and interprets technical policies, rules and regulations.

Prepares and coordinates technical and safety program training for Air District staff; develops and coordinates training aids and materials; may conduct staff training; monitors training needs for staff.

Interacts and represents the Air District with industry, attorneys, the public and other agencies.

Organizes and participates in workshops and meetings, and provide consultation and advice to individuals and businesses in matters related to area of expertise. 

Prepares technical reports and policy documents and gives presentations on Air District projects, including Air District staff, executives, board members, and community groups and other external stakeholders; briefs executives and board members.

Helps to develop new, and revises existing air quality programs, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to achieve air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and reduce the public exposure to air pollutants; researches technical feasibility and new control proposals for new or revised rules.

Administers the records management program.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Representative Duties (by program area) 

Some positions in this classification may be assigned to one or several program areas; an exhaustive list of program-area specific duties is not provided. 

In addition to the duties listed above, the following duties (illustrative only) may be performed for positions in the select program areas:

Meteorology & Measurement

Installs, operates, maintains, calibrates, and repairs ambient air monitoring, meteorological, or source test equipment and instrumentation. Evaluates instrument performance, troubleshoots malfunctioning equipment and replaces or repairs parts. 

Provides fabrication support for development and construction of monitoring platforms. 

Conducts mobile, portable or stationary source-oriented monitoring. Prepares and collects various samples of ambient and source air pollutants at air monitoring and stationary sites. 

Operates field computers, computer hardware/software, databases, telecommunications, and data devices in stand-alone and networked data acquisition systems and troubleshoots these systems when errors or malfunctions occur. 

Reviews, evaluates, summarizes and records data collected electronically or manually from scientific/analytical instrumentation, and ensures accuracy, completeness, validity, and compliance with Air District, state, and federal standards. 

Prepares, collects, and processes data, samples, reagents and filters.

Conducts instrument performance evaluations. Evaluates instrument performance, troubleshoots malfunctioning equipment and replaces or repairs parts, components and assemblies.

Conducts quality assessment (quality assurance and/or quality control) functions on ambient air monitoring, ground level monitoring, and source-testing equipment and ensures accurate calibration in conformance with Air District, state and federal standards.

Conducts instrument performance evaluations, troubleshoots malfunctioning equipment and replaces or repairs parts, components and assemblies.

Ensures that data systems meet the needs of the Air District in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations for the storage, processing, and transmittal of regulatory data.

Minimum Qualifications:Education & Experience

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university with major coursework in chemistry, computer science, electronics, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, meteorology, physical sciences, physics, or a closely related field.

AND

Experience:

Air Quality Specialist I: Two (2) years of experience performing duties equivalent to the Air District’s Assistant Air Quality Specialist II, including performing air quality inspections; installing, operating and maintaining air monitoring and quality assessment instruments and equipment; or developing and administering air quality programs.  

Air Quality Specialist II: Four (4) years of experience performing air quality inspections; installing, operating and maintaining air monitoring and quality assessment instruments and equipment, or developing and administering air quality programs, of which at least two (2) years included performing work equivalent to the Air District’s Air Quality Specialist I.

Substitution:  Any combination of relevant training and work experience in the listed or related fields may substitute for the education criteria on a year for year basis.

Additional Requirements:
California Drivers License.

Physical & Lift Test: Must pass a physical exam and be able to meet the requirements of a lift test for occasional physical duties.

Candidate must reside in California or relocate to California prior to start date. (Relocation expenses are not covered)

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026. Resumes are encouraged, but not mandatory, and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Applications must be submitted online; please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov/jobsto apply. Postmarked, faxed, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Except as requested in this announcement, do not include any additional documents, such as letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, work samples, etc. They will not be considered.

Supplemental Questions Instructions
Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the required supplemental questions. Applications must be received by the Human Resources Division no later than the time and date specified in this vacancy announcement. The responses to the supplemental application questions will be used in accordance with the procedures indicated under the Selection Criteria section.

Please limit your responses to no more than500 words per question. Do not combine your responses or reference your application, resume, or any other requested documentation that you have included with your application packet to answer a question. This information will be evaluated as is and may be used to determine those applicants with the most directly related experience, education, and training to continue in the selection process. It is very important to provide a concise, clear, legible, complete response to each question.

Selection Criteria
Selection may be based upon a competitive examination consisting of a written exercise, interview, or combination of the two. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, an application screening and/or panel interview may be used to determine the most qualified applicants.

The Air District may hire from this recruitment process to fill future vacancies occurring within the next18 months.

Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations
Persons with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations during the application and/or selection process should notify the Human Resources Division at (415) 749-4980.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The Air District does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, ethnic group identification, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, genetic information, medical condition, or mental or physical disability, or any other attribute or belief protected by law. It is the Air District’s policy to provide fair and equal access to the benefits of the programs or activities it administers.

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• Bay Area Air District