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 Bay Area Air Quality Management District (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 is currently accepting applications for the position of Staff Specialist I/II in the Community Engagement Office. This is an open recruitment for two (2) full-time, limited-term contract positions. Both positions are for a 3-year term.
This is a Limited Term Contract Employee (LTCE) Position. LTCE positions are funded by grants or other designated funds which are not part of the Air District’s ongoing general fund budget. LTCE positions are subject to individual employment contracts and are limited to the duration of their funding source. Regular employees have the right to apply for an LTCE position. However, LTCE positions are not subject to the terms of the Employee Association MOU, and LTCE employees serve on an at-will basis.
About You in the Position
Are you interested in reducing air pollution and improving health outcomes in the most impacted and overburdened communities in the Bay Area? Are you motivated to develop and implement plans, projects and policies that address air pollution injustices and inequities?
The Assembly Bill 617 Staff Specialist I/II will support outreach, engagement and partnerships with communities overburdened by air pollution to advance solutions towards equity and environmental justice. One position will support two teams that are working to co-develop local Community Emissions Reduction Plans with environmental justice communities in East Oakland and Bayview Hunters Point/ Southeastern San Francisco as part of the Air District’s Community Health Protection Program (Assembly Bill 617). Another position will support the Richmond/ North Richmond/ San Pablo team that is working towards implementation phase of the Community Emissions Reduction Plan. The Staff Specialist will work with teams to implement outreach and engagement activities to support monthly Community Steering Meetings, including:
- Creating agendas and taking detailed notes for internal planning meetings and external meetings with community-based organizations, Co-Chairs, Co-Lead partners on AB 617 community projects.
- Coordinating and facilitating meetings with community members.
- Creating and reviewing template PowerPoint presentations and agendas for conformance with guidelines and policies.
- Coordinating or working with a consultant on event planning and logistics for virtual, hybrid and in-person monthly Community Steering Committee meetings and other sub-committee meetings.
- Effectively communicating, in writing and orally, to wide variety of audiences, including government staff, community residents, businesses and Board members.
- Actively interpreting complex and technical information to community members.
- Drafting contract Scopes of Work, participating in bid processes, reviewing and analyzing invoices received from consultants and cross referencing with Scope of Work, provides status of invoice payments, monitoring contract budget and confirmation of payments.
- Conducting routine outreach and communication on behalf of the Air District to community members.
Assembly Bill 617
Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (C. Garcia, Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017) was signed into law alongside Assembly Bill 398 which extended California’s cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions. AB 617 addresses environmental justice concerns regarding the extension of the cap-and-trade program by requiring the California Air Resources Board, with input from community groups, air districts and others, to select locations around the state to prepare community-led plans to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria pollutants. Communities can also be selected to prepare community-led monitoring plans. The primary requirement for community selection is a demonstrated high cumulative exposure burden to air pollution and associated health disparities. In the Bay Area, and around the state, these communities are often low-income communities of color.
In 2017, West Oakland and Richmond were selected as the first communities to participate in the AB 617 program. Since then, East Oakland and Bayview Hunters Point/Southeast San Francisco communities have been added to the program. The Air District works closely with these communities to both develop and implement emission reduction and monitoring plans.
