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Job Description
SOUTH COAST AQMD AND JOB OVERVIEW
ABOUT SOUTH COAST AQMD
South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated environmental regulatory agencies in the Nation. We serve a four-county region that includes large areas of Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley, which is home to more than 17 million people. South Coast AQMD's headquarters is located in Diamond Bar, 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, at the junction of the 57 and 60 freeways. With a highly diverse "Clean Air Team" of over 850 employees, an annual budget of $215.5 million, and a state-of-the art air quality laboratory, our mission is to ensure clean air and a healthy environment. South Coast AQMD is an organization you can be proud to work for -- we make a difference in the quality of life in Southern California!
South Coast AQMD’s mission requires diverse perspectives, talents, and life experiences to solve some of the most complex technical air quality issues. We are committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that appreciates the unique contributions of our employees and fosters professional development and growth. South Coast AQMD respects the distinct ideas and perspectives of our stakeholders and works to bring them together toward the common goal of clean air.
ABOUT OUR LABORATORY
South Coast AQMD's laboratory employs over 50 staff in a 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility dedicated to air quality sample analysis. It provides a broad array of services generating data that is used for strategic planning, investigating complaints from the community, evaluating new products and processes, and determining compliance with regulations. We also provide data to the California Air Resources Board, US EPA, law enforcement agencies, and universities. Results generated by the laboratory have been the catalyst for agency-wide policy decisions, special studies, and technology development. We analyze over 60,000 samples per year using various analytical laboratory techniques; including GC, IC, LC, GC-MS, XRF, XRD, FTIR, microscopic analysis, ICP-MS, and PTR-MS to generate detailed information on the types and amount of pollutants in ambient air. The South Coast AQMD laboratory is at the forefront of method development for ambient air analyses and obtains national recognition in the field of air quality analytical chemistry.
ABOUT THIS POSITION
The South Coast AQMD is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Air Quality Chemist vacancy. From this recruitment process, we expect to establish an eligible list from which current and future vacancies may be filled, during the 6-12-month life of the list.
Under general supervision, conducts qualitative and quantitative chemical and physical analyses, using a variety of techniques, procedures and instrumentation, to evaluate air quality and determine the kind and concentration of contaminants present; develops and implements new analytical methods, as directed; and does other related work as required.
These are alternatively staffed classes, as the duties performed by the two are similar and vary primarily in the degree of difficulty and complexity of work, the breadth and depth of knowledge required, and the independence of action with which the work is performed. Positions are allocated at the Air Quality Chemist level and new staff may be hired at either level, depending on their qualifications and the needs of South Coast AQMD. Individuals hired at the level of Assistant Air Quality Chemist are eligible for consideration for promotion to the next level upon successful performance of assigned duties for the required minimum period of time.
ASSISTANT AIR QUALITY CHEMIST is the entry-level class in the professional Air Quality Chemist class series. Incumbents assigned to this class build upon their education, learning the micro-analytical, instrumental, physical and wet-chemical techniques utilized in conducting qualitative and quantitative chemical and physical analyses of air quality samples. Assistant Air Quality Chemist is distinguished from Air Quality Chemist in that the latter is the journey-level class and is responsible for performing more complex work, including peer review of work, with greater independence of action and less supervision.
AIR QUALITY CHEMIST is the experienced, journey-level class in the professional Air Quality Chemist series. Air Quality Chemist is distinguished from Senior Air Quality Chemist in that the latter has lead responsibility for coordinating, scheduling, and reviewing, at the second level after peer review, the work of an assigned unit of chemists. Senior Air Quality Chemists also take the lead on developing formal procedures and protocols for special studies, verify accuracy and consistency of analytical results, and interpret data in order to identify potential environmental concerns.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
The general Example of Duties for this classification are highlighted below, for full description of duties please refer to this link here .- Conducts qualitative and quantitative chemical and physical analyses of solid, liquid, and gaseous samples taken in connection with air quality monitoring, industrial source testing, compliance, and other air pollution control programs; and determines, within laboratory guidelines and under senior and principal direction, which methods to use to separate, identify and determine the concentration of contaminants.
- Uses a variety of chemical laboratory techniques, such as gas, ion, and liquid chromatography, spectrophotometry, spectroscopy, total combustion analysis, microscopy, wet chemistry, and other analytical methods, to analyze samples; may serve as a functional expert on specific analytical procedures or data- collection methods; and trains or assists in training other laboratory staff on specific procedures and methods.
- Develops and implements new analytical methods, as directed, to meet changing laboratory and South Coast AQMD needs and performs special projects.
- Assures proper chain-of-custody with respect to samples and applies quality assurance/quality control procedures to evaluate laboratory results, including maintaining data, performing peer review of other chemists' work to verify accuracy and appropriateness of data and calculations, flagging errors and problems, recommending modifications, and taking corrective action.
- Applies professional training and experience; keeps abreast of updated and new laboratory methods, instrumentation, procedures, protocols, equipment, and data analysis techniques through review of professional literature and other technical resources; and attends assigned training and conferences.
- Maintains detailed and accurate records related to laboratory work; prepares professional laboratory reports that describe methods and procedures used in analyses and summarize test results and conclusions; and prepares databases and customizes software, as needed.
Prepares, for senior or principal review, research reports and papers for publication and may present papers at technical meetings and conferences. - Prepares orders for consumables and other supplies, and may prepare or assist in developing instrument or equipment bid specifications.
- Confers and works collaboratively with other laboratory personnel, South Coast AQMD staff, and contacts outside South Coast AQMD, and participates on various committees and in working groups.
- Testifies in court and before the South Coast AQMD's Hearing Board regarding test methods and results.
MINIMUM AND DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
The most competitively qualified candidates will have an advanced degree in Chemistry, or a related field, and experience performing both routine and innovative laboratory analyses. Please note that degrees in Chemistry-related fields of study will be considered, such as Biochemistry, Environmental Science, Atmospheric Science, Earth Systems Science, and Chemical Engineering.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, preferably with an emphasis in qualitative and quantitative analysis.
EXPERIENCE:- ASSISTANT AIR QUALITY CHEMIST: No experience is required.
- AIR QUALITY CHEMIST: Three years as an Assistant Air Quality Chemist or equivalent.
SUBSTITUTION: A master's degree in chemistry may substitute for up to one year of the required experience; a doctorate in chemistry may substitute for up to two years' experience.
KNOWLEDGE OF: Current methods, procedures, protocols, and instrumentation relating to organic, inorganic, and physical qualitative and quantitative analysis; quality assurance and quality control principles; operational principles of chemical laboratory instrumentation and techniques; principles of electronic circuitry and components; relevant professional research literature and resources; professional report writing; principles and methods of statistical analysis; database design, information management, and computer programming, as they relate to laboratory analysis of air contaminants; safety procedures and practices relating to laboratory work; and PC software applications common to the field and the general business environment of South Coast AQMD.
SKILL OR ABILITY TO: Develop, modify, and employ a variety of analytical methods, techniques and instrumentation in analyzing laboratory samples; maintain, calibrate, modify and repair electronic instrumentation; maintain accurate and complete records and data, input and review quality assurance and quality control data, and prepare written reports on test methods and results; survey literature and other resources for new analytical methods and instrumentation that might be used or adapted for specialized needs; design databases and data analysis procedures; proficiently use PC software applications common to chemical analysis and the general business environment of South Coast AQMD; read, understand, and follow verbal and written instructions; perform chemical laboratory analyses and operate related equipment safely; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective relationships with all those contacted in the course of work.
LICENSE: Possession of a valid California Class "C" Driver's License and a good driving record may be required.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
APPLICATION PACKETS MUST INCLUDE
A completed employment application covering at least the past 10 years of employment history (or longer if you have other relevant experience), and your entire South Coast AQMD employment history if you are a South Coast AQMD employee.Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ). The SQ is a form of written test and will be evaluated as such. Your responses should be well written, clear, concise, and directly responsive to the question.Up to four references which include the names and phone numbers of your present and past supervisors or managers, and/or college professors or persons for whom you have directly provided services, not peers .An unofficial copy of your transcripts (or equivalency evaluation if your education was obtained outside the U.S.), documenting all qualifying education claimed, submitted as an attachment to your online application* .
*You MUST submit acceptable documentation for all education claimed on your application. Acceptable documentation consists of an unofficial copy of your transcripts/equivalency evaluation attached to your application . At a later date, candidates under final consideration will be required to arrange for original, official transcripts (or equivalency evaluation, if applicable) to be mailed directly from their college/university to South Coast AQMD, documenting all education claimed on their application.
Job applications must be completely filled out. A resume cannot be substituted for the required information. Be sure to detail any education, training or other relevant coursework that would make you a particularly strong candidate.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
Application packets, including responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire, will first be screened, and the most competitively qualified candidates will be invited to a multiple-choice examination, to be rated on a pass/fail basis. Candidates who pass the exam will advance to the next step in the process, which may include a panel interview. (Please note that some assessments may be conducted remotely).
Following the assessment process, a ranked eligible list is expected to be created, from which current and future vacancies may be filled, during the 6-12-month life of the list. Only those who demonstrate they are among the most competitively qualified, at each successive step of the selection process, will be advanced to the next step. (Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation to the next step.)
Important note for potential candidates who do not have the continued and unrestricted right to work full time in the United States: If you currently, or will in the future, require sponsorship (i.e., H1-B Visa) in order to maintain your right to work in the United States, you are welcome to participate in this recruitment process, but there is no guarantee that a job offer with the requested sponsorship will be made to you.
South Coast AQMD reserves the right to add, delete, and modify any elements of the selection process as deemed appropriate, based on the number and quality of applicants at each step.
Please call Human Resources at least one week in advance if you might need an accommodation at any step during the selection process. If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Human Resources Department at (909) 396-2800.
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OVERVIEW
BENEFIT
DESCRIPTION
Monthly Benefit Allotment
$1,912, to purchase medical, dental, and life insurance, with unused portion paid to you as cash. Your insurance coverage becomes effective on the first of the month following completion of 30 days of continuous service. Dependent children may be covered to age 26 on medical, dental and vision plans.
Medical Health Plans
Blue Shield PPO
Blue Shield PPO Savings Plus 2250 (High Deductible Plan)
Blue Shield HMO
Kaiser HMO
Kaiser HSA HMO 1500 (High Deductible Plan)
Dental Plans
Delta Dental PPO (without orthodontic benefits)
Delta Dental PPO (with orthodontic benefits for children only)
DeltaCare (PMI) Dental
Vision Plan
EyeMed - Optional
Life Insurance
$10,000 Term Life Insurance
(Optional additional life insurance, paid by you, at 1X, 2X, or 3X your salary)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Claremont EAP, powered by Uprise Health. EAP is available to all employees and their familiels at no cost. EAP offers confidential advice, support and practical solutions to real-life issues.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Optional
Section 125
Optional Plans (Medical Reimbursement; Dependent Care)
Work Schedule
Four 10-hour days, Tuesday through Friday
Vacation
80 hours per year, increasing to 120 after five years
Holidays
13 paid holidays per year
Sick Leave
100 hours per year
Other Leaves
Bereavement; Jury Duty; Military; Witness
Tuition Reimbursement
Reimbursed up to $5,000 per year
Deferred Compensation (457 Plan)
Optional (Employee may contribute up to the IRS maximum). South Coast AQMD matches, dollar for dollar up to $300 per year for the regular plan.
Retirement
2.5% @ 67 defined benefit plan - Applies to employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 who, at time of hire, were not members of the San Bernardino County Employees' Retirement Association (SBCERA) or another public employee retirement system through which reciprocity may be established.
2.0% @ 55 defined benefit plan - Applies to employees who, prior to January 1, 2013, were active members of SBCERA or another public employee retirement system through which reciprocity may be established.
Employees pay only the Medicare portion of Social Security.
03/01/2024
Closing Date/Time: 10/23/2025 11:59 PM Pacific - Conducts qualitative and quantitative chemical and physical analyses of solid, liquid, and gaseous samples taken in connection with air quality monitoring, industrial source testing, compliance, and other air pollution control programs; and determines, within laboratory guidelines and under senior and principal direction, which methods to use to separate, identify and determine the concentration of contaminants.
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ABOUT THE COMPANY
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South Coast Air Quality Management District
Show moreSouth Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated environmental regulatory agencies in the nation. We serve a four-county region that includes all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, home to more than 17 million people. South Coast AQMD's headquarters is located in Diamond Bar, 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, at the junction of the 57 and 60 freeways. With a highly diverse "Clean Air Team" of over 750 employees, an annual budget of $170.9 million, and a state-of-the art air quality laboratory, our mission is to ensure clean air and a healthful environment.
Mission
To clean the air and protect the health of all residents in the South Coast Air District through practical and innovative strategies.
What is the South Coast AQMD?
South Coast AQMD is the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. The region is home to more than 17 million people–about half the population of the entire state of California.
Despite significant improvements to air quality, more work needs to be done to protect public health through innovative and practical strategies. Air pollution can cause or worsen many health problems, including asthma attacks, heart disease, certain types of cancers and premature death. South Coast AQMD has been at the forefront of the nation’s air pollution reduction efforts for more than eight decades.
What South Coast AQMD Does
South Coast AQMD is responsible for controlling emissions primarily from stationary sources of air pollution. These can include anything from large power plants and refineries to the corner gas station. There are about 28,400 such businesses operating under South Coast AQMD permits. Many consumer products are also considered stationary sources; these include house paint, furniture varnish, and thousands of products containing solvents that evaporate into the air. About 25% of this area's ozone-forming air pollution comes from stationary sources, both businesses and residences. The other 80% comes from mobile sources–mainly cars, trucks and buses, but also construction equipment, ships, trains and airplanes. Emission standards for mobile sources are established by state or federal agencies, such as the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, rather than by local agencies such as the South Coast AQMD.
How South Coast AQMD Controls Pollution
South Coast AQMD develops and adopts an Air Quality Management Plan, which serves as the blueprint to bring this area into compliance with federal and state clean air standards. Rules are adopted to reduce emissions from various sources, including specific types of equipment, industrial processes, paints and solvents, even consumer products. Permits are issued to many businesses and industries to ensure compliance with air quality rules. South Coast AQMD staff conducts periodic inspections to ensure compliance with these requirements.
The test of whether these efforts are working is the quality of the air we breathe. South Coast AQMD continuously monitors air quality at 38 locations throughout the four-county area. This also allows South Coast AQMD to notify the public whenever air quality is unhealthful.
South Coast AQMD’s Sources of Revenue
To meet its financial need, the South Coast AQMD utilizes a system of evaluation fees, annual operating fees, emission fees, Hearing Board fees, penalties/ settlements and investments that generate approximately 73% of South Coast AQMD’s revenue. The remaining 27% of its revenue is from federal grants, California Air Resources (CARB) subvention funds, and California Clean Air Act Motor Vehicle fees.
Progress So Far
Air quality in this area has continually improved despite an enormous increase in population and cars. For example, maximum levels of ozone, one of our worst smog problems, have been cut to less than one quarter of what they were in the 1950s, even though today we have nearly three times as many people and four times as many vehicles.
In recent decades, we have eliminated Stage I smog alerts, which used to occur 100-120 times a year. We have not reached Stage II levels since the 1980s.
The Job Ahead
The clean air effort still has a long way to go. In 2005, the federal 1-hour standard was replaced by a stricter 8-hours standard that was further strengthened in 2008. Even though recent years have been the cleanest on record, our air in the South Coast Air Basin still exceeded the federal health 8-hour standard for ozone on 113 days in 2009. Maximum levels are almost twice as high as the federal standard for clean air.
State and federal law requires this area to meet existing clean air standards by the year 2015 for annual PM 2.5; and by 2023 for the 8-hour average ozone standard. However, tougher federal air quality standards for particulates and ozone issued in 2006 and 2008 require reductions above and beyond those already planned. South Coast AQMD estimates it will take until at least 2020 to meet the new 24-hour average particulate standard, and until 2030 to meet the new ozone standard. This may seem like a long time to continue to live with smog. But the cleanup effort is enormous. Even though we already have the strictest pollution control requirements in the nation, we still have to reduce some types of pollution by up to 90% if we are to rid the area of smog.
The war on smog began in this region more than a half century ago. With continued commitment and sensitivity to the impacts of efforts to control smog, residents can be assured that public health standards for air quality will be achieved.
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