Senior Air Quality CEQA Scientist I

FirstCarbon Solutions (FCS), an ADEC Innovation, is focused on improving the world we live in. It's our goal to improve the lives of all the people we work with, whether they are clients, partners, or colleagues. Come join our team of amazing professionals dedicated to making the world a better place!

The Senior Air Quality Scientist position must have experience in performing air quality and greenhouse gas impact analysis for CEQA compliance. This role will manage the preparation and administration of larger, multi-faceted projects. Provides project and staffing oversight and guidance to ensure quality and accuracy of product. The Senior Air Quality Scientist I is responsible for the successful delivery of air quality reports with a sales quota of up to $75,000 annually. This role will report to the Director of Air Quality services.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management  

• Manage and conduct air quality, health risk assessment, greenhouse gas (GHG), and energy impact analyses for all types of CEQA documents and oversee preparation of such documents by FCS current air quality staff.

• Provide senior level peer review of air quality, GHG, and energy sections or reports and technical appendices for content, conciseness, completeness, and accuracy.

• Produce technically sound and legally defensible air quality, GHG, and energy analyses. 

• Plan, organize, schedule, assign, coordinate and direct the activities and workload of FCS air quality staff by maintaining effective communication with various CEQA project managers and clients.

• Enhance staff members’ capabilities through hands-on and direct training – ability to explain and teach technical emissions and CEQA concepts.

• Review research and written materials submitted from staff and suggest improvements. 

• Keep abreast and inform staff members of the latest developments and updates in regulatory guidance in conducting air quality assessments and the various approaches in determining GHG significance in light of recent court cases and legislation updates. 

• Participation in public and private sector project meetings was requested by the Project Manager, including making presentations to the public during scoping, community meetings and public hearings.

• Promote teamwork through interpersonal skills.  

Business Development  

• Establish relationships with new and existing clients to be able to establish trust in our ability to deliver top quality services and value to the client. 

• Manage the relationship by sustaining continued communication with different clients to stay “top of mind” for new opportunities. 

• Develop an understanding of the value that we can bring to our clients so that value is communicated in the material provided to support proposal efforts.

Marketing  

• Coordinate and prepare air quality and greenhouse gas scope and budgets in response to requests for proposals or statements of qualifications. 

• Develop project opportunities through proactive marketing. 

• Represent FCS at relevant meetings and conferences on air quality issues.  

Recommended Additional Skills:  

• Experience performing general conformity issue analysis for federal projects 

• Demonstrated knowledge of NEPA assessment requirements 

Education and Experience

A combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge and skills to effectively fill the position. Typical qualifications include, or are equivalent to:

• BS/MS degree in Meteorology, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Science (Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics), Geography or a related field as demonstrated by actual course work

• 8 years of professional experience performing air quality and greenhouse gas impact analysis for CEQA compliance

• 2+ years supervising and training junior staff

Minimum Air Quality and GHG Analysis Skills/Experience

Thorough understanding of the principles and practices of the air quality and greenhouse gas impact analysis for CEQA, including:  

• Demonstrated knowledge of US EPA, California Air Resources Board, and local Air Quality Management District or Air Pollution Control District regulatory programs (e.g., CEQA Guidelines, thresholds of significance, health risk impacts) and their application in CEQA/NEPA analyses 

• Demonstrated proficiency, knowledge, and application of air quality and GHG models (e.g., CalEEMod, EMFAC, AERMOD, HARP, OFFROAD) along with their prescribed methodologies and guidelines as recommended by local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. 

• Experience performing health risk assessment impact analysis and air dispersion modeling 

• Advanced knowledge of CEQA assessment requirements (thresholds and analysis methods for regional air pollutants, localized impacts, health risk impacts, cumulative impacts, and odors) from various Air Districts 

• Knowledge of meteorology, chemistry, and factors affecting air pollution distribution and effects 

• Ability to effectively communicate with clients, building trust through consistent delivery of high-quality work on time. 

• Understanding client needs, providing solutions to clients based upon an assessment of client needs. 

• Proficiency in MS Office software applications, especially Word and Excel 

• Proficiency in quantifying short-term construction and long-term operational air quality and GHG emissions for a variety of project types and scenarios using legally defensible models, methods, and assumptions

• Proposal preparation experience for air quality and GHG analyses including scoping, schedule, and budget.

• Effective and quality communication skills through written and oral methods  

Work Environment

The position operates in a remote, home office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment. This position may require some travel to attend meetings as well as fieldwork. This role may be exposed to a variety of terrains and a variety of weather conditions while performing fieldwork.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. The employee may spend extended periods of time sitting in front of the computer. The employee must stand, stoop, walk, and reach with hands and arms and hand/finger dexterity. Specific vision abilities this job requires include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Salary: $100,000 - $118,000

FCS offers competitive salaries and robust benefits with opportunities for personal and professional development. If you want to work in a collaborative, creative work environment where you can provide meaningful contributions while being challenged to grow on the job, then you are encouraged to apply!

Competitive, progressive benefits including

• Remote/Hybrid/in-office work location options
• Escalating PTO structure
• Up to 10 paid holidays (up to 4 are flexible holidays)
• Full health care package:
• Up to 100% employer-paid employee medical and 55% eligible dependent coverage*
• 80% employer-paid dental and vision
• Employer-paid Life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Program
• 401k & Roth
• Pet insurance discounts

Information Security

Adhering to all policies, guidelines, and procedures pertaining to the protection of information of the organization, employees must maintain confidentiality of all sensitive information to which they are given access. They are also responsible for reporting actual or suspected events or incidents, including vulnerabilities or breaches, that may affect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information to members of the Management Team.

Mutual respect is fundamental. Fundamental to our teams. Fundamental to our clients. Fundamental to the communities we serve and live in. Fundamental to the landscapes we work within. We need you and your unique talents, history, and background to become the Company we aspire to be. We insist upon a culture of common respect, expect transparency, and celebrate the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. Our mutual equality as humans is the path to innovative collaboration. We cultivate integrity, driving us to growth, and allowing us to achieve more together than we could ever hope to as individuals.