Air Quality Inspector I

SOUTH COAST AQMD AND JOB OVERVIEW

South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated environmental regulatory agencies in the nation, serving a four-county region that includes Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and the Coachella Valley. 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 $216.5 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 is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that appreciates the unique backgrounds, skills, and experiences of our employees and fosters professional development and growth. South Coast AQMD respects the ideas and perspectives of our stakeholders and works to bring them together toward the common goal of clean air.

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 rule specific inspections and complaint investigations of commercial and industrial equipment, machines, control devices, materials, and processes to determine compliance with South Coast AQMD rules and regulations, State Health and Safety codes, and federal laws and regulations.
• Issues notices to owners and operators of commercial and industrial sources to ensure compliance with air pollution laws, regulations and rules.
• Analyzes and determines the cause and nature of air contaminant emissions; coordinates the physical testing of sources and reinspects sources found in non-compliance.
• Prepares various reports to record the findings of inspections and complaint investigation activities; assists or develops recommendations on the implementation, effectiveness and enforceability of new or proposed air pollution rules.
• Learns and applies a variety of inspections and investigation methods and techniques on petroleum and industrial equipment and processes that require the knowledge, interpretation and application of a variety of laws, regulations, and rules in determining compliance.
• Assists in the preparation of Hearing Board cases or recommends variance conditions to ensure compliance with South Coast AQMD rules and regulations.
• Provides testimony in court or administrative hearings on civil and criminal air pollution cases when requested. Works closely with South Coast AQMD engineers and legal counsel in resolving a variety of air pollution problems.
• Represents South Coast AQMD and Division at meetings, conferences and public and private agency meetings and responds to inquiries; provides information on South Coast AQMD rules, regulations, and procedures as necessary.
• May assist in the training and provide technical guidance to new personnel.

MINIMUM AND DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
In addition to the Minimum Qualifications that follow, the most competitively qualified candidates will also possess the following:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or a related field.
• Relevant work experience that demonstrates directly transferable skills will be considered more competitive than unrelated experience. However, recent graduates with directly related degrees will also be given consideration.
• A consistent employment history and/or strong academic performance, with grades of "C" or higher in core coursework, is important.
• The ability to analyze emission sources, identify potential compliance issues, and determine adherence to air quality regulations.
• Strong analytical and learning skills to understand complex technical information, rules, and regulations, and effectively apply them in inspections and compliance assessments.
• The ability to clearly communicate technical information to a diverse audience in simple and understandable terms. Strong interpersonal skills, including active listening, patience, and diplomacy, are essential for engaging with business owners and the public, even in challenging situations.
• A high level of personal and professional ethics (which will be assessed during the interview process and through professional references).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Bilingual abilities are a plus.
• The ability to climb ladders, conduct inspections on rooftops, and carry or operate portable monitoring and sampling equipment in the field. Inspectors may also be required to wear respirators.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Training and experience which would demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities to apply inspection methods and techniques to air pollution emission control equipment and processes; knowledge of engineering, chemistry, mathematics, and physics principles and concepts; knowledge of commercial and industrial equipment and processes; South Coast AQMD rules and regulations, State Health and Safety codes, and federal laws and regulations; and safety and hazardous practices and procedures.

Ability to learn, interpret and apply South Coast AQMD rules and regulations, State Health and Safety codes, and federal laws and regulations to equipment, processes, and materials to determine compliance with air quality standards; analyze and inspect equipment and processes and prepare reports and other supporting information; communicate in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in writing; understand and follow verbal and written instructions; maintain and establish effective working relationships with public and private agency representatives, members of the public, and South Coast AQMD personnel; operate and maintain a variety of equipment, detectors, and sampling devices.

Evidence of the required knowledges, skills and abilities will be demonstrated by the completion of at least 34 semester (51 quarter) units of core courses from an accredited college or university required for a major in engineering, chemistry, mathematics, physics or a related field, OR one year of experience as an Air Quality Inspector.

LICENSE: Possession of a valid California Class "C" Driver's License.

CERTIFICATION: Visible Emission Evaluation Certification, Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Certification, Breathing Apparatus Certification, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification may be required of some positions in the class.

DRIVING RECORD: Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be required to submit a driving record, in the form of a K-4 report from the DMV, at the candidate's cost. Further details on how to obtain this report will be provided at that time.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• 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.

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, please be aware that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

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.