Deputy Executive Officer

The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Deputy Executive Officer of Engineering and Compliance OR Science and Policy. For the recruitment brochure, please click here.

ABOUT THE AIR DISTRICT
The Bay Area Air District (Air District) created in 1955, is the state's first regional agency to regulate air pollution. The Air District was created during this time, as the air in the Bay Area was often unhealthy to breathe due to burning, vehicle exhaust, and factories polluting the air.

The Air District is tasked with regulating stationary sources of air pollution in the nine counties that surround the San Francisco Bay: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southwestern Solano, and southern Sonoma counties. It is governed by a 24-member Board of Directors composed of locally elected officials from each of the nine Bay Area counties, with the number of board members from each county being proportionate to its population.

The Board of Directors oversees policies, adopts regulations, and promotes and incentivizes clean air actions to reduce air pollution in communities within the Air District jurisdiction. The Board also appoints the Air District's Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer (EO/APCO), who implements these policies, gives direction to staff, and provides air quality thought leadership on a state, national and global scale. The Air District consists of 500 dedicated staff members, including engineers, inspectors, planners, scientists, and other professionals.

The Air District has a mission to improve air quality to protect public health, reduce historical and current environmental inequities, and mitigate climate change and its impact. This mission cannot be realized without a clear focus on our most impacted communities and addressing the environmental injustices that they experience. Six core values that drive the Air District are: transparency, partnership, environmental justice, equity, trust, and integrity. The Air District also aims to achieve its mission through many strategic goals including: reducing and eliminating health problems caused by air pollution, achieving and maintaining air quality standards for all criteria pollutants, creating high-quality regulatory programs, establishing the Bay Area as a leading area for emissions reductions, and applying environmental best practices in all operations.

The Air District has made vast improvements in the quality of air we breathe by controlling air pollution from stationary emission sources such as factories, refineries, and power plants, and from small facilities like gas stations and dry cleaners. However, new approaches are needed to reduce the disproportionate and cumulative environmental impacts that remain in overburdened communities. The Air District oversees one of the most robust air monitoring networks in the nation with more than 30 air monitoring stations that measure air quality throughout the Bay Area and inform daily air quality forecasts. The Air District al-so ensures that businesses comply with some of the nation's most stringent air pollution laws and regulations, provides incentives and grants to encourage clean air alternatives and actions, and prioritizes our work in communities on the frontlines of pollution exposure. On days where ozone or fine particulate pollution levels are high, the Air District issues "Spare the Air" alerts to warn the public of the potential health hazards. While the Air District has improved air quality over the past six decades, there are still challenges today due to the growing population, traffic, catastrophic wildfires driven by climate change, and the legacy of concentrated burdens in underserved communities.

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,

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Deputy Executive Officer. There is one (1) vacant full-time position. This at-will position is appointed by the Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer and serves a term of three (3) years which may be extended. This position will be responsible for overseeing multiple functions either in Engineering & Compliance OR Science & Policy.

Under direction of the Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer, the Deputy Executive Officer provides high-level technical, policy, and strategic direction in the management of the Air District's programs and activities.

The Deputy Executive Officer of Engineering & Compliance oversees the following functions:

Engineering:

Engineering primarily reviews and processes new permit applications and renewals. There are about 10,000 facilities with about 26,000 devices and operations that have Air District permits. Engineering also processes, reviews, issues, and renews Title V (Major Facility Review) permits for about 79 facilities. In addition to processing permits, Engineering manages programs to assess and reduce risks from toxic air contaminants through implementation of: (1) Regulation 11, Rule 18, Reduction of Risk from Air Toxic Emissions at Existing Facilities, (2) the State Air Toxics Hot Spots Program, and (3) Regulation 2, Rule 5, New Source Review of Toxic Air Contaminants. Engineering provides technical support to rule development, emissions inventory, compliance and enforcement, planning, monitoring and measurement, and technology implementation programs as well as the Air District's Regional Climate Action Plan.

Compliance & Enforcement:

Compliance and Enforcement ensures the Air District will achieve the emission reductions through the air quality regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, and permit conditions issued by the Executive Officer/APCO. Compliance with Air District, state, and federal regulations is achieved through a robust Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Program. The program includes comprehensive inspections and investigations and a complementary Compliance Assistance Program that supports compliance objectives by maintaining operations and assisting industry with air quality regulations and requirements.

Source Test

Source Test conducts analytical source tests and performance audits, reviews third party source tests, researches and develops new analytical source test procedures, and oversees refinery fence-line monitoring programs. These data are used to produce engineering studies to determine compliance status for specific source categories, determine whether to issue Permits to Operate, update the emissions inventory, determine actual abatement control effectiveness, provide data & technical assistance for Air District studies including AB 617, and develop applicable standards and produce emissions data for new or revised regulations.

The Deputy Executive Officer of Science & Policy oversees the following functions:

Assessment, Inventory & Modeling

Assessment, Inventory, and Modeling (AIM) prepares comprehensive inventories of air pollution emissions and conducts air quality modeling at both regional and community scales. AIM prepares technical assessments that evaluate equity in air pollution exposures and health impacts in support of Air District programs. AIM coordinates and implements programs to improve and report estimates of emissions of criteria pollutants, toxic air contaminants, and climate forcing pollutants. AIM assess emissions, concentrations, and exposures to toxic air contaminants, particulate matter, ozone, and their precursors, to support targeted strategies that reduce impacts of air pollution both regionally and within communities.

Planning & Climate Protection

Planning and Climate Protection prepares plans to meet state and federal air quality standards, leads and implements climate protection activities, and develops and implements local community emissions reduction plans per AB 617. Planning and Climate Protection advances local and regional environmental justice initiatives by providing support for General Plan Environmental Justice Element development and implementation (per SB 1000) centering equity in climate action planning and developing and delivering plan and policy resources such as model ordinances, technical resources, and best practices to accelerate action. Planning and Climate Protection supports local lead agencies, regional agencies, and others in applying the Air District CEQA thresholds and using guidelines to ensure plans and projects are protective of local health and reduce climate impacts.

Meteorology & Measurements

Meteorology and Measurements (M&M) provides emissions, air quality, and meteorological data chemical analysis and forecasting to support the enforcement, permitting, rule development, communications, and environmental justice programs of the Air District. In addition to operating monitoring instruments and conducting testing and analysis, M&M develops rigorous monitoring and testing plans, develops and maintains instruments and systems, conducts quality assurance and quality control, and analyzes and communicates data.

Rules & Strategic Policy

Rules and Strategic Policy is responsible for the development of regulations to implement Air District plans to attain federal and state air quality standards and to protect public health. In addition to the development of rules derived from planning documents, Rules and Strategic Policy assists with the preparation of air quality plans. Other measures are developed to further protect public health and safety and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Rules and Strategic Policy reviews existing regulations and develop amendments to improve clarity, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Public Health

Public Health leads the latest understanding of science regarding public health impacts of air pollution and provides support to the permitting, compliance, communication, rule development, and community engagement programs.

This appointed, at-will position is accountable for overseeing and establishing priorities and goals for the assigned functions and for furthering Air District goals and objectives in an effective manner; acts as the Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer as assigned or delegated; and performs related work as assigned including but are not limited to:

• Provides technical and policy direction and support to the Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer and the Air District Board.
• Represents the Air District and/or the Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer in varied situations with various groups and agencies both within and outside of the Air District; interacts with elected officials
• Plans, organizes, coordinates and directs the work of assigned functions.
• Directs the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for assigned functions.
• Directs the management of and makes policy recommendations regarding assigned programs and activities.
• Organizes and coordinates the development and implementation of projects and activities with other agencies.
• Ensures conformance with program schedules, budgets, and contracts.
• Develops and presents technical and policy issues and recommendations to the District Board and the Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Air District is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and goal-oriented Deputy Executive Officer. This person will be trusted to make high quality decisions and ensure accountability. A candidate who is mission driven, passionate, strategic and can guide a team will be successful. The successful candidate has:

• Demonstrated strong supervisory and leadership skills with the ability to create a team-oriented, nurturing environment that emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion, collaboration, communication, ac-countability, and responsiveness to achieve the equity and environmental justice goals and objectives of the Air District
• Familiarity with the air quality and environmental justice issues in overburdened communities, including supporting low-income communities and communities of color with technical assistance, grants, and other resources
• Politically astute and working effectively with diverse stakeholders in highly complex and political environments
• High emotional intelligence, understanding the value and importance of clear communication and direction
• Excellent administrative skills and desire to mentor and develop staff
• Strong ethics possessing the highest level of integrity
• Forward thinking, innovative, creative, and solution-oriented
• Strong commitment to the Air District and must have passion and aptitude for their work and the mission of the organization

Key Qualifications:

• Experience working within or with government agencies and partnering strategically with external collaborators and organizations to advance shared goals
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Track record of demonstrating leadership to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion in environmental focused organizations
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials
• Ability to effectively represent the Air District in contacts with elected officials, public, communities, industry, and other stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills and establishing effective collaborative relationships both internally and externally
• Principles and practices of air quality planning, monitoring, modeling, data analysis, regulatory development, health risk assessment, permitting and/or enforcement
• Interpreting, explaining, and applying Air District, federal, state and local rules and regulations
• Analyzing complex technical and administrative issues
• Social, political, and environmental issues influencing air quality management programs
• Methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis, and modeling; and principles and practices of effective public relations
• Current developments, literature, and sources of information regarding air quality management activities

The full class specification can be found here.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Equivalent to a graduate degree in engineering, physical or biological sciences, business or public administration or a closely related field and five years of experience managing environmental and related technical and support programs and activities, preferably with a public agency.

HOW TO APPLY
Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application, chronological resume, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025. Applications are accepted online; please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS INSTRUCTIONS
Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the required supplemental questions.. The responses to the supplemental application questions will be used in accordance with the procedures indicated under the Selection Criteria section.

SELECTION CRITERIA
The selection may include an application screening and/or panel interview depending on the number of qualified applicants. The most qualified applicants will be invited to an in-person interview.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
It is the Air District's policy to provide equal employment opportunities for all persons without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age or sexual orientation.