Exam Bulletin - Staff Air Pollution Specialist

State Air Resources Board

Exam Code: EX-2847

Examination Plans Included:

  • STAFF AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

STAFF AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST: $10,215.00 - $12,789.00 per Month

View the STAFF AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • STAFF AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2847

For STAFF AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02847

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00103875 - STAFF AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST

Either 1

One year of experience in the California state service performing air pollution work comparable in level, duties, and responsibilities to that of an Air Pollution Specialist (Range C).

Or 2

Experience: Five years of varied and responsible air pollution experience in the engineering, research, or the physical, biological, or environmental sciences, at least two years of which must have included responsibility for consultation, analysis, or determination of program design and methods for studies in air pollution. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a major in the physical, biological, or environmental sciences, mathematics, engineering, or a related field. (Possession of a doctorate degree in any physical, biological, or environmental science, mathematics, engineering, or a related degree may be substituted for two years of general experience; possession of a master's degree in the same fields may be substituted for one year of general experience.)

Position Description

00103875 - STAFF AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST

This is the fully qualified independent specialist level for program and policy development work. Incumbents carry program or project responsibilities with extreme sensitivity and complexity usually dealing with emerging or undefined issues or problems and typically involving intense conflict among issues such as "State of the Art," public concern, local, State, and Federal Government concerns, costs, and business interest. Assigned work requires the development of broad policy and legislative proposals with immediate and long-range impact. Positions at this level require expertise that is significantly greater than standard full journey level analytical assignments, and this expertise is critical to the Board's basic mission.

Desirable Qualifications

Experience as a project or program expert in air quality analysis or motor vehicle pollution control.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Online ExamContinuous100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, natural sciences, and meteorology as related to air sanitation
  2. Research methods
  3. Scientific computer programming/modeling applications
  4. Methods of statistical analysis
  5. Principles and methods of measuring atmospheric conditions and pollution levels
  6. Methods of measuring automotive emissions
  7. Chemical and physical characteristics of air impurities and their interactions with the environment
  8. Principles and procedures of air quality management and vehicular emission control
  9. Complex statistical techniques and their fundamental bases
  10. Laws and regulations applicable to air quality and motor vehicle emission control
  11. Research techniques, including the planning of studies and investigations, determining variables, and developing reference materials
  12. Research reporting techniques
  13. Techniques and procedures for evaluating research results
  14. Mathematics, atmosphere chemistry, and physical meteorology
  15. Air Resources Board and Federal Environmental Protection Agency policies and programs
Ability to:
  1. Collect environmental data
  2. Collect vehicular or stationary source emission data
  3. Analyze data and reach sound conclusions
  4. Calibrate complex air monitoring equipment
  5. Apply scientific methods and principles
  6. Apply computer programming and modeling skills
  7. Analyze situations and take effective action
  8. Work cooperatively with others
  9. Prepare clear, complete, and technically accurate reports
  10. Communicate effectively
  11. Plan, organize, and carry out studies and analyses
  12. Make oral presentations
  13. Coordinate the work of others
  14. Evaluate data and develop recommendations based on findings
  15. Operate in a lead capacity for special studies and projects
  16. Prepare project plans
  17. Design studies
  18. Develop techniques for handling a large variety of detailed data and analyze these data
  19. Communicate the results and implications of studies to nontechnical persons
  20. Perform unusual and difficult research and analytical work

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the STAFF AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST Classification will be established for:

  • State Air Resources Board

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Staff Air Pollution Specialist Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks
  1. Conducting technical, scientific, and/or policy research and analysis using available resources (e.g., databases, internal/external clients, internet sources, technical reports, scientific equipment, scientific journals).
  2. Applying mathematical, statistical, and/or scientific methods to analyze data.
  3. Designing, maintaining, and/or utilizing data management tools.
  4. Presenting data, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations related to air quality, emissions, climate change, public health/welfare, and/or ecological resources.
  5. Evaluating enforcement, air monitoring, emission measurement, ecological resources and other programs that assess and/or control emissions from various sources to ensure compliance with current or proposed laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or guidelines.
  6. Creating technical, scientific, and/or policy reports (e.g., data reports, project conclusions) to present program data and/or information to various technical and/or non-technical audiences.
  7. Communicating with stakeholders to answer questions, resolve issues, assign enforcement actions, and/or provide information and services.
  8. Evaluating and integrating results from diverse research and information sources to support the development and/or implementation of regulations, policies, programs, or projects.
  9. Developing data collection or analysis methods.
  10. Responding to inquiries from various internal/external stakeholders (e.g., legislative offices, government agencies, special interest groups, general public).
  11. Analyzing and interpreting data to extract or identify key issues, draw conclusions, and make recommendations.
  12. Identifying and reconciling discrepancies in data and information.
  13. Identifying data requirements for project tasks.
  14. Managing deadlines to deliver products or services.
  15. Utilizing word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software to perform a variety of tasks (e.g., develop and format written documents; organize, analyze, and evaluate data; create presentations and communicate with various audiences).

Testing Departments

  • State Air Resources Board

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State Air Resources Board
1001 I Street, 5th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (279) 208-7823
exams@arb.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State Air Resources Board reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)