Senior Air Quality Planner

~ Pima Association of Governments’ programs and services support regional planning efforts to enhance mobility, sustainability and livability in all of our communities. ~

As the region’s federally designated metropolitan planning organization, PAG oversees long-range transportation planning and serves as the region’s water quality management planning agency, lead air quality planning agency and solid waste planning agency. Our planning efforts must include strategies that support economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially those that enable global competitiveness, productivity and efficiency.

Established in 1970 as a council of governments that includes local, state and tribal governments, PAG became a 501(c)4 nonprofit in 1972 and the region’s federally designated MPO in 1973 to address transportation planning at the regional level. PAG also manages the Regional Transportation Authority of Pima County. The RTA was established in 2004 and is the fiscal manager of the 20-year RTA plan and half-cent excise tax, which were individually approved by Pima County voters in May 2006.

PAG has Transportation Planning, Sustainable Environment Planning and Technical Services divisions that coordinate cross-jurisdictional planning efforts with PAG members. PAG has a nine-member Regional Council where members are represented by their chief elected official, or their designee.

PAG members include the Cities of South Tucson and Tucson, the Towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita, Pima County, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the Tohono O'odham Nation and the Governor-appointed Pima County representative of the Arizona State Transportation Board. The ASTB representative votes on transportation matters only.

PAG coordinates development of the long-range Regional Mobility and Accessibility Plan (RMAP) in order to secure federal funding. PAG's activities and services also include human services planning, traffic data collection, mapping, development of population projections, promotion of travel demand management strategies, and promotion of clean fuels and solar energy use.

PAG follows an open meeting process and invites the public to participate to support informed decision.

Position Overview

Under general supervision, the Senior Air Quality Planner is responsible for work of considerable difficulty in the collection, analysis and presentation of air quality data in the Pima County metropolitan area. Participates in identification of potential air quality problems and needs to be addressed related to emissions from transportation and other pollution sources. Must possess thorough knowledge of federal, state and local regulations pertaining to air quality planning and research processes.

Responsibilities

• Review and analyze federal, state and local air quality plans, legislation, guidance and regulations.
• Participate in design, organization and implementation of programs aimed at quantifying air quality impacts of transportation and land use activities.
• Assemble, compile, analyze air quality and transportation and meteorological data for use in the development of air quality control strategies and implementation of air quality studies and plans using EPA’s Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) model.
• Coordinate regional air quality planning and research efforts with federal, state and local agencies and interest groups.
• Coordinate programs and projects with other governmental agencies and public advisory groups as required.
• Work requires considerable personal initiative, sound independent judgment and ability to develop consensus among diverse stakeholders in resolving general air quality planning and research issues.
• Present technical information in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Performs work as related.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and/or Experience Requirements:

• At a minimum, requires combination of knowledge, skills and abilities to perform duties and either a graduate degree with two years of related experience or an undergraduate degree with 4 years of related experience or equivalent.

Computer Skills:

• Sufficient understanding of air quality models, in particular EPA's MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) model, and proficiency in in word-processing, databases and spreadsheets.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to walk. 
• The employee is occasionally required to stand.  The employee is frequently required to drive to locations and participate in outreach events. 

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essentials functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee is required to carry promotional materials to events.