BOARD MEETING DATE: May 5, 2006
AGENDA NO. 38
Establish Classification and Add and Delete Positions
SYNOPSIS:
To oversee critical assessment of existing to near-term emission-reduction technologies in support of both Technology Advancement’s contracts program and Planning and Rules’ development of new rules and the Air Quality Management Plan, staff recommends establishing a new single-position class of Environmental Technology Assessment Manager at a salary range of $89,541 – 108,849. Staff also recommends adding a position at this level in Science and Technology Advancement and deleting a Program Supervisor position in Planning, Rules and Area Sources. The net annual cost of these actions is $18,656.
COMMITTEE:
Not Applicable
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
- Add the classification of Environmental Technology Assessment Manager
- Adopt the attached class specification
- Adopt the attached resolution amending the Salary Resolution to establish a salary range of $89,541 – 108,849 for the new class
- Delete a Program Supervisor position in Planning, Rules and Area Sources
- Add an Environmental Technology Assessment Manager position in Science and Technology Advancement
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
To achieve federal and State clean air standards, emission reductions beyond those available through existing technologies will be needed. The role of AQMD’s Technology Office is to speed up development of progressively lower-emitting technologies through public-private partnerships. New technologies can then be incorporated into the agency’s guiding document, the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), and into new rules. Faced with the increasingly difficult challenge of identifying future emissions reductions, the ability to recognize and anticipate promising technologies takes on greater urgency.
Creating a new single-position classification of Technology Assessment Manager would allow a much-needed focus on assessing the maturity and commercialization possibilities of existing, near- term, and longer-term technologies—involving both stationary and mobile sources—that can help Southern California meet clean air standards. The position would be responsible for developing programs for conducting technology assessments, validating promising technologies through in-use emissions and performance testing, and providing input for selecting technology advancing projects and in support of the development of new rules and the AQMP.
Former Planning and Rules Manager Zorik Pirveysian has requested reinstatement as an AQMD employee. Based on his prior 17 years of AQMD experience and extensive relevant expertise, he would be an ideal person to fill the Environmental Technology Assessment Manager job. Under AQMD rules, Mr. Pirveysian’s reinstatement rights expire June 17, 2006. If this new class is approved by the Board, Mr. Pirveysian would be reinstated to assume this position. Although the new position is at a lower pay rate than the Planning and Rules Manager position he held at the time he left the agency, Mr. Pirveysian has indicated his willingness to accept the assignment. Given his strong analytical, technical, and managerial skills and his impressive record of performance in a broad range of complex and controversial projects—including the Coachella Valley PM10 SIP and the even more controversial and complex AQMP—staff believes the opportunity to bring Mr. Pirveysian back to assume this much-needed role should not be missed.
Proposal
Staff recommends establishing the new classification of Environmental Technology Assessment Manager at a salary range of $89,541 – 108,849. Staff also recommends deleting a vacant Program Supervisor position currently allocated to Planning, Rules and Area Sources and adding an Environmental Technology Assessment Manager position in Science and Technology Advancement. Consequently, the action recommended here would not result in an increase in AQMD staffing.
Resource Impacts
The net annual cost of this recommendation is approximately $18,656.
Attachments
A. Resolution
B. New Class Specification (Environmental Technology Assessment Manager)
ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO. 06-
A Resolution of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board amending AQMD’s Salary Resolution to establish the new classification of Environmental Technology Assessment Manager at a salary range of $89,541 – 108,849.
WHEREAS, the Governing Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District exercises its duty to review and determine appropriate wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment provided to employees.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, State of California, in regular session assembled on June 2, 2006, does hereby amend AQMD’s Salary Resolution to establish the new classification of Environmental Technology Assessment Manager at a salary range of $89,541 – 108,849.
____________________________ ____________________________
Date Clerk of the Board
ATTACHMENT B
TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT MANAGER Approved:
DEFINITION:
Under general direction from the Deputy Executive Officer for Science and Technology Advancement, assesses technical maturity involving stationary and mobile sources; develops and assists in overseeing the implementation of related programs to conduct technology assessments; works with planning and other agency staff to apply analyses of technologies to support the development of the Air Quality Management Plan; reviews and develops proposals on clean fuels and incentive programs and projects; and does other work as required.
CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
This single-position management class is characterized by the responsibility for assessing technology maturity involving stationary and mobile sources, and commercialization and emissions reduction potential, for existing, near-term, and longer-term technologies, including stationary sources and on-road and non-road vehicles. Further, this position will develop and assist in overseeing the implementation of programs to conduct such technology assessments, including in-use emissions and performance testing of existing technologies, to accurately and effectively validate technology assessments through in-use testing. This class will also be responsible for performing a range of other highly responsible and specialized assignments and making related recommendations to the Deputy Executive Officer.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Conducts various assessments of existing technologies, especially in high-criteria-pollutant emission sectors; coordinates program activities with other agency units and staff, particularly Planning, Rule Development, and Area Sources, in support of the AQMP.
Develops and implements programs to conduct assessments of near-term and longer-term technologies, including projection of market penetration and modeling of coinciding emissions reduction potential, and coordinates assessments with on-going Clean Fuels Program activities.
Prepares recommendations, reports, and comments related to technology assessments for the Deputy Executive Officer, with particular emphasis on commercial feasibility and emissions reduction potentials.
Prepares and negotiates contracts related to technology assessments and in-use testing of technologies; establishes project milestones and assists in project oversight, to ensure successful completion of these projects; and reviews reports, legislation, and papers related to technology assessments, and provides written input to the Deputy Executive Officer.
Maintains contacts with government, industry, special interest groups, and non-profit agencies promoting emissions-reduction technologies; and makes presentations and otherwise represents the agency in meetings and hearings involving assigned program and project activities.
Acts on behalf of the Deputy Executive Officer or Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, planning, or the physical or biological sciences, or a closely related field.
EXPERIENCE:
EITHER I
Four years of experience in technical and scientific air pollution control strategy development and analysis, one year of which must have been in a supervisory position.OR II
Three years of experience in supervising professional staff involved in environmental or air pollution analysis.
KNOWLEDGE OF: Principles and practices of program management; principles and methods of environmental review, planning, and rule development; methods and techniques of research, analysis, and report preparation; and federal and state regulations regarding air quality and air pollution control.
ABILITY TO: Plan, organize, and coordinate program and project activities; review and analyze complex technical reports and documents to formulate effective recommendations; direct and evaluate jointly sponsored demonstration projects and contract provisions; understand and interpret applicable air pollution laws and regulations; prepare and present concise and logical reports of a technical nature; effectively communicate scientific and technical data and information verbally and in written form to technical and lay audiences; and establish and maintain effective relationships with all those contacted in the course of work.