Quality Assurance Manager

South Coast Air Quality Management District•Diamond Bar, CA

17d•Onsite

About The Position

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. There is currently one vacancy in the Quality Assurance unit of the Monitoring and Analysis Division, reporting to the Assistant Deputy Executive Officer. Under direction of the Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, the Quality Assurance Manager develops, implements, and manages a quality assurance program to ensure measurement quality objectives are being met for programs and projects involving monitoring, testing, and analysis of air pollutants; evaluates ambient air and laboratory measurement data; represents the agency on quality assurance matters; and does other work as required. This position is responsible for managing and developing quality assurance control methods, plans, procedures, and programs; and for coordinating and implementing the review of documentation, training, and performance evaluations on the techniques, methods and procedures of source tests, chemical analysis, and ambient air monitoring.

Requirements

Training and experience which would demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities in applying chemical and engineering principles to petroleum and chemical processing, electronic and mechanical operations of air monitoring equipment and commercial and industrial plants; knowledge of technical methods and applications involved in quality assurance and quality control programs; familiarity with local, State and federal laws relating to quality assurance matters.
Ability to develop, supervise and coordinate quality assurance activities with division personnel; provide innovative solutions to technical problems, such as the application or enforceability of rules and regulations; communicate effectively with all levels of management both orally and in writing; and represent South Coast AQMD at public meetings and hearings or with industry representatives.
Evidence of the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be demonstrated, in part, by graduation from an accredited college or university, preferably with a major emphasis in chemistry, engineering, physics, or a related field; and experience evaluating air pollution measurement procedures and methods.

Nice To Haves

Directly-related supervisory or management experience, preferably involving writing and reviewing quality assurance and/or management plans and standard operating procedures.
Demonstrated ability to prepare, conduct, and/or supervise performance-based and/or systems audits.
Comprehensive knowledge of environmental issues, particularly how to carry out federal, State and local environmental programs or regulations that require a quality assurance or quality control element.
Knowledge of technical methods and applications involved in quality assurance of laboratory analytical instrumentation and air monitoring equipment.
An advanced degree in chemistry, engineering, physics, or a related field.
Experience or knowledge of applying or developing quality assurance principles to new air measurement technologies and programs.
A master's degree in engineering, chemistry or a related field may substitute for some managerial, administrative or direct supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Manages the daily administration and operation of the Quality Assurance Program.
Reviews and updates the Quality Assurance Plan; writes, reviews or edits various technical reports and materials written for division or South Coast AQMD use, or external distribution.
Serves as liaison with other divisions and agencies on Quality Assurance matters; may testify in court or before a hearing body.
Advises the Director of Technical Services on technical matters related to scientific testing, analysis, measurement, and data evaluation methods.
Supervises through subordinate staff, professional and technical personnel in the development and implementation of a quality assurance program of performance audits and precision checks to evaluate the accuracy and precision of source tests, chemical analyses, and air monitoring data.
Develops and coordinates the training of division personnel in the techniques, methods, and procedures of source tests, chemical analyses, and ambient air monitoring in accordance with quality assurance and control policies and practices.
Evaluates data quality assessment reports against quality control policies and procedures to identify inadequacies and recommends corrective action.
Reports on chronic problems in data quality and proposes cost effective solutions in areas of prevention, appraisal and correction.
Advises division personnel on relevant data quality methods, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with State and federal regulations.
May supervise staff in one or more sections within the division.