Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide scientific air quality expertise in support of regional air quality programs, including the provision of advice/consultation to industries on air quality legislative requirements and air sampling.

As team leader, to design, plan, coordinate and implement air quality assessment surveys.

To interpret and validate large volumes of scientific survey data, evaluate existing and anticipated impacts, and make recommendations for the protection of air quality.

To act as a Provincial Officer and Regional expert on compliance and/or non-compliance issues related to air quality protection and spill response. To explain/interpret legislation/ policies to internal and external clients.

Duties / Responsibilities :

In a Regional with multiple locations the job acts as team leader where required, and requires:

1. Designing the statistical framework for the interpretation and presentation of air quality assessment surveys; processing data using statistical software employing numerical methods, parametric statistical and dispersion modelling; performing analysis; validation and interpretation of air quality data and supporting information form special studies and other sources to determine implications for air quality; identifying and resolving data anomalies and ensuring data file integrity. Developing and maintaining new computer based approaches as required for purposes of assessing regional air quality. Alerting Regional Management and District abatement staff to air quality problems, successes and trends.

2. Analysing and synthesizing all relevant material (technical reports, submitted scientific information, field survey/sample data, inspection/investigation reports and photographs, file material, scientific literature) and preparing reports defining potential environmental impacts including exceedances of health/environmental-based standards and guidelines and making appropriate recommendations. Assessing arished impacts and participating in the development of airshed management plans and other air quality protection initiatives. Preparing scientific/technical reports for internal and external clients, briefing notes, media contact reports, drafting minister's correspondence and other documents related to air quality management.

3. As Regional Expert for programs to evaluate air quality within the region and as team leader, designing, planning, coordinating and implementing air quality assessment surveys. This involves applying appropriate scientific knowledge for proper sitting of monitoring stations, selecting./setting yup of instrumentation, reviewing/interpreting resultant data, and coordinating and advising air monitoring technicians as required. Activities involve preparing work plans, setting work priorities, coordinating work flow (e.g. with laboratory, with other regions, etc.), monitoring projects progress and quality, and reporting on activities.

4. Consulting with industries responsible for air quality self-monitoring to provide advice, support and guidance with respect to legislative requirements and their air quality assessment surveys, including explaining the impacts of unacceptable readings and providing recommendations on how to address
unacceptable quality readings.

5. Interpreting results of air quality investigations (e.g. respect to environmental/health risk, multi contaminant emissions, emerging science/technology) to provide support to district offices, make recommendations related to air certificates of approval assess air pollutant releases/air spill response
compliance with relevant legal instruments and environmental legislation./regulations, and/or to collect evidence for court cases and hearings.

6. As regional expert, responding to and providing scientific advice, including air dispersion, modelling, in environmental response situations (such as fire volatile chemical spill) to parties responsible for spills/restorations, and air pollution control; also providing information to other governments agencies, consultants, the public and media on air quality issues.

7. Providing air quality expertise for identifying and providing information on hanging legislation and policy requirements, participating in policy development, standards, procedures and overall ministry policy, including the recommendation of industries that should be included in air self monitoring programs; and providing scientific expertise to Ministry staff, special committees and at public meetings.

8. Reviewing, assessing and commenting on third party technical reports/submissions (e.g. STAC program facilities, landfill sites, facilities requiring Certificates of Approval or amendments, air monitoring survey designs prepared by consultants, engineers and/or scientist) and on documents on air quality issues in the regional in support of Ministry approvals and District abatement/enforcement programs and reporting conclusions and recommendations.

9. Supporting enforcement actions, including providing expert testimony, at legal proceedings to support the Ministry's air quality program. Providing interpretations of legislation/policy/guidelines, explaining and defending Ministry positions, providing opinion evidence and addressing conflicting scientific opinions.

10. Complying with all health and safety legislation, policies, and procedures and reporting all unsafe equipment and conditions to the supervisor.

11. Performing other duties as assigned by management.

Staffing and Licensing :

Job requires a degree with specialization in disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, and Atmospheric Sciences or Mathematics.

Job requires a valid G Class Ontario Driver's Licence.

Knowledge :

Theories, principles and practices of, and related techniques/methods of Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Atmospheric Sciences or Mathematics and related survey design techniques as well as field investigation methods, atmospheric dispersion modelling techniques, theories principles and practices of air quality assessment to design/develop regional air sampling programs and support industries involved in air quality self-monitoring.

Knowledge of proper siting of instrumentation (e.g. taking into account overall atmospheric conditions such as wind currents, heat implications, air flow pattern due to location of buildings, etc.); knowledge of selection/set up of instrumentation (e.g. to accurately measure chemical content of emissions, identify volatile organic compounds), and knowledge of appropriate data analysis/interpretation (e.g. to identify the nomenclature used in the scientific reports submitted by different industries; to factor in the interaction between emissions of different industries in same locations, etc.) so that reliable readings and accurate data interpretation result.

Theory, design and operation of air pollution measurement equipment, laboratory analysis techniques/capabilities, and gaseous fluids dynamics to select appropriate monitoring and analytical tests, to validate and interpret monitoring data (e.g. to identify specific types of interferences affecting chemical structure of emissions and/or analytical testing procedures/processes which do not result in reliable data, etc.) to support District staff compliance activities.

Air pollution control and industrial processes to assess environmental data and information and to identify potential adverse effect on air quality due to industrial operations, proposed development and/or contingencies (e.g. chemical spills).

Emerging environmental management theories, practices and techniques (e.g. cumulative impacts, monitoring theories) and developing technologies and systems/processes within the air quality specialty in order to determine whether a new or innovative approach may have potential for improving air quality assessment surveys, to provide policy advice to ministry staff based on an integration of this information with research and related ministry precedent, and to provide scientific input to ministry policy development or lead development of divisional scientific assessment procedural documents.

Environmental legislation, policies and guidelines (e.g. Environmental Protection Act, environmental approvals process, air quality standards and objectives) related to air quality management to provide clients/staff with interpretation of the legislation and advise whether action plans for reductions of contaminant discharges comply with legal and other established requirements, provide expert testimony before courts and defend the ministry's position at hearings, public meetings, council meetings and other forums.

Approvals processes and regulations for air dispersion calculations, computer modelling, statistical software and other software applications (e.g. graphics software, spreadsheets) and data acquisition systems to conduct data analysis, to utilize and lead others in the utilization of technologies to support data analysis, evaluation and report preparation activities, to support evaluation activities for abatement and enforcement purposes, and to prepare related reports and recommendations.

Applying analytical research techniques and project management to lead the development and implementation of tactical project applications to achieve environmental objectives by designing study goals, objectives, approaches and methodologies where precedent and procedures guidance are incomplete or inapplicable.

Leadership techniques to plan, organize, and evaluate air monitoring activities (e.g. field investigations, special surveys, etc.) carried out by internal and external staff.

Field investigation and air quality management theories, principles and practices as they relate to emergency response and field situations (e.g. plume modelling for response to chemical spills, industrial fires) to provide advice to other agency staff, municipal staff and the Medical Officer of Health on environmental impacts including mitigation and restoration measures while working as a member of a response team with other Ministry staff.

Rules of evidence and court procedures to support legal proceedings by preparing legal documents and providing expert opinion/testimony.

Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations that apply to the work; knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health and safety in the workplace to ensure compliance.

Divisional initiatives and the Ministry Business Plan to ensure that work effort is focused on management priorities and goals by assigning deadlines and priorities to reflect these initiatives.

Skills :

As regional expert, professional/scientific skills in the field of air quality gained through extensive experience and specialized air quality related to training to design/implement air quality assessment surveys and to conduct statistical analysis of air quality data, determine the scientific validity of the analysis, assess potential environmental impact, draw conclusions, and make recommendations on compliance with ministry requirements.

Analytical and problem solving skills to study, evaluate and recommend to supervisor policy/scientific approaches for addressing issues arising from field studies outside established, procedures; to define objectives within a policy/scientific context for divisional guidance documents, evaluate alternatives, consolidate research and information, develop options and recommendations and report findings.

Analytical skills to interpret air quality data and findings with reference to established legislation, policies, and practices and evaluate options and alternatives (e.g. in terms of economic practicality, risk to human and environmental health, public perception); and to assess data, recognize data anomalies and to related them to atmospheric processes, industrial emissions and data validity problems.

Applying research and investigative skills to assess air quality data and information, scientific and technical reports related to existing or proposed industrial and institutional operations and applying mathematical models and principles and practices of air quality management to infer probable extent of adverse impacts on local and regional air quality.

Problem-solving skills to determine the need for remedial action and/or air contaminant control proposal modifications necessary to ensure legal compliance in circumstances that may unique or unprecedented by applying principles of air quality management together with interpretation of ministry legislation.

Reasoning skills to lead discussions involving conflicting approaches or scientific opinion in order to develop consensus.

Applying research, investigative and project management skills to: design/develop field investigation approaches for unprecedented situations to assess and evaluate air quality issues, determine compliance, occasionally lead/conduct the collection of data during field studies; perform scientific/technical investigations to support the resolution of issues concerning complaints, spills and other contingencies which are complicated by factors such as size, nature of impact on air quality, proximity to urban centres and services/industry; identify/assess social and financial factors relating to proposals and/or air contamination issues and problems, and situations not previously encounters due to differing conditions (e.g. degree of air emission reductions, community air quality impacts.)

Leadership skills in order to plan, coordinate and review air monitoring activities carried out by ministry air technicians and contractors hired by industries (e.g. collecting field information and data), and determine acceptability within relevant government policy and program framework.

Written and verbal communications skills to prepare and present technical assessments/recommendations and scientific reports (e.g. impact on air quality of industrial operations or spills), and to present Ministry positions which maybe be in conflict with arguments presented by development proponents, consultants, parties responsible for air emissions and other stakeholders. Writing skills to prepare Minster's correspondence, briefing notes, other documents and input to legal instruments. Oral communication and presentation skills to present scientific and opinion information as expert testimony before the courts or at quasi-judicial hearings or to municipal councils, public meetings, media or to other staff.

Interpersonal skills to provide technical leadership to both internal and external staff, persuade and influence diverse interests (e.g. industries, development proponents, environmental groups) to accept the Ministry's position (e.g. modifications to existing air pollution abatement equipment, remedial action plans) and to resolve potential risks to air quality resulting from contingencies (e.g., volatile chemical spills).

Skills to use a variety of software applications (e.g. statistical computer modelling) to analyse identify and determine trends, compliance and air quality issues.

Freedom of Action :

Coordinate activities in support of regional air quality programs, including providing support to industries involved in air quality self-monitoring, and make independent decisions (approach, work assignments, scientific requirements) while the assignment is in progress.

Design and coordinate air quality assessment surveys, field investigative procedures and approaches relating to the scientific area for unit and regional projects, to recommend priorities and work assignments within the scientific/technical investigation framework and to use judgement in bringing the project(s) to conclusions.

Exercise sound judgement to prevent irreparable damage to the environment or human health, significant monetary loss to private individuals, the ministry, other levels of governmental and industries or detrimental impacts to the ministry's credibility.

Make decisions on the validity of data and is responsible for ensuring that suspect data in not released to the public or used for scientific purposes to draw conclusions.

Determine the scope of field investigative work and analysis required to effectively assessing potential air quality impacts and the reductions in air contaminant emissions required to resolve potential or existing problems; also recommends modifications to proposals to protect air quality.

Work within environmental legislation, regulations and guidelines governing air management in the region, and within applicable scientific/technical methods, procedures and principles.

Job is accountable for the accuracy and scientific validity of work and recommendations.

Job requires keeping the supervisor apprised of progress/conflicting priorities and contentious issues.

Job requires referring issues such as recommendations with socio-economic impacts (e.g. possible plant closure) and situations involving conflicting policy or legal actions to supervisor/manager.