Transportation Policy Specialist

Job Description and Duties

Under the close supervision of the Policy Unit Program Manager, the Air Pollution Specialist (Transportation Policy Specialist) provides technical analysis and guidance to support development of the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) mitigation bank guidelines and on-going evaluation of the program, pursuant to AB 130 (2025). As part of this work, the Transportation Policy Specialist assists the Principal Transportation Planner in facilitating the interagency Task Force on Mitigation Banking for the purpose of developing a Statewide Mitigation Bank related to VMT impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Transportation Policy Specialist will also assist with providing general policy guidance on vehicle emission and transportation issues for LCI.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Persons appointed to this position must be reasonably expected to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects up to 10 lb. of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects with or without reasonable accommodation. Involves sitting most of the time but may involve moving for brief periods of time. Occasional/overnight travel up to 20% may be required.

Special Requirements

• Ability to maintain consistent attendance
• Ability to demonstrate punctuality, initiative, and dependability

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Other desirable qualifications include:
• Demonstrated expertise in state and local government programs and policies related to land use and transportation planning, regional planning, sustainability, and climate change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience addressing and integrating equity considerations in the context of transportation and land use planning.
• Qualitative and quantitative research skills, including the ability to conduct technical analysis, key informant interviews, synthesize existing research, design data collection mechanisms, conduct literature review, and write reports.
• Knowledge of integrated land use, urban design, and multimodal transportation for use in large development projects.
• Experience with preparing or reviewing transportation analyses and impact studies prepared for environmental documents pursuant to CEQA.
• Experience with State contracting and contract management.
• Experience analyzing or producing geospatial data.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and an ability to communicate to diverse audiences.
• Experience managing a deadline-driven, collaborative process with multiple partners.
• Excellent collaboration skills including experience facilitating consensus decision-making processes, navigating complex policy issues, and engaging a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to lead and inspire teamwork and collaboration by being accessible, supportive, and empathetic, and maintain constructive team relationships.Strong work ethic, proactive, detail-oriented and organized.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and able to prioritize emergent and ongoing tasks.
• Good judgment and reasoning skills, including ability to navigate complex situations while considering a variety of factors including ethics, cultural differences, facts and assumptions, consequences and risks, and the needs of all parties.
• Proven commitment to creating a work environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences.
• Ability and flexibility to travel and effectively participate in public workshops, and meetings up to 20% of the time.
• Occasionally will need to work on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Bilingual in English and one of California’s most spoken languages (Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean).

Benefits

There are many benefits to joining our team!We offer competitive pay, advancement opportunities, upward mobility, work-life-balance, and for many positions, flexible hours and remote work options. The State of California offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility, such as:

• Medical Benefits, including  health , and  vision insurance
• Deferred Compensation options: 401k and 457b
• (Vacation/Sick or Annual Leave)
• Paid Holidays
• (College Saving Account)
• School Loan forgiveness under the federal  Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Statement of Qualifications

When completing the Statement of Qualifications, you must title the page “Statement of Qualifications” and include your name and the Job Control number at the top of each page. You must list each question and provide your answer below each question. When completing the SOQ please include all relevant experience, education, and training for each question and explain your answers thoroughly. Responses should be not be longer than two pages in total length, single-spaced, and 12-point Arial font. Your SOQ must address the following:

1. Describe your experience in VMT, transportation policy, and programmatic mitigation strategies (e.g., banks, exchanges, etc...), with a focus on developing and drafting policy, guidance, regulations, and other technical documents.
2. Describe a time when you were responsible for building consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders. Include any challenges you encountered, your response to those challenges, and the result.
3. Describe how you have centered equity and promoted environmental justice in your previous roles, with a focus on policy work.
4. It's 2050 and California has achieved its social and environmental goals, what does it look like and how did we get there?

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• School Transcripts
• Statement of Qualifications -

  A  Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)is  REQUIRED  and  MUST  be submitted with your application to be considered for this position. The statement of qualifications is a narrative discussion of how the candidate’s education training, experience, and skills meet the desirable qualifications and demonstrate the candidate’s ability to perform the job duties listed in this bulletin. The supplemental questionnaire serves as a documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Applications received without the SOQ will not be considered. Résumés in lieu of the SOQ will not be considered. 

  Refer to the SOQ Requirement Section of this job posting for the SOQ questions.