Project Leader, Air Quality Research Engineer

Job Description

Position:         Project Leader, Air Quality Research Engineer

Reports to:      Program Manager – Air Quality

Supervises:      Technical Support Staff, as needed

Work Week:    Exempt position; Full-time

Revised:           June 22, 2021

Location:         Possibly remote initially, then based in the NCASI Newberry Office and Laboratories in Newberry, FL in the next 2-3 years.

NCASI serves the forest products industry as a center of excellence to provide unbiased scientific research and technical information necessary to achieve the environmental and sustainability goals of the industry. NCASI has been supported broadly and continually by its members for more than 75 years.  For more information, please visit https://www.ncasi.org.

We are seeking an experienced and career-minded individual to serve as Project Leader and engage in fundamental and applied technical studies in the Air Quality Program. The successful candidate will possess advanced knowledge of, and have experience in applying, fundamental and applied engineering principles in chemical manufacturing, reaction engineering, environmental science, and environmental fate to hazardous air pollutants (HAP), volatile organic compounds (VOC) and particulate matter (PM). The successful candidate will serve as a key technical resource to NCASI and its Members on the development of data and analyses tools for wide-ranging topics around air emissions and environmental fate.

Essential Job Functions:

Primary roles of this position are to utilize the above skillsets to carry out technical studies, develop data and analyses to inform regulatory development, and provide support to NCASI Members on utilizing this information to address operational and regulatory compliance topics.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

1. Plan and execute technical studies related to air emissions and assessing secondary (reactivity-based) impacts of pollutant emissions on ambient air.
2. Develop and maintain an understanding of how emissions data and studies on environmental impacts are utilized in the development and implementation of air emission and ambient air quality standards.
3. Develop expertise in the air regulatory landscape relevant to forest products manufacturing. 
4. Understand the importance of variability and uncertainty and develop approaches to quantify and compensate for these in environmental decision-making.
5. Possess knowledge of models and tools to estimate secondary impacts of pollutants and be able to apply these tools, or develop new tools as applicable, to represent use-cases and scenarios relevant to NCASI and the forest products industry.
6. Accomplish data reduction/analysis, prepare technical summaries and develop project reports and/or original technical reports.
7. Effectively communicate the results of technical studies at NCASI Regional Meetings, webcasts and other meetings involving scientific and non-scientific audiences.
8. Develop technical material, tools, and/or models that can be used by NCASI Members and regulatory agencies in managing environmental programs.
9. Provide technical support to NCASI Member companies on wide-ranging technical, air emissions testing and regulatory compliance issues.
10. Provide strategic and technical direction to NCASI, its Member companies (forest products and allied industries), and related trade associations.
11. Serve as the subject matter expert for the industry on relevant issues and fields. 
12. Work collaboratively as part of a team-based organizational structure.
13. Read, absorb, and process complex technical information quickly, with the ability to communicate to Members and other stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Chemical or Environmental Engineering or related discipline with 5 or more years of relevant professional experience.
2. Proven track record of working with inter-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder teams on technical projects.
3. Strong verbal, written communication, data analysis and statistical skills.
4. Valid driver’s license and driving record insurable at standard rates.
5. Travel to the Newberry Office and Laboratories periodically, as part of accomplishing essential job functions. Position will likely be based out of the NCASI Newberry Office and Laboratories in Gainesville/Newberry, FL in 2-3 years.
6. Must be able to follow all safety procedures, wear all required safety equipment at field sampling locations, and assist in moving sampling equipment.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

1. Advanced knowledge of pulp, paper and wood products manufacturing processes and related environmental topics and 5 years of professional experience in undertaking focused technical activities, including managing projects.
2. Familiarity with air permitting issues, Best Achievable Control Technology (BACT) determinations and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) modeling and compliance strategies.
3. In-depth knowledge of complex statistical procedures and techniques for interpreting existing data, trend analysis and forecasting based on past data.

To Apply:

Applicants are requested to provide a résumé and cover letter to Dr. Zach Emerson at zemerson@ncasi.org. Resume review will begin immediately, and position will remain open until filled. NCASI is an equal employment opportunity employer.