Director of Strategic Incentives

Join an agency committed to creating a healthy breathing environment for every Bay Area resident while protecting and improving public health, air quality, and the global climate!

The Bay Area Air District (Air District) is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices.

The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma.

At the Air District, we take pride in our commitment to fostering a workplace that values diversity and promotes cultural awareness. We prioritize employee engagement by providing a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages active participation and open dialogue. Additionally, we believe in pay equity and strive to create an equitable compensation structure. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, we understand the importance of supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside the workplace. Join us in a dynamic and inclusive culture where your contributions are celebrated, and your growth is nurtured. The Air District recognizes and values the contributions of every employee and works to sustain an environment where everyone is respected. We incorporate the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion within our decision-making strategies, policies, procedures, regulations, funding initiatives, public outreach, planning, and hiring.

This recruitment is for one (1) Director position in the Strategic Incentives (SI) Division. This is an open recruitment for one (1) full-time, exempt, management position.

About the Position

This Strategic Incentives Director directs all activities of the Strategic Incentives Division, which includes the Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA), the Carl Moyer Program (CMP), Community Air Protection Incentives, Volkswagen Mitigation Trust, Mobile Source Incentive Fund, and other grant and incentive programs designed to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gases regionally and statewide, primarily from mobile sources. These programs also play a critical role in reducing community-level exposure to air pollutants. The Director is accountable for accomplishing goals and objectives related to the above activities and for furthering the Air District's overall mission within general policy guidelines.

The position in Strategic Incentives Division may require work in the field to inspect equipment or train staff and to conduct outreach and participate in community and stakeholder meetings and events, including occasionally on weekends and after hours.

About the Division

The Strategic Incentives (SI) Division supports the Air District's mission by managing incentive funding that is awarded to eligible projects that achieve voluntary reductions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, primarily from on- and off-road vehicles and equipment that operate in the Air District's jurisdiction. Annually, the Strategic Incentives Division administers more than $90 million in new revenue to fund programs and projects that replace older diesel-fueled vehicles and equipment such as school and transit buses, marine vessels, locomotives, trucks, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, and other mobile equipment, with newer, cleaner alternatives, including zero-emission technologies, and install refueling/charging infrastructure that supports the accelerated adoption of zero-emissions vehicles and equipment. Other examples of programs administered by staff in Strategic Incentives support the reduction of single-occupancy vehicles, provide cash to residents for retiring their older vehicles, and provide grants to reduce pollution from woodburning devices and lawn and garden equipment. The Strategic Incentives Division also works to develop and implement incentive programs to meet community identified strategies for reducing air quality disparities and that benefit the Bay Area's most overburdened communities.

Develops and directs the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the division.

Directs the preparation and administration of the division budget; identifies and secures new sources of grant funding.

Plans, organizes, administers, reviews and evaluates the activities of management, professional, technical and support staff.

Communicates District policies, rules and regulations to staff and is responsible for staff productivity and discipline.

Selects personnel and provides for their training, motivation, and professional development.

Directs the development of guidelines and policies to implement grant programs and ensures consistency with Air District, state, and federal regulations and guidelines.

Oversees a system of process controls to ensure timeliness, fiscal responsibility, and adherence to applicable state and local requirements associated with grant funding.

Coordinates and directs division activities such as soliciting grant applications, conducting workshops for potential grant project sponsors, evaluating grant applications, recommending funding for projects, monitoring the implementation of funded projects, reporting on the use of grant funds, and auditing of funded projects and programs.

Provides technical and managerial direction to division staff regarding implementation of grant programs, assessment of mobile source technologies, and process controls.

Manages contractual services agreements for implementing grant and incentive program activities such as direct mail and vehicle scrapping.

Analyzes technical and policy issues, assesses the efficacy of the Air District's grant programs, evaluates new approaches and initiatives and makes recommendations to executive management and the Board of Directors.

Identifies and pursues opportunities to fund demonstration projects and advanced technologies (primarily mobile sources).

Coordinates with other divisions regarding outreach, evaluation tools and financial tracking related to the Air District's grant and incentive programs.

Coordinates with local, regional and State agencies regarding grant and incentive programs and related issues.

Represents the Air District at meetings with the public, industry and other agencies.

Education and Experience:

A typical way to gain the knowledge, skills and abilities is:
Equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university with major coursework in engineering, environmental or transportation planning, environmental studies, public policy, or a closely related field and five years of grant or contract administration, preferably with a public agency, including three years of supervisory experience.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Specialized knowledge of zero-emission and mobile-source technologies and related incentive frameworks.
2. Experience managing multi-million-dollar grant or incentive portfolios, including staff oversight, fiscal management, compliance, and funding guidelines.
3. Experience implementing funding programs that advance equity or reflect community-identified priorities.

Interested individuals must submit a completed BAAQMD application, chronological resume, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 9th, 2026. Applications are accepted online. Please visit our website at w ww.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply or to download an application. Resumes must be attached to the application and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Postmarks, faxes, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Supplemental Questions Instructions:

Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the required supplemental questions. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Office no later than the time and date specified in this vacancy announcement. The responses to the supplemental application questions will be used in accordance with the procedures indicated under the Selection Criteria section. Please limit your responses to one page per question. Do not combine your responses or reference your application, resume, or any other requested documentation that you have included with your application packet to answer a question. This information will be evaluated as is and may be used to determine those applicants with the most directly related experience, education, and training to continue in the selection process. It is very important to provide a concise, clear, legible, complete response to each question.

Selection Criteria:

Selection may be based upon a competitive examination consisting of a written exercise, interview, or combination of the two. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, an application screening and/or panel interview may be used to determine the most qualified applicants. The Air District may hire from this recruitment process to fill future vacancies occurring within the next 18 months. Persons with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations during the application and/or selection process should notify the Human Resources Office at (415) 749-4980.

The District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.