Carbon Strategies Lead

About the role

The Industrial Strategies Division within the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is seeking a motivated and experienced professional to help lead a team of staff supporting the deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) and Direct Air Capture technologies and projects, as required by Senate Bill 905 (Caballero, 2022).

Responsibilities

• Guide the development of a statewide carbon neutrality accounting framework.
• Lead expert analyses of emerging CCUS and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies, project types, and pathways.
• Develop the carbon protocols and technical foundations that drive California’s progress toward its net zero goals.
• Lead multidisciplinary technical efforts from concept to completion, developing rigorous analytical products.
• Serve as a technical and project lead on California’s most complex and forward-looking climate programs.
• Support regulatory development and deliver policy recommendations aligned with CARB’s climate mission.
• Represent the section at meetings, briefings, workshops, and public forums, communicating technical findings and program insights to diverse audiences.
• Manage external contracts; draft and publish reports, and briefings; and support statewide and national collaboration on carbon removal strategies.
• Stay current with scientific literature and policy developments in CCUS and CDR, ensuring that California’s approaches are both technically robust and broadly replicable.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to staff.
• Respond to priority assignments from upper management, contributing to high impact analyses and program updates.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams, motivating stakeholders, managing complex workstreams, and guiding collaborative problem solving across diverse technical and policy backgrounds to achieve collective goals.
• Background in carbon accounting frameworks, mechanical or nature-based carbon removal and GHG emission reduction and other climate programs.
• Experience developing regulations or policies, or implementing regulatory programs related to engineered carbon management and/or other climate programs.
• Demonstrable knowledge of how California will achieve carbon neutrality, and the policy mechanisms available to CARB that can ensure those objectives are met.
• Excellent oral and written communication abilities, with experience translating complex technical information into clear policy guidance for diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage internal and external stakeholder relationships with diplomacy, clarity, and sensitivity to team dynamics, while fostering collaboration and maintaining alignment across diverse groups.
• Familiarity with integrating equity considerations into environmental programs and policies.
• Capacity to articulate a high-level vision for how CCUS and CDR technologies fit into California’s broader climate portfolio, including sensitive messaging to various audiences and leadership.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have:

• A Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Economics, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in carbon capture, utilization, sequestration, or carbon dioxide removal technologies.
• Experience working on climate change mitigation and adaptation policies and programs.
• Experience with carbon accounting frameworks and methodologies.
• Experience with regulatory development and policy analysis.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement and coordination.
• Experience with technical writing and report preparation.

Skills

The successful candidate will have:

• Strong analytical and technical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement and coordination.
• Knowledge of California-specific policy and regulatory processes.
• Experience with data analysis and modeling.

Benefits

The California Air Resources Board offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Employee assistance programs.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $10,521.00 - $13,173.00 per month.

Schedule

The position may be eligible for hybrid in-office work and in-state telework. The amount of telework is at the agency's discretion and is based on the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) current telework policy.