Sewage Planning Specialist (Environmental Trainee)

The Department of Environmental Protection is actively looking to hire a Environmental Trainee to join their team under the guidance of the Sewage Planning Supervisor. This role is crucial for ensuring the effective implementation of the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) within the Northeast Regional Office. As a Environmental Trainee, the selected candidate will benefit from close supervision and hands-on training, which will equip them to assess Official Sewage Facilities Plans and their subsequent updates. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to vital environmental initiatives, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply today!

Environmental Trainees are engaged in a comprehensive 12-month training program designed to equip them with the skills necessary for the role of an environmental inspector within a specific sector. Throughout this program, trainees will receive hands-on experience that allows them to familiarize themselves with relevant regulations and policies while supporting seasoned professionals in conducting inspections of designated facilities.

In this role, you will be tasked with enforcing the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act across a specified geographic region, with a focus on protecting public health and mitigating environmental pollution. Your responsibilities will encompass a thorough evaluation of sewage planning modules, where you will assess exemptions and provide recommendations for approval or denial. You will also address inquiries and perform follow-up investigations when an Official Sewage Facilities Plan or Update Revision is deemed necessary for a municipality. This will involve analyzing various factors such as zoning laws, population trends, economic implications, and existing challenges, allowing you to offer valuable insights to your supervisor and the responsible engineer regarding specific aspects of the proposals.

Moreover, you will manage and coordinate the assigned Official Base Plans and Update Revisions, overseeing the process from the initial identification of needs to the execution of approved strategies. This includes reviewing and providing feedback on all Base Plan activities within your jurisdiction. You will conduct site surveys to evaluate the feasibility of proposed on-lot and stream discharge systems, as well as address citizen complaints concerning malfunctioning on-lot systems or any misconduct by sewage enforcement officers. Additionally, your role will involve assessing the performance of sewage enforcement officers by reviewing issued permits and verifying site conditions, along with making recommendations for enhancing their performance. You will also evaluate local agencies to ensure compliance with established standards and practices.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment.
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time up to 3 days a week. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Wilkes Barre.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $44,890.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
  

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Four years of technical experience in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field; or
• A bachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirement:

• This position requires possession of an active motor vehicle license.

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.