01/08/98 75490

SEWAGE PLANNING SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is professional and supervisory work involving the implementation, coordination and evaluation of the Sewage Facilities Act and related program activities within an assigned geographical area of the Commonwealth.

An employee in this class supervises a staff of sewage planning specialists engaged in a variety of duties to ensure compliance with the rules and regulations of the Commonwealths Sewage Facilities Act. Work requires supervising the activities of employees to ensure that program goals and objectives are being met, ensuring that employees receive all contractual or administrative entitlements, and interpreting assignments, rules, regulations, policies and procedures for employees. Work may involve preparing formal notices to municipalities that are in planning violation, reviewing requests for litigation involving the sewage program, preparing Departmental Orders, negotiating settlements, attending administrative hearings, testifying as a material or expert witness, and coordinating compliance actions. Work includes planning, organizing and assigning work, evaluating employee performance, receiving and resolving grievances and complaints, approving leave requests, interviewing job candidates and recommending employee selection, and evaluating employee training needs. Work is assigned in the form of program goals and objectives and the employee exercises considerable freedom in planning, scheduling and assigning the work. Work is reviewed upon completion by a professional manager through reports and conferences for attainment of goals and objectives, completeness, technical accuracy and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Supervises a staff of sewage planning specialists in the implementation of the Sewage Facilities Act within an assigned geographic area of the Commonwealth in order to protect public health and prevent pollution.

Plans, organizes, schedules and assigns work to subordinates; evaluates employee performance, and prepares and signs rating forms; receives grievances and complaints, conducts initial investigation into causes and conditions, and resolves or recommends appropriate solutions; approves leave requests and reviews subordinates sick leave usage to determine if patterns of abuse exist; and interviews job candidates and recommends employee selection.

Interprets rules, regulations, policies, procedures and objectives of the organization or program for subordinates.

Evaluates employee training needs, plans and conducts training sessions, demonstrates more efficient work methods, and requests additional training for subordinates as needed.

Reviews the activities of subordinates to ensure priority work is begin completed and program goals and objectives are being met.

Reviews reports, letters and correspondence prepared by subordinates for completeness, accuracy, grammar and content.

Performs, directs and/or coordinates the comprehensive review of official sewage plans and update revisions by reviewing all planning aspects, zoning requirements, growth and population projections, area economics, existing and potential sewage problems, soils, hydrogeologic conditions, impact on existing sewage facilities, analysis of alternatives, cost feasibility of the proposed plan and potential funding options; and participates in the final decision making for plans.

Directs the review and evaluation of sewage planning modules, including complex new land development plan revisions and exceptions to planning.

Provides technical training and guidance to Departmental staff in various specialty areas of the sewage facilities program, such as community on-lot disposal systems, small flow sewage treatment facilities, large volume on-lot disposal systems, municipal wasteload management, local agency administration, alternative or experimental systems, or comprehensive sewage planning.

Evaluates the performance of local agencies in fulfilling their obligations and responsibilities under the Sewage Facilities Act, provides technical support to improve their effectiveness, and assists in the formation and development of new multi-municipal agencies.

Provides advice to local agency personnel and sewage enforcement officers on difficult or unusual problems.

Presents formal training and outreach programs to sewage enforcement officers, local agency personnel, Departmental employees, installers, engineers, consultants and the public on the planning, siting, design, installation and maintenance of on-lot sewage disposal systems.

Discusses difficult enforcement cases with subordinates, reviews case files and documentation, discusses possible actions and provides specific enforcement recommendations to program managers.

Testifies as a material or expert witness before district magistrates, the State Board for Certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers, Environmental Hearing Board, or courts.

Participates in meetings with legislators, local government officials, special interest groups, and citizens to explain the program and to resolve issues and problems.

Employees in this class may participate in the performance of their subordinates work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Operates a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Performs similar work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the environmental, biological and chemical sciences related to sewage treatment and disposal.

Knowledge of the Commonwealths Sewage Facilities Act.

Knowledge of Departmental rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing municipal sewage facilities planning, sewage facility permitting and municipal wasteload management.

Knowledge of municipal government organization and comprehensive municipal planning under the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code.

Knowledge of the principles and techniques for the proper planning, design, siting, installation and maintenance of on-lot sewage disposal systems.

Knowledge of the procedures used in the review of planning grant applications and reimbursement requests.

Knowledge of the procedures used to prepare requests for the revocation or suspension of sewage enforcement officer certificates.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of effective supervision.

Skill in the identification and characterization of soils, wetlands and other site conditions.

Skill in the review and evaluation of sewage planning modules and official base plan update revisions.

Skill in conducting sewage facility planning alternative evaluations and environmental assessments.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the sewage facilities program within an assigned area through the evaluation of sewage enforcement officers and local agencies.

Ability to determine the appropriate level of enforcement required to encourage or compel compliance with Departmental rules and regulations.

Ability to read, interpret, and evaluate engineering and surveying plans and specifications submitted with sewage planning modules and official base plan updates.

Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and training sessions for a wide range of audiences, including municipal officials, sewage enforcement officers, consultants, developers, planners, landowners and the public.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, legislators, county and municipal officials, sewage enforcement officers, consultants, developers, planners, funding agencies and the public.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year as a Sewage Planning Specialist 2;

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A bachelor of science degree and 4 years of professional experience in the Water Management Program.

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Any equivalent combination of experience or training which affords the applicant the required knowledges, skills and abilities.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid Pennsylvania drivers license.