06/01/1989 75820

SOLID WASTE SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is supervisory and professional work in the field of waste management in an environmental protection regional office.

An employee in this class supervises a staff of field inspectors and compliance specialists in the operations section of a waste management regional program; or, supervises a staff of technical specialists in the facilities section; or, supervises the activities of a technical staff involved in the identification, investigation, and cleanup of sites under the State Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program, the Federal Superfund program, or special cleanup projects; or, supervises a staff of technical specialists in the municipal waste planning and recycling program. Work involves providing guidance to subordinates in the interpretation of work assignments and providing advice on difficult or unusual waste management problems. Work also involves planning, organizing, and assigning work, evaluating employee performance, receiving and resolving grievances and complaints, approving leave requests, recommending employee selection, and evaluating 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 through reports and conferences for attainment of goals and objectives, completeness, technical accuracy, and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Serves as a first-level supervisor in one of several organizational units in a regional waste management program.

Plans and organizes work, assigns work, determines work priorities, sets goals, and review work performance.

Prepares, reviews, and signs employee performance evaluation reports.

Interprets rules, regulations, policies, procedures, standards, and objectives of the waste management program for subordinates.

Interprets contractual and administrative rights and obligations for subordinates and modifies work environment or process to conform to changing conditions.

Reviews subordinates' itineraries, work products, and monthly activities reports to ensure that program goals and objectives are being met.

Supervises a staff of field inspectors and compliance specialists in the operations section; directs the inspection and investigation of facilities to determine if they are operating within permit conditions and waste management rules and regulations; establishes priorities for the enforcement of cases within an assigned area; directs the research of case files and case histories to prepare documentation for use in the prosecution of cases; discusses difficult enforcement cases with subordinates; and approves or disapproves enforcement recommendations.

Supervises a staff of technical specialists in the facilities section; establishes priorities for the permit review activities assigned to a specific geographical area or a waste management program (hazardous, municipal, or residual); conducts a review and evaluation of all plan and permit applications to ensure completeness of the review process and the resolution of disputes; determines if the permit application meets all established criteria and should be approved or disapproved, recommends decision, and prepares correspondence indicating the decision, rationale for the decision, and appeal rights; determines and calculates bonding requirements; prepares permits for issuance including standards and special operating conditions; reviews and evaluates recommendations submitted by subordinates involving requests for waste management permit cancellations, transfers, modifications, and renewals; recommends approval or disapproval of applications for emergency waste disposal facilities; directs the inspection of waste management facilities during all phases of construction; and assists the operations section in the monitoring of permitted facilities to ensure that technical permit conditions are met.

Supervises the activities of a technical staff involved in the identification, investigation, and cleanup of sites under the State Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program, the Federal Superfund program, or special cleanup projects; establishes priorities and makes recommendations to superiors for the enforcement of cases in an assigned geographical area; responds to emergency situations such as uncontrolled releases of hazardous and toxic material; coordinates the activities of subordinates with other regional staff to ensure the effective management of emergency situations; coordinates activities with other state and federal environmental programs; prepares letters, reports, and correspondence to exchange information with state contractors, federal officials, federal contractors, private parties, and private party contractors relating to the identification, investigation, and cleanup of contaminated sites; and performs the duties of project manager for assigned sites which are characterized by unusually difficult technical problems.

Supervises a staff of technical specialists in the municipal waste planning and recycling program; identifies municipal waste management problems within the region by evaluating remaining capacities and making recommendations to superiors; notifies municipalities that fail to meet their municipal solid waste planning and management responsibilities under Acts 97 and 101 and provides prioritized deadlines for compliance; administers the solid waste planning and recycling program within the region; promotes the development of economic resource recovery and recycling programs and serves as a source for market information on secondary materials; provides technical assistance and training to local officials; prepares and delivers presentations on solid waste planning and waste reduction methods for the public; coordinates activities with other regional and central office staff to ensure the effective administration of assigned programs; and serves as contract manager on all grant and loan contracts with municipalities.

Testifies as an expert witness before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, and the courts.

Assists in gathering program information, budgetary and staff needs, site costs, and time projections to develop and update program plans.

Provides information to facility operators, permit applicants, municipal officials, consultants, and the public on Departmental functions, programs, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Implements and supports the Department's community relations program.

Operates a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences as related to waste management.

Knowledge of the various physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes.

Knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines governing the waste management program and the regulation of permitted activities.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the inspection of facilities for compliance with permit conditions.

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and equipment utilized in the investigation of complaints involving environmental hazards.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing applications for permits.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing county and regional plans for conformance with rules and regulations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in reviewing grant applications.

Knowledge of the standard enforcement procedures and appropriate Departmental policies for ensuring compliance with solid waste management rules and regulations.

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and format for the preparation of violation letters, Departmental Orders, and Consent Agreements.

Knowledge of the safety precautions required for the work directed.

Knowledge of the applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Knowledge of the Commonwealth's and Department's rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing travel, lodging, expense vouchers, and reporting requirements.

Skill in the supervision of employees.

Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Ability to plan, organize, and assign work to subordinates.

Ability to evaluate employee performance and prepare employee performance evaluation reports.

Ability to perform mathematical calculations in order to assess the work of subordinates.

Ability to read and understand engineering reports, drawings, plans, specifications, topographic and geologic maps, and flow schematics.

Ability to apply applicable rules and regulations in the review of violations reported by subordinates.

Ability to conduct enforcement conferences or administrative hearings and to explain violations and required compliance activities.

Ability to testify as an expert witness before District Magistrates, the Environmental Hearing Board, and the courts.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, co-workers, supervisors, facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, and the public during the conduct of investigations, inspections, surveys, and enforcement actions.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Ability to demonstrate sufficient physical stamina to permit working under varying climatic conditions.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years of experience as a journey-level specialist in a waste management program in the Department of Environmental Resources;

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Three years of experience in environmental protection and a Bachelor's Degree with major course work in biology, chemistry, or in a field closely related to environmental protection. A Master's Degree with major course work in any of the fields closely related to environmental protection may be substituted for one year of the required experience;

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Any equivalent combination of education and experience that affords the applicant the required knowledges and abilities.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.