12/01/1978 75630

WATER QUALITY SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is supervisory professional work in the field of water quality management.

An employee in this class supervises the daily activities of employees, within as assigned geographical area of the Commonwealth, engaged in the regulation of facilities to insure compliance with the Commonwealth' rules and regulations governing water quality. Work requires supervising the daily activities of employees to insure that goals and objectives are being met; insuring that employees receive all contractual or administrative entitlement; and interpreting assignments, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for employees. Work involves testifying as an expert witness, establishing priorities for the enforcement of cases, reviewing soil erosion and sedimentation plans, reviewing pollution incident prevention plans, and responding to emergency situations. Work also involves training subordinates in the rules and regulations and providing information to facility operators, municipal officials, consultants and the public on the rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Work includes planning, organizing, and assigning work, evaluating employee performance, receiving and resolving grievances and complaints, approving leave requests, interviewing 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 supervisor through reports and conferences for attainment of goals and objectives, completeness, technical accuracy, and quality.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans, organizes, schedules, and assigns work to subordinates.

Evaluates employee work performance; prepares and signs employee Performance Evaluation Reports.

Receives grievances and complaints, conducts initial investigation into causes and conditions, discusses with employee, and resolves or recommends solutions to grievances and complaints.

Interviews prospective employees and recommends employee selection or ranks applicants in terms of preferability for employment.

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

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

Approves leave requests and reviews subordinates' sick leave usage to determine if pattern of abuse exists.

Reviews and evaluates the educational training needs of subordinates; plans and conducts training; demonstrates more efficient work methods; and requests further education and training for subordinates.

Reviews subordinates; weekly itinerary, inspection reports, and monthly activities reports to insure 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.

Demonstrates more efficient work methods to subordinates; discusses new or innovative techniques developed for use in the water quality management field with subordinates.

Trains subordinates in the interpretation and application of the rules, regulations, and laws utilized in the enforcement of cases; trains subordinates in the rules, regulations, policies and procedures utilized in the work.

Performs independent field inspections to evaluate subordinates work.

Conducts surveys, inspections, and investigations of facilities to determine if they are operating within water quality rules and regulations.

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

Researches case files and case history to prepare documentation for use in the prosecution of cases by subordinates or legal staff.

Establishes priorities for the enforcement of cases within assigned area.

Discusses difficult enforcement cases with subordinates, reviews case files and documentation, discusses possible action with subordinates, reviews enforcement recommendation and approves or disapproves enforcement recommendations.

Evaluates effectiveness of enforcement program within an assigned area, determining what is being done, how it is being done, what is not being done, what is being done right and what is being done wrong; prepares reports of findings and recommendations; discusses report with subordinates.

Reviews plans for soil erosion and sedimentation control at earthmoving sites to insure proper control measures and devices are being utilized.

Reviews pollution incident prevention plans to determine type of facility, discharges which may occur, how the facility plans to deal with discharges, emergency equipment available, and approves or disapproves the plan.

Reviews Operations and Maintenance Manuals for sewage treatment plants submitted in conduction with Federal grant applications; recommends approval to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Provides advice to subordinates and co-workers on difficult or unusual cases.

Provides advice to facility operators on methods to solve operational problems.

Provides technical water quality management advice to other Commonwealth agencies.

Provides information to facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, and the public on Departmental program functions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures over the telephone or in writing.

Provides information to reporters regarding water quality cases or incidents within assigned area over telephone.

Responds to emergency situations such as dangerous chemical spills, fish kills, and flood disasters to direct or assist in clean up operations; coordinates the acquisition of equipment or special services needed to clean up after emergency situations; represents the Department at Civil Defense Headquarters or area headquarters during emergency situations.

Prepares letters, reports, and correspondence to exchange information with supervisor, subordinates, facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, and the public.

Operates a motor vehicle to travel to various work sites.

Performs similar work as required.

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

Knowledge of the Department of Environmental Resources' rules and regulations governing water quality management.

Knowledge of the techniques and procedures utilized in inspecting steel industries for discharges or treatment facilities.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting petrochemical industries for discharges or treatment facilities.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the inspection of dams for obvious defects.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting water treatment facilities to determine if they are operating according to permit conditions.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting sewage treatment facilities to determine if they are operating according to permit conditions.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting earthmoving sites for measures and devices to control soil erosion and sedimentation.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the inspection of mineral production industries for discharges or treatment facilities.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the inspection of stream encroachments to determine if they meet permit conditions.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the inspection of industries for discharges or treatment facilities.

Knowledge of the procedures or techniques utilized in the inspection of pulp or paper industries for discharge or treatment facilities.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting milk processing industries for discharges or treatment facilities.

Knowledge of the procedures an techniques utilized in inspecting slaughterhouses for discharges or treatment facilities.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the inspection of water distribution or storage facilities for compliance with the rules and regulations.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in inspecting deep mines for drainage or treatment facilities.

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

Knowledge of basic engineering design considerations for treatment facilities.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating complaints involving toxic or hazardous material spills.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating complaints involving fish kills.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in investigating complaints involving storm water problems.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the documentation of violations.

Knowledge of the procedures, techniques, and format utilized in the preparation of violation letters.

Knowledge of the techniques utilized in the negotiation of settlements of violations.

Knowledge of the techniques utilized in the negotiation of penalties payable to the Clean Water Fund in lieu of enforcement action.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the conduct of stream surveys to determine water quality.

Knowledge of the procedures and techniques utilized in the conduct of surveys of discharges by facilities to determine if they meet water quality standards.

Knowledge of the safety precautions required while conducting inspections, investigations, and surveys.

Knowledge of the proper operation, calibration, and routine preventative maintenance on water quality test equipment such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity meter or comparator kits.

Knowledge of the proper application of water quality test equipment to various settings.

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

Ability to read and interpret soil erosion and sedimentation and pollution incident prevention plans.

Ability to read and interpret Operations and Maintenance Manual for sewage treatment plants.

Ability to conduct surveys, inspections, and investigations of facilities to determine if they are operating within water quality rules and regulations.

Ability to apply the rules and regulations during the review of inspection, investigation, enforcement, and survey activities.

Ability to perform mathematical calculations at the GED 5 level.

Ability to read and write English at the GED 5 level.

Ability to read and understand engineering reports, drawings, blueprints and flow schematics.

Ability to plan, organize and assign work to subordinates.

Ability to evaluate employee performance and prepare employee Performance Evaluation Reports.

Ability to read and interpret collective bargaining unit contracts applicable to the work performed by the unit.

Ability to read and interpret Commonwealth and Departmental administrative rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Ability to learn the safety precautions required for the work performed by the unit.

Ability to supervise employees effectively.

Ability to operate, calibrate, and perform routine preventative maintenance on water quality test equipment.

Ability to meet with and secure the cooperation of facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, and the public during the conduct of inspections, investigations, plan review, and surveys.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisor, subordinates, facility operators, municipal officials, consultants, and the public.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Eyesight and color perception to permit use of comparator test equipment.

Sufficient physical stamina to permit carrying test equipment over long distances, walking over rough terrain, and working under adverse weather conditions.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years of experience as a Water Quality Specialist;

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

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