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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00004480 |
Description Activated On: 7/15/2025 10:09:16 AM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. Direct supervision of the daily activities of Water Quality Specialists (WQS) in the Operations Section dealing with Clean Water monitoring and compliance programs to ensure that goals and objectives are being met efficiently and effectively. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. Schedules and assigns work to subordinates in the following Clean Water work areas to assure timely completion of goals and objectives: Field inspections at sewage and industrial waste treatment facilities. Respond to complaints in accordance with Regional Complaint Response Policy. Respond promptly to emergency pollution incidents which may affect public health or the environment. Participate in joint inspections as scheduled with other regional programs. Perform non-routine work hour inspections at wastewater treatment facilities as required. Review all Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) in accordance with DEP policies. Refer cases for legal action where compliance has not been achieved voluntarily or where there has been damage to the environment. Written or verbal follow-up of inspections and investigations to obtain compliance with the permits, laws, and regulations under our administration. Other Supervisory duties are as follows: Assist Section Chief with the interviewing and selection of WQSs. Plan and implement the one-year training plan for WQS Trainees. Assign field areas and facility responsibilities to WQSs in consultation with the Section Chief. Review inspection and investigation reports for completeness and thoroughness of information which will enable others to understand the conditions present during the inspection. Verify that reports adhere to DEP SOPs, policies, procedures, and Guidance. Ensure that staff is familiar and complies with all applicable executive orders, management directives, and DEP policies, procedures, and guidelines. Provide technical and procedural recommendations to WQSs on conducting inspections and pollution incident and complaint investigations. Conduct inspections with staff to evaluate their field performance. Review and approve leave requests, CATS forms, travel expense requests, and overtime requests in accordance with DEP policies. Evaluate work performance and prepare/sign Employee Performance Reviews and prepare annual performance factors for WQSs in a timely manner. Conduct periodic progress reviews. Review written correspondence for completeness and content, and make appropriate revisions as necessary. Assess appropriate training needs of WQSs and request approval for necessary training. Review analytical sampling methods and techniques with staff and make recommendations for improvement as required. Receive and propose solutions to staff grievances and complaints in accordance with DEP policies. Maintain a work climate that is free of discriminatory behavior or harassment by employees under my direct supervision. Conduct periodic quality assurance field audits and ongoing oversight of WQS's performance of inspections, complaint/emergency investigations, and follow-up enforcement on cases in WQS field areas. Program Management duties are as follows: Review and comment on proposed SOPs, policies, procedures, and regulations. Develop procedures to implement new policies and improve efficiency of section's work. Prepare summaries of compliance monitoring inspections and enforcement actions as requested. Prepare written responses to regional logged letters within assigned deadlines. Read and circulate technical literature and memos. Perform the duties of the Operations Section Chief when required. Review selected DMRs of sewage and industrial waste treatment plants for quality assurance. Assist Operations Section Chief in preparing requested program plan reports and workload analysis documents. Perform research and write letters in response to requests for information. Review and evaluate Preparedness, Prevention, and Contingency (PPC) plans for pollution prevention purposes. Make recommendations to the Planning and Permits Sections based on knowledge of relevant cases. Provide timely and accurate information to the news media jointly with our regional Community Relations Coordinators. Provide updates to the Regional Weekly Report and Hot Issues List. Review assigned annual Wasteload Management (Chapter 94) reports. Refer problems not within the Clean Water Program's jurisdiction to other DEP programs and/or governmental agencies in accordance with DEP policies and procedures. Prepare and submit biweekly CATS forms. Inform Operations Section Chief of all problems, issues, or situations which may become imminent health or pollution hazards or initiate active controversy. Testify as an expert witness before the Environmental Hearing Board, District Magistrate, County Court, Commonwealth Court, and Federal Court. Utilize personal computers with Microsoft Office software for maintaining databases. Attend seminars and public meetings to make presentations or to clarify DEP policies and answer questions. Refer appropriate cases to the Operator Outreach Program. Determine equipment needs of staff and order and maintain the program's equipment and supplies. Assess suspected criminal activity and make recommendations for criminal referrals. Attend statewide WQSS and Operations Section meetings. Participate in public education and outreach activities. Perform special studies on new regional initiatives as assigned. Pollution Incident Response Duties are as follows: Coordinate WQS spill response with the regional ERT staff in accordance wih DEP policies and procedures. This may require after-hours work. Advise WQSs on spill containment and cleanup recommendations at spill sites. Coordinate fish kill and other pollution investigations with the PA Fish and Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officers. Coordinate investigations involving hazardous materials and other regulated wastes with the Waste Management Program and Emergency Response Team. Conduct emergency inspections of wastewater treatment facilities which become inoperable due to flooding, extensive power failures, and other man-made or natural disasters. Represent DEP during the follow-up of specific incidents requiring DEP involvement. Enforcement Duties: Identify, prioritize, and refer significant violations of PA Clean Streams Law for appropriate enforcement action. Prepare and review enforcement action referrals. Discuss and select appropriate enforcement actions with the Environmental Protection Compliance Specialists (EPCS). Assist EPCSs during enforcement conferences with the discussion of required corrective actions and penalty negotiation. Discuss technical aspects of cases referred for legal action with Regional Office of Chief Counsel staff. Prepare case histories for enforcement referrals to assist EPCSs in preparation of enforcement action. Utilize appropriate penalty calculation databases when preparing penalty actions. Provide compliance assistance to clients and regulated entities. Complete and serve Field Orders in accordance with DEP policies and procedures. Identify, track, and resolve violations in accordance with DEP policies and procedures and SOPs. Field Activity Duties are as follows: The following typical WQS activities will be conducted during WQS leave, WQS vacancies, WQS absence due to training, and for special projects and requests: Plan and conduct on-site inspections of selected sewage and industrial wastewater treatment plants. Investigate spills, surface, and groundwater pollution incidents, and fish kills. Investigate water pollution complaints. Participate in special studies as requested. Meet with municipal and corporate officials, consultants, engineers, and facility operators to discuss problems and recommendations to improve operations and achieve compliance. Miscellaneous Duties: Input all necessary data into DEP tracking systems (eFACTS) to accurately reflect work performed in accordance with DEP policies and procedures. Given the appropriate personal protection equipment and training, conduct one or more of the following in areas that do not exceed published exposure limits: Conduct on-site spill investigations. Investigate pollution incidents and/or oversee cleanup operations. Sample and handle harmful or hazardous materials or petroleum products. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. Promotes the Department’s mission. Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training, and policy across all of DEP’s electronic data systems; to include ensuring accuracy and completeness of entries, and where available, the use of system specific tools to ensure duplicative entries and data quality issues are minimized. Other duties as assigned. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. Work is assigned in the form of specific projects and program objectives, with which considerable freedom in planning, scheduling, and delegating is exercised. Work is evaluated for job knowledge/skills, work results, communications, initiative/problem solving, interpersonal relations/affirmative action, work habits, and supervision/management and attainment of objectives. Performance is reviewed periodically and formally in an annual performance review. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. Class C Driver's License 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. 5. 6. |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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