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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00060697 |
Description Activated On: 1/6/2026 2:58:36 PM |
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. The individual in this position is responsible for ambient air monitoring projects such as the repair and operation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Air Monitoring System (COPAMS) remote air monitoring equipment, discrete samplers, and other instrumentation required under the Federal and State Clean Air Acts. Work is performed in assigned areas of Pennsylvania, including the western region of the Commonwealth. |
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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. 1. Performs preventive maintenance (PM) every two weeks at remote stations by following set procedures. PM is done to prevent major malfunctions of air monitoring instruments. The procedures may include: a. Changing instrument filters b. Changing air drying or purification chemicals c. Cleaning sampling manifolds d. Checking cylinder pressures e. Checking sensor parameters 2. Reviews automated 2-week precision checks of continuous analyzers, including, SO2, NO2, O3 and CO analyzers, where a known concentration of precision gas is injected into the instruments, and verifies that data readings are within acceptable limits. If not, employee must troubleshoot, repair, replace and/or recalibrate the instrument as required. These activities are necessary to ensure that instrument output readings are linear, and data is valid. Precision checks are required by applicable Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations including 40 CFR Parts 58. 3. Calibrates air monitoring equipment by injecting known concentrations of calibration gases into analyzers and adjusting the instrument's flow and/or electronic correction settings to rectify differences between the instrument's reading and the known true concentration. Documents calibration by completing a Calibration Task on the Air Quality Portal. Activities are carried out with the use of photometric ozone calibrators, permeation calibrators, computer, voltmeter and barometer to ensure that sensor readings are correct and valid. 4. Performs corrective actions by analyzing symptoms and parameters (voltages, flows, pressures, temperatures, sounds, etc.) to isolate and correct malfunctions on air monitoring sensors, meteorological equipment, and station support equipment including: calibration systems, data loggers, computers, air conditioners, printers, and all other associated equipment. Test equipment includes such items as a voltmeter, certified temperature probe, barometer, flow transfer standard, hand tools, along with schematic diagrams, and vendor data sheets. Work is done to maintain at least 75% of valid data from all air monitoring stations. 5. Maintains PM2.5 Federal Reference Method (FRM) samplers. FRM sampler filters are changed on a set schedule depending on sampling setup. Sample submission sheets must be completed, chain-of-custody maintained, and filters shipped to the BOL. Scheduled monthly verifications and semi-annual calibrations must be completed and documented in the Air Quality Portal. Calibrations and verifications are done to ensure filter samples sent to the lab are valid and meet EPA requirements. 6. Maintains PM2.5 samplers as part of the national Chemical Speciation Network. Collects and refrigerates samples until a pre-scheduled date when they are shipped on ice to the national lab. Downloads sample data and transfers to the Chain of Custody sheet. Completes a monthly verification procedure to verify integrity of PM 2.5 speciation sampler. Completes a calibration procedure on a yearly basis or after failure of a verification check. 7. Maintains high-volume air samplers, including PM10, TSP and Lead samplers. Changes sample filters as scheduled, then measures, stores, records appropriate parameters and downloads sample collection information to the Central Office. Calibrates, verifies and repairs samplers as needed. Receives clean filters and ships sampled filters back to the DEP Bureau of Laboratories (BOL). Measures and records flow rates before and after each filter change, resets timer for the next designated sample day, and replaces Dickson chart. 8. Operates and maintains specialized “toxic” monitoring equipment including, but not limited to, evacuated canisters, gas chromatographs, thermodesorbers, mass spectrographs, portable survey monitors, adsorption tubes, portable meteorological equipment and portable data acquisition systems. 9. Documents all work (PM, Verifications, Calibrations, Repairs, etc.) in the Air Quality Portal. 10. Drives to assigned air monitoring sites using a state vehicle. Operates vehicle telematic device as per policy. Maintains supply of parts, tools and support equipment in vehicle to complete work at monitoring sites. Gets regularly scheduled vehicle service work (oil changes, tire rotations, etc.) at designated facilities. 11. Utilizes a state-issued smartphone for communications and documentation purposes including phone calls, text messages, site documentation via camera, transferring images and files to/from One Drive, participating in Microsoft Teams or similar meeting platforms, as well as other functions. Does so following all IT acceptable use policies. 12. Provides timely and complete responses to data validation questions posed by analysts in the Quality Assurance Section regarding past sensor performance, sample collections, etc. This job 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. Special instructions, tools, materials, etc. will be issued when such projects are assigned. 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. Promotes the Department’s mission. |
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 performed by the employee in this position will be primarily concentrated in the western portion of Pennsylvania. Work is assigned by an Air Monitoring Program Supervisor (AMPS), or staff engineers through the AMPS, in accordance with monitoring priorities. Work is performed on a fairly independent basis with the immediate supervisor providing random reviews of work performed. |
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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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