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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00105270 |
Description Activated On: 7/7/2026 3:50:04 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. This position performs advanced professional consultative geology work within the Major Projects Permitting Division (MPPD) in the Office of Field Operations, providing cross-bureau technical support to the Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands (BWEW) and the Bureau of Clean Water (BCW). The position supports statewide Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permitting, implementation, compliance, policy, guidance, and program development needs. Work is performed with a high degree of independence and requires advanced professional geologic judgment to evaluate and resolve complex, cross-program, high-profile, or sensitive geologic issues affecting Department decisions. |
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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. Statewide Geologic Consultation Serves as the Department’s statewide technical authority on complex geologic, hydrogeologic, geotechnical, and environmental geology issues affecting Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permitting, implementation, compliance, and related water resource protection responsibilities. Provides senior-level consultation to Bureau Directors and leadership (including BWEW and BCW), MPPD and Regional Program and Section Managers, DEP technical staff, and County Conservation Districts on geologic issues affecting Department decisions, statewide consistency, environmental risk, public concerns, and technical defensibility. Technical Review and Risk Evaluation Reviews and interprets complex technical submissions involving subsurface investigations, geotechnical evaluations, trenchless technology, hydrofracture risk, inadvertent returns, geologic hazards, contaminated media, water supply impacts, groundwater, stormwater infiltration, and other geologic or hydrogeologic issues associated with Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 activities. Evaluates whether proposed project designs, construction methods, stormwater controls, stream and wetland crossing methods, sequencing, monitoring, contingency measures, and permit conditions adequately address geologic hazards, subsurface constraints, groundwater impacts, contaminated or problematic geologic materials, constructability concerns, and risks to water resources. Provides expert recommendations on additional information needs, special conditions, monitoring requirements, contingency measures, corrective actions, alternative construction methods, design modifications, or additional geologic evaluation needed to support technically sound and defensible Department decisions. Serves as a statewide resource for Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 matters involving trenchless technologies, hydrofracture or inadvertent return risk, stormwater gravity wells and other infiltration practices, karst, landslides, acid-producing rock, coal ash, contaminated soils or groundwater, complex bedrock conditions, groundwater mounding, and water supply concerns. Evaluates new and emerging technologies, materials, and construction methods proposed for or encountered during Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 activities where potential impacts to water resources, wetlands, streams, groundwater, water supplies, or public health require advanced geologic review. Prepares or provides expert input to technical deficiency letters, completeness determinations, Records of Decision, Fact Sheets, comment-response documents, permit conditions, enforcement correspondence, technical memoranda, decision documents, management briefings, and technical recommendations involving complex, sensitive, or controversial geologic issues. Guidance, Training, and Program Support Develops and recommends statewide geologic review approaches, standards, guidance, procedures, checklists, training materials, and internal tools to support consistent implementation of Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 programs. Leads or participates in development and revision of policies, technical guidance, standard operating procedures, permit application instructions, review checklists, and training materials related to geologic review of Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 activities. Reviews and provides expert comments on external technical documents, manuals, standards, and design guidance where geologic, hydrogeologic, or geotechnical issues may affect Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 review or implementation. Identifies recurring geologic issues and recommends changes to guidance, permitting approaches, permit conditions, review procedures, data systems, training, or coordination procedures to improve statewide consistency, efficiency, and technical defensibility. Develops and delivers training and provides technical mentoring to DEP staff, County Conservation Districts, consultants, applicants, public officials, geologists, engineers, permit reviewers, and other stakeholders on geologic review expectations, emerging technologies, geologic hazards, and related Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 requirements. Coordination and External Engagement Coordinates with DEP regional offices, County Conservation Districts, other DEP programs, applicants, consultants, federal and state agencies, local governments, and the public to resolve complex geologic or technical issues affecting Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permitting, implementation, compliance, enforcement, or litigation. Provides technical interpretations and recommendations to Bureau leadership, Executive Staff, Legislative Affairs, Communications, and other Department programs on complex, sensitive, or controversial geologic matters affecting Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 decisions. Represents the Department in meetings with federal and state agencies, professional organizations, academic institutions, regulated entities, consultants, and the public regarding complex geologic issues affecting Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 activities. Participates in and, when appropriate, leads pre-application meetings, technical meetings, public meetings, hearings, and interagency discussions involving complex geologic issues or high-public-interest Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 projects. Provides technical support for responses to public comments, legislative inquiries, executive briefings, media-sensitive matters, and high-profile Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 projects where geologic issues are central to Department decision-making. Participates in MPPD management and staff meetings, as appropriate, to support statewide consistency, program coordination, and resolution of complex geologic issues. Compliance, Litigation, and Administrative Support Reviews geologic and hydrogeologic aspects of Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 compliance and enforcement matters and provides technical recommendations where geologic conditions, construction methods, permit implementation issues, or site conditions may have caused or contributed to environmental impacts. Conducts or participates in field investigations, site inspections, complaint investigations, and technical evaluations involving water supply complaints, groundwater or surface water impacts, inadvertent returns, sinkholes, landslides, contaminated media, or other geologic hazards associated with Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 activities. Prepares technical findings and recommendations for enforcement documents, corrective action plans, settlement discussions, appeal responses, and litigation support involving geologic, hydrogeologic, geotechnical, or environmental geology issues. Serves as an expert or technical witness before the Environmental Hearing Board, the Commonwealth Court, and other judicial or administrative forums as needed to support Department decisions involving Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 matters. Inputs appropriate data into eFACTS and other DEP electronic systems in accordance with Department policies, permit review procedures, and data quality standards; uses Department systems to support review tracking, timeliness, workload management, decision documentation, and quality assurance. Prepares correspondence, reports, technical memoranda, briefing materials, presentations, spreadsheets, and other documents necessary to support assigned duties. Travels to project sites, meetings, trainings, hearings, or field investigations, including overnight travel when necessary. Navigates uneven or rough terrain, construction sites, stream corridors, wetlands, and other field conditions as needed. Maintains working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies, and guidance, including the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, Clean Streams Law, Stormwater Management Act, Conservation District Law, Federal Clean Water Act, Natural Gas Act, and related regulations as they apply to Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 responsibilities. Promotes the Department’s mission Performs related 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. The employee is supervised by the MPPD Program Manager. Assignments are made as broad objectives, complex projects, technical issues, program priorities, deadlines, and desired outcomes. The employee independently determines the technical approach, defines the scope of geologic review, identifies necessary information, and develops recommendations to support management and program decisions. The employee makes independent technical judgments based on professional geologic expertise, field observations, technical reports, regulatory requirements, guidance, policies, scientific literature, and information submitted by applicants, consultants, staff, permittees, responsible parties, or other agencies. Technical issues are resolved within established program authority; matters involving policy implications, legal risk, controversy, program precedent, or final Department action are elevated to appropriate management, counsel, or decision-makers. The position provides senior-level advice to program managers and directors, including recommendations to update standards, procedures, permit conditions, guidance, review practices, and training. Work is reviewed for effectiveness, technical quality, soundness of judgment, consistency with program objectives, timeliness, and achievement of assigned goals. |
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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. Professional Geologist 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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