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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 00215553 |
Description Activated On: 8/13/2026 9:14:14 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. This position provides technical and administrative support for implementation of Chesapeake Bay watershed policy, planning, and management programs across the Water Programs Deputate. This position performs a variety of advanced professional work supporting the implementation of the Chesapeake Bay program in the Central Office of the Department of Environmental Protection. Duties emphasize development and implementation of Chesapeake Bay policies and directives across the Water Programs Deputate. This work focuses on continuously providing a broad range of complex programmatic support for the implementation of an integrated basin-wide water program. Work is assigned in the form of goals and objectives, and the employee exercises considerable independence and judgment in planning, scheduling, and completing the work. Upon completion, work is reviewed and evaluated by a professional supervisor for technical accuracy and overall quality. |
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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. Use information from field scale and basin wide water quality monitoring programs to characterize nonpoint source pollution loads and load reductions associated with Best Management Practices (BMPs) and to identify nonpoint source water quality problems, trends, and improvements. Prepares BMP lists for model scenario runs of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model and supporting software to evaluate the impact of BMP installations and to evaluate the effectiveness of various management options towards achieving nonpoint source pollution reductions. Leads the Department’s effort to annually report BMPs to EPA for progress runs, as well as all other numeric reporting. This would include reports developed for agency executive staff and other internal and multi-agency management. Uses statistical methods and GIS to analyze monitoring results, existing hydrologic information and land resource data, then verifies the modeling results and makes interpretations for program managers across the Water Program Deputate as well as other Deputates (such as Oil and Gas, Mining, Waste, Air, Radiation, and Remediation, and Field Operations). Integrates modeling, monitoring, and empirical data to provide a technical basis for the assessment, development, implementation and tracking of nonpoint source pollution reduction programs. Communicates effectively with program managers and staff within the Water Deputate as well as other Deputates within the agency, as well as other Commonwealth Agencies, to ensure transfer of knowledge and understanding of Best Management Practice reporting needs and results. Coordinates with program staff and prepares forms, fact sheets and reports to convey technical information to program managers and field personnel, and for use by field personnel including Chesapeake Bay Program technicians in the conservation districts. This includes information about BMP Verification requirements. Participates as a peer reviewer and professional consultant in multi-agency projects to examine the impact of Best Management Practices on reducing nutrients. In this capacity, provides technical and critical review of reports, professional manuscripts, maps and other illustrations. Coordination is required with the EPA, NRCS, ICPRB, SRBC and the USGS as necessary. Represents Pennsylvania/DEP as a member of Chesapeake Bay Program committees/workgroups on conference calls or at meeting locations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to include those specified below as well as the following workgroups: Monitoring, Agriculture, Land Use, Urban Stormwater. Briefs supervisors and managers on committee proceedings and the potential impact of committee actions/recommendations upon program goals. Committees and workgroups include, but are not limited to: 1. Clean Water Goal Team – Provides support to management on issues which include: addressing nutrient and sediment impairments within Chesapeake Bay, assessing and communicating progress, and defining restored Chesapeake Bay water quality. Provides support to management during EPA’s development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). 2. Modeling Workgroup and Agricultural Modeling Team – Reviews and provides input on calibration of EPA’s hydrologic simulation watershed model. Provides input on the purpose and justification of various modeling scenarios. Reviews and approves revisions to mathematical models in collaborations with subcommittee members. Advises coworkers, administrative and managerial officials of the results of model calibration and scenario results and their potential impacts upon PA’s Chesapeake Bay Program goals. 3. Watershed Technical Workgroup – Interacts with representatives from the Chesapeake Bay watershed jurisdictions (Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, New York, Delaware and West Virginia) and other Chesapeake Bay Program participants on technical issues related to nutrient reduction plan development, tracking and reporting. As a workgroup member, recommends and reviews new and innovative technologies that can be implemented to provide additional nutrient reductions. Using available data and best professional judgment, develops nutrient reductions efficiency standards and tracking protocols for the new technologies. Reviews and approves Watershed Model processes to assure consistency with current agricultural urban and forestry practices. Develops protocols and standards for evaluating the progress of the Chesapeake Bay Program states towards meeting nutrient reductions goals. Attends conferences and workshops (in locations such as Annapolis and Washington DC) related to watershed modeling and nonpoint source nutrients quantification/reduction to review new technologies that would be of benefit to Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Program. Reads scientific literature and attends professional meetings pertinent to job responsibilities and needed to keep abreast of the profession. Responsible for assisting with development of Chesapeake Bay Implementation Plan documents to meet the nutrient and sediment reduction goals for the TMDL led by EPA. Works with DEP regional office and Central Office management/staff. Prepares data reports in spreadsheet form and summary documents, describing PA’s progress towards reaching the nutrient reduction goal. This requires acquiring, reviewing, cross correlating, and compiling BMP implementation data from the USDA, NRCS, the PA Game Commission, and the State Conservation Commission, and various cost-share and grant programs. Functions as Departmental spokesperson for technical issues concerning PA’s Phase 3 adn 4 Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs 3 and 4). Meets with concerned officials, conservation groups, industries, and the public to explain the plans, BMP protocols and use of EPA’s watershed model used to track Pennsylvania’s progress. Develops presentations for use by others. As a Chesapeake Bay Program representative, assists other Bureau and Programs with the development of funding applications and program plans. Examples of work include participating in development of Countywide Action Plan funding allocations and associated goals to include modeling scenario runs of existing and proposed BMPs. 1. Promotes and exemplifies the Department’s Mission, Vision, and Values in all aspects of work performance and professional conduct. 2. Advances DEP’s strategic priorities through collaboration, commitment to data-driven decision-making, delivery of high-quality customer service, and active participation in modernization and continuous improvement initiatives. 3. Inputs, maintains, and updates data in prescribed formats to meet data quality standards established through guidance, training, policy, and procedure across all DEP electronic data systems. Responsibilities include ensuring the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and integrity of all entries, as well as utilizing available system tools and validation processes to minimize duplicate records and data quality issues. 4. Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, guidance, and training requirements related to assigned duties and DEP electronic data systems. 5. In conjunction with the supervisor, participates in knowledge management and knowledge transfer efforts by identifying key aspects of assigned duties and proactively sharing knowledge with other employees to support continuity of operations and organizational effectiveness. 6. Develops, maintains, and annually updates a comprehensive desk manual documenting essential duties, standard operating procedures, workflows, system processes, key contacts, reference materials, and other critical operational information necessary to support continuity of operations and effective knowledge transfer. Employees are responsible for ensuring desk manuals remain accurate, current, and accessible in accordance with Department requirements. |
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 by the supervisor both in verbal and written form. Assignments and progress are reviewed periodically through meetings, conferences, and written communications. |
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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: 1. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the federal and Commonwealth laws, regulations, and legal precedents governing environmental protection. Knowledge of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences, related to the assessment, protection, and restoration of water resources. Knowledge of the procedures and techniques used in evaluating the effectiveness of regional and statewide water programs. Knowledge of the relationships of environmental conditions to human health. Knowledge of mathematical and statistical methods used in data gathering, analysis, and presentation. Knowledge of GIS and data management applications, including various computer databases and spreadsheets, used to track, manage and report on program activities. 2 MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Three years of professional environmental protection experience; and a bachelor’s degree in the biological, physical, or environmental sciences, engineering, or in a field closely related to environmental protection or regulation; Or An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes three years of professional environmental protection 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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