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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50373552 |
Description Activated On: 9/8/2026 10:38:34 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 functions as an Aquatic Biologist II in the Southwest Regional Office. The position is responsible for initiating, developing and implementing environmental program procedures; conducting environmental reviews of applications for Water obstruction and encroachment permits and making determinations and decisions in accordance with Oil and Gas drilling regulations based on interpretations, assessments, and analysis of data included in permitting information, field documentation, reference sources, and comments from other concerned agencies. |
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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. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Conduct and/or coordinate complex field investigations of aquatic habitat (both plant and animal) and surrounding environmental conditions, participate in biological investigations, analyze ecological impact to make permitting decisions and determinations, assure activities meet the conditions, plans and specifications of a permit, and prepare the required reports to document the inspections. Conduct comprehensive technical environmental analyses for water obstruction and encroachment applications. This analysis includes evaluation of site-specific conditions, technical investigations, application of results from research, and written reports of recommendations from other State and Federal Agencies. The evaluation may include wetland delineation reports, macroinvertebrate surveys, mitigation plans for streams and wetlands, natural stream design, and alternatives analyses to recommend permits for issuance or denial. Review permit applications and drafts Record of Decisions (RODs). Draft deficiency letters with regulatory citations. Identify issues encountered and recommend solutions to Section Chief. Consult with jurisdictional agencies regarding threatened and endangered species to resolve Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) conflicts between applicants and resources. Provide technical expertise and direction in relation to mitigation and restoration of illegal activities. Conduct field reviews of wetland boundaries delineated by consultants. Prepare notices of violation and summary citations and provide technical analysis and recommendations to the legal staff to aid in the preparation of Consent Order and Agreements, settlement letters, Department orders or other required legal correspondence for enforcement action. Meet with violators and negotiate settlements of enforcement cases in terms of corrective action required, and time frames for their accomplishment. Serve as a witness and/or expert witness at district courts, county courts, the Environmental Hearing Board and Commonwealth Court concerning various legal actions. Perform enforcement work including, field investigations of illegal activities, environmental assessment of a site, and the completion of the required enforcement and compliance to resolve a violation in accordance with policy and procedures. Prepare correspondence and answer inquiries regarding environmental policies. Coordinate permits reviews within the Department. Provide technical expertise (reports, personal testimony, etc.) in legal cases involving damages to aquatic life caused by various pollution incidents. Review and make recommendations concerning proposed changes to Departmental rules and regulations, technical guidance documents, policies, and procedures. Prepare, revise, and recommend changes to the administrative aspects of the program and help determine work procedures and plans, including workflow. Respond to Right-to-Know requests and file review requests. Gather responsive documents and provide documents to file review coordinator and/or Office of Chief Counsel. Implement various Department initiatives such as PAyback, e-permitting, SAP and eFacts data entry. Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Utilize computer equipment, systems and programs, including E-Permitting systems, the use of email, word processing programs, spreadsheets and routinely input data into Department databases, such as eFACTs, SAPs, Complaint Tracking System, E-Permitting systems and the PA Natural Heritage Program (PNHP/PNDI). 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. Attends meetings, seminars, courses and training in order to provide the Department and the public with state-of-the-art methods and procedures to meet the Program requirements, goals and objectives. Drive throughout Southwestern PA field area. Statewide and out-of-state travel may be required to attend meetings and training and may include overnight travel. Promotes the Department’s mission. 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. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employee will be required to follow any other job related instructions and to perform any other job related duties required by their supervisor. |
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 received in the form of general guidelines from a technical supervisor and is performed with considerable independence of action and latitude of judgment. The supervisor reviews completed work for attainment of objectives and conformance with applicable rules, regulations, and Departmental policy. The Section Chief assigns various permit applications, complaint investigations, and other projects. The work assignment is briefly discussed. The Section Chief, the program staff in Harrisburg, and other staff in the Region may be consulted whenever major issues or very complex technical questions are raised. Major work assignments are briefly reviewed by the Section Chief for adherence to environmental standards and administrative approach and for compliance with program requirements. |
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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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