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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50655385 |
Description Activated On: 7/23/2026 8:06:39 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. The employee performs hydrogeological duties related to groundwater protection and regulation within the field area covered by the Southwest District Oil and Gas Operations. Major responsibilities for this position include providing technical expertise and assistance on complex hydrogeological problems, reviewing groundwater monitoring plans and assessing environmental and remediation proposals, conducting groundwater investigations, investigating complaints and participating in compliance actions. |
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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. This position will perform the following job duties: Promotes and exemplifies the Department’s Mission, Vision, and Values in all aspects of work performance and professional conduct. 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. 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. Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, guidance, and training requirements related to assigned duties and DEP electronic data systems. 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. 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. Applies applications of geologic and hydrogeological principles to conduct subsurface groundwater investigations that are assigned by an Professional Geologist Manager and/or Environmental Program Manager. Investigates stray gas(methane) migration, water supply contamination and diminution cases, and releases from oil and gas well sites as assigned by the Professional Geologist Manager and/or Environmental Program Manager. Prepares and presents hydrogeological reports, maps and charts regarding findings of these investigations. Conduct field investigations to better define and characterize local geologic stratigraphy and structure for stray gas migration, water supply contamination and diminution cases and/or complex subsurface groundwater investigations. Interpret aerial photographs, hydrogeological maps, geologic maps, structure maps and other remote sensing images. Conducts hydrogeological mapping through field and laboratory investigations, through the collection of aqueous samples to establish groundwater quality and its relationship to the surrounding environment. These investigations include collecting and interpretation of subsurface hydrogeological data such as geologic maps, viewing of geophysical logs, static water level measures, sampling various media for subsequent laboratory analysis and using various types of portable field instrumentation for detection of contaminants. Field investigations include inspection of water supplies, measurement of depth to water in wells, observation of dug pits, water oil interface measurements, sampling for isotopic analysis of stray gas, organic and inorganic parameters, measurement of rocks strike and dip, physical and chemical field testing of water resistivity surveys, aerial photography, identification of geologic formations and topographic and drainage system assessments. Work may involve the inspection and screening of soil gas, buildings, water supplies, utility lines and other structures for the presence of stray gas, with a field meters. Work often includes sample collections, data compilation, data analysis with written and oral reports including conclusions and recommendations. Maps, photographs and other remote sensing images and subsurface hydrogeological data such as geophysical well logs, water level measurements, cores, well driller logs and water quality data are often used to supplement written reports. Perform technical and critical review of hydrogeological studies and proposals which requires evaluation of all data relative to the environmental conditions and their relationships to both surface and groundwater and the harmful effects that the site poses to health, safety and public welfare. These reviews often require corroboration of reported data through collection of vapor/gas samples, groundwater samples, water level measurement, examination of drill logs, water table maps, well construction diagrams, literature searches and other sources of technical information. Provide technical advice relative to permit requirements, water quality and quantity investigations, analytical results, hydrogeological studies, private water well design and enforcement cases to the staff of Oil and Gas Management and to the legal department. Provides technical advice and assistance in investigation to field staff regarding situations involving stray gas migration, groundwater and surface water pollution. Provides training to co-workers as to the methods of undertaking the interpretation of geologic investigations. Advises management concerning the advantages, disadvantages, and effects of utilizing innovative technologies. Assists in the design and development guidance documents and/or change procedures for hydrogeological investigations, technical standards for reports, investigating, evaluating and to conducting groundwater pollution studies. Attends meetings to represent the Department’s viewpoint related to groundwater protection and provides technical comments as to the reasonableness of conclusions presented. Reviews guidance documents and regulations relative to stray gas investigations, groundwater remediation or protection and provides comments as they apply regarding standards and principles of hydrogeological concepts. Maintains a working knowledge of applicable or relevant state and federal laws and regulations. Provides expert testimony at hearings and legal proceedings involving enforcement of pollution cases. Responds to complaints relative to stray gas, groundwater quality and diminution and evaluates the need for remediation or recommendations of alternate water supply sources. Provides technical advice to on well construction methods and procedures and problems affecting private. Maintains a thorough knowledge of the latest groundwater monitoring and remedial technologies. Attends training courses, seminars, meetings, and conferences to enhance professional knowledge and competence. Recommends and participates in enforcement actions. Assists the Professional Geologist Manager, Environmental Program Manager and Chief Counsel’s Office in preparation of enforcement cases. Provides technical expertise to the Office of Chief Counsel. Provides expert testimony in criminal and civil cases involving groundwater pollution. Provides information to the general public, consulting engineers, oil and gas operators and other government agencies on Oil and Gas Law and DEP rules and regulations as they relate to groundwater and groundwater investigations. Responds to emergencies involving stray gas and groundwater contamination. Performs non-routine functions required in emergency situations. Completes administrative reports. Maintains equipment. Maintains licensure as a Licensed Professional Geologist with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Occupational Affairs. This position 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. |
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 broad program goals and objectives as contained in the Oil and Gas Program. Specific work items are periodically assigned with deadlines given. Work specifically assigned is reviewed upon completion. Work generally assigned through the program plan is reviewed periodically through reports and conferences with the Environmental Program Manager. Performance evaluation is a continuous process summarized in the annual performance evaluation report. |
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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. N/A 5. N/A 6. N/A |
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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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