Air Quality Program Specialist

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework up to 3 days/week

Public service employer

Job summary

A state governmental agency seeks an Air Quality Specialist to analyze air quality issues using advanced modeling tools. You will perform essential tasks to support air dispersion modeling, ensuring regulatory compliance and contributing to public health. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and several years of relevant experience. This full-time position may allow for part-time telework. The salary may be non-negotiable, reflecting the conditions of state employment.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as an Air Quality Specialist or similar.
• One year of experience as an Air Monitoring Program Supervisor.
• Three years of professional work in air pollution control.
• An equivalent combination of experience and/or training

Responsibilities

• Support air dispersion modeling for air quality permitting and planning.
• Ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act and related regulations.
• Prepare and maintain documentation for modeling projects.

Skills

Analytical skills

Mathematical modeling

Environmental science

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or Environmental field

Job description

Overview

Are you eager to take on a role where your analytical skills directly protect the air we breathe? This position puts you at the forefront of environmental science, using cutting‑edge atmospheric modeling to understand how pollutants move and to support decisions that shape Pennsylvania’s air quality for years to come. You will work with advanced tools, complex data, and real‑world environmental challenges, contributing to cleaner communities and stronger public health across the Commonwealth. If you are driven by purpose, excited by technical problem‑solving, and eager to make a measurable impact from day one, this is the kind of opportunity that turns your expertise into meaningful change.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will perform the technical and administrative work required to support air dispersion modeling for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s air quality permitting and planning programs. Your work will help ensure compliance with the federal Clean Air Act, the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act, and all associated regulations. Using advanced, state‑of‑the‑science modeling tools, you will apply complex mathematical equations to simulate how pollutants disperse in the atmosphere and to predict downwind concentrations within local‑scale environments. Your analyses will play a critical role in evaluating emissions impacts and supporting regulatory decision‑making across the Commonwealth. You will also be responsible for preparing, organizing, and maintaining the documentation and data associated with each modeling project. This includes compiling inputs, reviewing model outputs, and ensuring all work meets established technical standards and regulatory requirements. Through your modeling expertise and attention to detail, you will contribute directly to protecting public health and improving air quality statewide.

Schedule and Additional Information

• Full‑time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday – Friday, with a 30‑minute lunch
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part‑time, up to 3 days per week. To telework, you must have a securely configured high‑speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non‑negotiable

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as an Air Quality Specialist (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration)
• One year of experience as an Air Monitoring Program Supervisor (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration)
• Three years of professional work in the control and abatement of air pollution and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or an environmental field closely related to Air Quality Management
• An equivalent combination of experience and/or training

Special Requirements

• This position requires possession of a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license

Other Requirements

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title
• You must be able to perform essential job functions

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals)

Accommodation Request

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.