Air Quality Specialist Trainee (Environmental Trainee)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; McCandless (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection offers an Air Quality Specialist Trainee position focused on training to evaluate facilities and investigate air quality concerns. You will support inspections, complaint investigations, and environmental reviews under close supervision, gaining exposure to regulatory processes and essential tools.

You will learn inspection procedures, review emissions information, and assist with investigations while developing skills in data

Qualifications

• Four years of technical experience in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field.
• Or a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field.
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Assist with supervised inspections of industrial facilities to learn compliance monitoring methods.
• Help investigate air pollution complaints and prepare documentation for follow-up reviews.
• Learn to verify emission inventory information and update AIMS and eFACTS systems.
• Observe stack tests and participate in supervised sample collection activities.
• Support reviews of asbestos notifications and observe demolition or removal projects.
• Assist with drafting basic reports and learning procedures for compliance and enforcement actions.

Skills

Regulatory processes

Inspection procedures

Data systems

Environmental compliance

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science / engineering / health / geology / biology / ecology

Job description

As an Air Quality Specialist Trainee with the Department of Environmental Protection, you will receive focused training that helps you learn how to evaluate facilities and investigate air quality concerns. This role introduces you to important tools, data systems, and regulatory processes. You will gain experience while supporting inspections, complaint investigations, and environmental reviews. This training period prepares you for meaningful long-term work in environmental protection.

This position supports the Air Quality Program by learning inspection procedures, reviewing emissions information, and assisting with investigations under close supervision during the training period. It builds the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate air pollution concerns, review facility reports, and monitor asbestos and demolition activities. As an Air Quality Specialist Trainee, you will perform the following duties:

• Inspection Training: Assist with supervised inspections of industrial facilities to learn compliance monitoring methods
• Complaint Support: Help investigate air pollution complaints and prepare documentation for follow-up reviews
• Data Review: Learn to verify emission inventory information and update AIMS and eFACTS systems
• Sampling Exposure: Observe stack tests and participate in supervised sample collection activities
• Asbestos Monitoring: Support reviews of asbestos notifications and help observe demolition or removal projects
• Enforcement Preparation: Assist with drafting basic reports and learning procedures for compliance and enforcement actions

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Travel will be required
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, with 1 in-office day per month. In order 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 Pittsburgh. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $46, 827 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements

• Four years of technical experience in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field; or
• A bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirement

• This position requires possession of an active motor vehicle license.

Other Requirements

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

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).

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.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.