Environmental Inspector-In-Training

West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 paid holidays

Insurance

Flexible benefits

Annual and sick leave accrual

457 retirement plan and more

Job summary

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection seeks an Environmental Inspector-in-Training in Charleston to perform inspections for water and waste programs and to investigate complaints. You will assist in enforcement actions, collect samples, and participate in emergency responses under supervision, with travel to multiple counties as needed.

Graduates with a science or engineering degree are encouraged to apply; training and supervision are provided.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in natural or applied science, engineering, or occupational safety and health.
• Preference may be given to applicants with job related experience as an environmental inspector.

Responsibilities

• Perform regular inspections of sites and facilities for compliance with laws, rules, permit conditions, and regulations.
• Investigate complaints of suspected environmental harm from regulated or non-regulated sources.
• Respond to emergencies (spills, wrecks, hazardous substance discharges) following procedures.
• Initiate and follow up enforcement actions; collect soil, water, waste, and effluent samples for lab analyses.
• Prepare inspections and reports, and support other duties in water pollution control and solid waste management.

Skills

Environmental inspection

Regulatory compliance

Field inspections

Education

Bachelor's degree in natural or applied science, engineering, or occupational safety and health

Job description

Environmental Inspector-In-Training

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Water and Waste Management; Environmental Enforcement; Water & Waste

Designated Region: Boone and Logan Counties

Office Location: 601 57th Street, Southeast, Charleston, WV 25304

This position is classified exempt; therefore, does not fall under the classified service.

We welcome you to join our team where we value work/life balance and diversity. We offer a great benefits package that includes 12 paid holidays, insurance and flexible benefits, ample annual and sick leave accrual, flexible work schedules, an Employee Assistance Program, Wellness Initiatives, an optional 457 defined contribution retirement savings plan and more.

Employee will be assigned to the Division of Water and Waste Management, Office of Environmental Enforcement (EE). Under limited/direct supervision, works in a training inspector capacity or in a full performance inspector capacity (dependent upon experience) performing technical and field inspection duties related to solid waste management and water pollution control programs.

Duties include:

• Employee will make regular inspections of sites and facilities to determine compliance with laws, rules, regulations, permit conditions, etc.
• Employee will investigate complaints pertaining to suspected environmental harm from regulated or non-regulated sources.
• Will respond in accordance with procedures to emergency situations, such as spills, truck wrecks, hazardous substance discharge, etc.
• Employee will be responsible for the initiation and follow-up of appropriate enforcement actions, collecting soil, water, waste and effluent samples for laboratory analyses.
• Initiation of criminal prosecution, utilization of administrative procedures or other action provided by law to affect prosecution / compliance with established procedures.
• Written and electronically submitted inspections, reports and other data.
• Responsibilities may also include other duties as assigned regarding water pollution control and solid waste management.

Employee may be required to attend public meetings and provide technical assistance to program staff. Will receive training in the areas of environmental investigation and inspection and will be provided training directive in the area of personal protection, use of equipment necessary for job performance. May be subject to emergency response, being on-call and temporary assignment to a different geographical area of the state as necessitated be environmental conditions and/or agency needs. Employee will perform other duties as required.

This position has responsibilities for multiple counties, this may require a considerable amount of overnight travel.

Employee expectations:

• The selected employee must reside within a reasonable driving distance of one of the above offices.
• Must be eligible to be licensed to operate a motor vehicle in West Virginia.
• Must be able to communicate orally in an effective manner.
• Must be able to walk long distances in adverse weather over rugged terrain and to lift and carry equipment for a considerable distance.
• Must take and pass a physical examination with the first six months of employment and submit to annual follow-up examinations. Failure to pass the initial examination will result in termination of employment. Failure to pass the annual examination may result in reassignment of duties.
• Preference may be given to applicants possessing job related experience as an environmental inspector and/ or environmental inspector-in-training.

Notes:

• The geographic area of assignment of this position is subject to future variation.
• The recommended candidate will be subject to a search of his or her motor vehicle record (MVR) prior to being hired.
• Qualifying applicants will be required to complete an internet based profile assessment to compare the applicant's thinking and reasoning skills, behavioral traits and the occupational interests against the traits determined to be important to the posted position.

Training:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in natural or applied science, engineering, or occupational safety and health.

Substitution:

Full-time or equivalent part-time paid inspection, technical, or professional employment in one of the areas of assignment may substitute for the required training on a year-to-year-basis.

Special Requirements:

Must possess a valid driver's license. For work in the areas of hazardous waste management and solid waste management, must take and pass physical examination within the first six months of employment and submit to annual follow-up examinations. Failure to pass the initial examination will result in termination of employment. Failure to pass a subsequent examination may result in reassignment.

Note:

Personnel engaged in activities associated with hazardous wastes risk exposure to situations or chemicals which may cause illness or injury if proper procedures are not followed.

Areas of Assignment:

• Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation
• Environmental Compliance Monitoring
• Hazardous Waste Management
• Surface Mining Reclamation
• Solid Waste Management
• Water Pollution Control
• Air Quality

DEP’s maximum hiring salary for the Environmental Inspector-in-Training title is $45,500 due to title/salary progression opportunities after being hired.