Environmental Inspector-In-Training

Generation West Virginia; South Carolina; On-site; USD 39,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 paid holidays

Health insurance

Flexible benefits

Annual and sick leave

Flexible work schedules

Employee Assistance Program

Wellness Initiatives

457 retirement plan

Job summary

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection invites applications for the Environmental Inspector-in-Training role within the Division of Water and Waste Management. The position focuses on storm water, sediment and erosion control, and related inspections for oil & gas pipeline projects across specified counties.

Office locations include Fayetteville or Charleston, WV with emphasis on travel and field work.

Qualifications

• 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 may substitute for the required training.
• Special Requirements: Must possess a valid driver’s license. For hazardous waste/solid waste, must pass physical examinations within six months and annually thereafter.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical and field inspection duties related to water pollution control programs and storm water.
• Conduct inspections of sites to determine compliance with laws, rules, and permits.
• Investigate complaints and initiate enforcement actions as needed.
• Travel overnight for assignments across designated counties.

Skills

Valid driver’s license

Education

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

Job description

SALARY: $39,461.00 – $68,582.00 Annually

LOCATION: Various Locations, WV

JOB TYPE: Full-Time Permanent

JOB NUMBER: DEP2700058

DEPARTMENT: Environment – Environmental Protection

OPENING DATE: 10/23/2026

CLOSING DATE: 11/6/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

LOCATION OF VACANCY: MULTIPLE COUNTIES – LIST COUNTIES IN NATURE OF WORK

CIVIL SERVICE TYPE: Classified-Exempt – This Position is Not Covered Under the DOP Merit System

Nature of Work

DEP2700058 Environmental Inspector-In-Training

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Water and Waste Management

Environmental Enforcement; Water and Waste

Designated region: Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, and Wyoming counties

Office Location:

1159 Nick Rahall Greenway, Fayetteville, WV 25840

Or

601 57th St SE, Charleston WV 25304

Also refer to DEP2700059; Environmental Inspector. One position will be filled with either title

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 the non-point source pollution control program and other water pollution control programs, pertaining to all phases of storm water.

Duties include:

• The primary focus will be related to construction, sediment, and erosion control associated with oil & gas pipeline construction.
• Additional inspection and enforcement duties related to storm water may include but not be limited to industrial facilities, municipal storm sewer system (MS4), and concentrated animal feed operations (CAFO).
• Makes 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 associated with storm water.
• Will be responsible for initiating and follow-up on the appropriate enforcement actions for non-compliance, including sampling, use of sampling equipment for laboratory analysis and related reports.
• 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.
• When necessary, may respond in accordance with procedures to emergency situations, such as spills, truck wrecks, hazardous substance discharges, etc.
• 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 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.

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

Employee expectations:

• Selected employee must reside within reasonable driving distance 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 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 annual examination may result in reassignment of duties.

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 and annually thereafter or as needed.

DOP purposes only: 0313P00403

Minimum Qualifications

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 examinations 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

Other Information

PG: 14 $39,461 – $68,582

Market Rate: $61,044

Probationary period 1 year Note: DEP’s maximum hiring salary for the Environmental Inspector-in-Training title is $45,500 due to title/salary progression opportunities after being hired.