Environmental Trainee/Sanitarian

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Meadville (Crawford County); Remote; USD 47,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection seeks a Sanitarian Trainee in Meadville, PA to support Safe Drinking Water programs statewide. This one-year training role blends hands-on fieldwork with structured learning to develop essential environmental health skills.

Full-time work with 8:00 AM–4:00 PM hours, potential telework, and a starting salary of $46,827 to $70,592 annually. Join a team dedicated to protecting public water systems.

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 one of these fields; or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Support the Safe Drinking Water Program by applying program goals and objectives in assigned area.
• Develop an action plan based on evaluated needs and follow it with flexibility.
• Use statutes, policies, and technical knowledge to make professional field decisions.

Job description

Salary

$46,827.00 - $70,592.00 Annually

Location

Crawford County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-60069-75400

Department

Department of Environmental Protection

Division

EP NWRO Sf Drnkg Wtr

Opening Date

10/07/2026

Closing Date

10/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

75400

Position Number

50546412

Union

AFSCME

Bargaining Unit

B4

Pay Group

ST05

Bureau / Division Code

00354680

Bureau / Division

Northwest Regional Office, Safe Drinking Water

Worksite Address

230 Chestnut Street

City

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

16335

Contact Name

Alison Zener

Contact Email

[e-mail]

THE POSITION

Join the Department of Environmental Protection as a Sanitarian Trainee and make a direct impact on community health! This role offers a chance to learn essential skills while supporting safe public water systems across the state. You will grow your knowledge through hands-on work and real-world experiences. The Sanitarian Trainee position gives you a strong start toward a rewarding environmental career.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position focuses on learning and practicing the responsibilities involved in supporting the Safe Drinking Water Program. The incumbent will participate in a one-year formal and on-the-job training program to learn the duties of a Sanitarian. As a Sanitarian Trainee, you will perform the following duties:

• Program Support: Apply program goals and objectives within your assigned area
• Action Planning: Develop an action plan based on evaluated needs and follow it with flexibility
• Field Judgment: Use technical knowledge, statutes, and policies to make professional decisions during field activities
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of activities and hours to track progress
• Public Conduct: Demonstrate professional behavior when working with the public, clients, and staff
• Emergency Response: Respond to private water supply issues, drought conditions, flooding, and other emergencies

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 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) full-time. 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 Meadville. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary:Most selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $46,827.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

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 three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirement

• All positions require 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.

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.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• 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.