Solid Waste Specialist Trainee (Environmental Trainee)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); Remote; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection, is seeking an Environmental Trainee to learn and assist in monitoring and regulating solid waste operations across the Commonwealth. You will gain hands-on experience inspecting facilities, reviewing permits, and supporting investigations to ensure compliance with environmental laws.

The role includes duties such as enforcement of waste regulations, complaint investigations, facility inspections, permit reviews, sample

Qualifications

• Four years of technical experience in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field.
• 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 once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Regulation Enforcement: Enforce rules and regulations related to waste generation, transport, processing, and disposal
• Complaint Investigation: Investigate waste management complaints and take action to resolve violations
• Facility Inspection: Inspect waste facilities and vehicles to assess compliance with state and federal standards
• Permit Review: Review permit applications and plans to determine whether operational plans meet requirements
• Sample Collection: Collect samples and review analytical results to determine environmental compliance status
• Emergency Response: Support emergency response teams during environmental incidents involving waste releases

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field

Job description

Begin an exciting journey as an Environmental Trainee with the Department of Environmental Protection. This position offers a unique opportunity to learn how solid waste operations are monitored and regulated. You will help ensure safe and responsible environmental practices across the state. Step into a role that supports both public health and the environment.

This role supports the safe management of solid, hazardous, residual, and municipal waste across the Commonwealth. You will learn how to inspect facilities, review permits, and support investigations to ensure compliance with environmental laws. As a Environmental Trainee, you will perform the following duties:

• Regulation Enforcement: Enforce rules and regulations related to waste generation, transport, processing, and disposal
• Complaint Investigation: Investigate waste management complaints and take action to resolve violations
• Facility Inspection: Inspect waste facilities and vehicles to assess compliance with state and federal standards
• Permit Review: Review permit applications and plans to determine whether operational plans meet requirements
• Sample Collection: Collect samples and review analytical results to determine environmental compliance status
• Emergency Response: Support emergency response teams during environmental incidents involving waste releases

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.
• 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 Harrisburg. 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 Requirements:

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

Other Requirements:

• You must possess and maintain a REAL ID or passport for this position. Proof of possession will be needed at the time of a conditional offer of employment.
• 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.

• 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.