Water Quality Specialist Trainee (Environmental Trainee)

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

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection, is seeking a Water Quality Specialist Trainee to begin a career protecting health and natural resources. This trainee role provides structured training to learn inspection and monitoring of storage tank systems, with experience in investigations, data review, and compliance work.

The role offers a strong foundation for future growth in environmental protection.

Qualifications

• Four years of technical experience in environmental sciences or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental fields or related.
• Equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Educational requirements must be met within 3 months of graduation.
• Active motor vehicle license.
• PA residency requirement.
• Ability to perform essential job functions.

Responsibilities

• Data Entry: Input and update information in electronic systems to meet quality standards.
• Report Review: Examine inspection reports and identify issues related to compliance.
• Facility Inspection: Assist in inspecting storage tank sites to determine compliance with regulations.
• Complaint Follow-up: Help investigate concerns about tank removals, installations, discharges, and releases.
• Sample Handling: Collect and transport water and soil samples for testing purposes.
• Enforcement Support: Document violations and assist with case summaries and notices.

Skills

Attention to detail

Data entry

Report review

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or four years of technical experience in environmental field

Equivalent combination of experience and training

Tools

Active motor vehicle license

Job description

Join the Department of Environmental Protection as a Water Quality Specialist Trainee and begin a career that supports the protection of community health and natural resources. This role provides structured training that helps you build important skills while learning how storage tank systems are inspected and monitored. You will gain valuable experience in environmental investigations, data review, and compliance work. This position offers a strong foundation for future growth in environmental protection.

This trainee role helps you learn the skills needed to inspect storage tank facilities, review data, and support environmental investigations. As a Water Quality Specialist Trainee, you will perform the following duties:

• Data Entry: Input and update information in electronic systems to meet quality standards
• Report Review: Examine inspection reports and identify issues related to compliance
• Facility Inspection: Assist in inspecting storage tank sites to determine compliance with regulations
• Complaint Follow-up: Help investigate concerns about tank removals, installations, discharges, and releases
• Sample Handling: Collect and transport water and soil samples for testing purposes
• Enforcement Support: Document violations and assist with case summaries and notices

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) part-time, up to 3 days per week. 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: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.

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/testonce for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.