Environmental Trainee

The State of Pennsylvania is hiring an Environmental Trainee for a full-time position in Harrisburg, PA, with a salary range of $44,890 to $67,678 annually. The role involves monitoring facility compliance, collecting water quality data, and conducting inspections. A 12-month training period is included. Telework is possible part-time (up to 3 days a week) from an approved location within Pennsylvania. The application period is from April 4 to April 17, 2025.
Salary: $44,890.00 - $67,678.00 Annually
Location : Luzerne County, PA
Job Type: Civil Service Permanent Full-Time
Job Number: CS-2025-22099-75400
Department: Department of Environmental Protection
Division: EP NERO Clean Wtr
Opening Date: 04/04/2025
Closing Date: 4/17/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Job Code: 75400
Position Number: 00030126
Union: AFSCME
Bargaining Unit: B4
Pay Group: ST05
Bureau / Division Code: 00354260
Bureau / Division: EP NERO Clean Water
Worksite Address: 2 Public Square
City: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Zip Code: 18701
Contact Name: Susan Kreiser-Array
Contact Email: skreiserar@pa.gov

THE POSITION
Are you eager to embark on a rewarding career in environmental protection with the Commonwealth? Your search ends here! The Department of Environmental Protection is on the lookout for a passionate individual dedicated to safeguarding the health and well-being of Pennsylvania's residents and its beautiful landscapes. In the role of an environmental trainee, you will play a crucial part in monitoring facility compliance and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. We invite you to join our dedicated team!
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
As an Environmental Trainee, you will enter a comprehensive 12-month training period. Throughout this period, you will receive enhanced supervision of your responsibilities, alongside formal and practical training designed to equip you for the role of an Water Quality Specialist.
In this role, you will perform a variety of duties within an assigned geographical region. Your tasks will include overseeing facilities to ensure compliance with the Commonwealth's regulations. You will collect water quality field data using portable testing equipment. Additionally, you will conduct inspections of sewage treatment and industrial waste treatment facilities. Your duties will also involve reviewing discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and electronic DMRs submitted by permit holders, identifying any violations, and accurately recording or inputting the data into the relevant DMR spreadsheet. Investigating public complaints will also be included in your responsibilities.

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) part-time, up to 3 days a 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 Wilkes-Barre.
• Salary: Selected candidates, who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $44,890.00 (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 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.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:
• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

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.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

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.

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Health & Wellness

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Work/Life Balance
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Values and Culture
We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

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• Eligibility rules apply.
01

Do you possess a valid driver's license which is not under suspension?
• Yes
• No

02

If you answered yes, please provide your driver's license number and expiration date. If you answered no, type N/A in the text box below.
03

How much college coursework have you completed in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field?If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If your education was acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting and clicking the Evaluation Services link. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visit and click on Other Information.
• A conferred bachelor's degree or higher
• 120 credits or more
• 90 but les than 120 credits
• 60 but less than 90 credits
• 30 but less than 60 credits
• Less than 30 credits
• None

04

Are you within three months of completing a bachelor's degree or higher in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field?
If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If your education was acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting and clicking the Evaluation Services link. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visit and click on Other Information.
• Yes
• No

05

If you answered yes to the above question, what date do you expect to receive your degree? If you answered no, type N/A in the text box below.
06

How many years of full-time technical experience do you possess in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field?
• 4 years or more
• 3 but less than 4 years
• 2 but less than 3 years
• 1 but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

07

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.
08

You must complete the supplemental question below. This supplemental question is the exam and will be scored. The question is designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the field of this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.
All information you provide on your application and supplemental question is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental question.

Read the question and each level carefully. Select the answer choice which most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose for each work behavior must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training informati...