THE POSITION
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking an Environmental Engineer Manager to lead and oversee all activities within the Permits Section. This role requires a licensed Professional Engineer and offers the opportunity to guide a team responsible for critical permitting functions that support the agency’s mission.
As the Section Manager, you will supervise staff and ensure the effective operation of the program. Key responsibilities include interviewing and selecting candidates to fill vacancies, ensuring new employees receive proper training, preparing program plans and reviewing them periodically with your supervisor, and completing Employee Performance Reviews (EPRs). You will also review job standards with employees, manage administrative tasks such as approving timesheets, leave requests, and expense vouchers, assign and monitor workloads, and review and approve final work products produced by the Section.
If you are ready to take on a leadership role that makes a meaningful impact on environmental protection across the Commonwealth, apply now!
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
In this role, you will have the authority to accept, reject, or modify the work completed by unlicensed staff, ensuring technical accuracy and regulatory compliance across all permitting activities.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Strategy:
- Oversee the implementation of Pennsylvania’s CSO Strategy, including evaluating the adequacy of Nine Minimum Control (NMC) documents and Long-Term Control Plans (LTCPs).
NPDES Permit Reviews:
- Lead the review of new and renewal applications for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits required under the Federal Clean Water Act. This includes assessing engineering design standards and permit requirements for wastewater treatment technologies, collection and conveyance systems, storage facilities, and related infrastructure. You will also evaluate effluent limitations for municipal and industrial wastewater, industrial stormwater, pesticides and herbicides, and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).
Groundwater and Spray Irrigation Proposals:
- Coordinate hydrogeologist and soil scientist reviews for proposals involving spray irrigation or groundwater injection of wastewater, ensuring environmental protection and regulatory compliance.
Social or Economic Justifications (SEJs):
- Evaluate SEJs submitted for proposed industrial discharges to special protection waters and provide recommendations on whether the activity should be approved.
Policy and Regulatory Review:
- Prepare, coordinate, and submit comments on proposed departmental regulations, policies, and procedural updates as requested by Central Office. You may also participate in regional and statewide workgroups, including periodic Permits Chiefs meetings, to address program issues and support continuous improvement.
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. 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. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
- Salary:In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
- 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:
- Two years as an Environmental Engineer or an Air Quality Engineer (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
- Five years of professional engineering experience in environmental protection or in environmental project development, design or construction.
Special Requirements:
- This position requires possession of a valid Professional Engineer license issued by the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists or a valid Professional Engineer license issued by the applicable licensing body of another state.
Conditions of Employment:
- This position requires possession of a valid PA non-commercial Class C driver’s license or equivalent.
Post Employment Requirement:
- Successful candidates with an out of state Professional Engineer license will be required to produce a valid Professional Engineer license issued by Pennsylvania within their initial six month probationary period.
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.
- PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
- 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.
- All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.
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.
