SUMMARY
The Conservation Program Specialist (Delegated Programs Focus) is responsible for supporting the administration and implementation of the Indiana County Conservation District’s delegated regulatory programs, including permit review, inspections, compliance activities, technical assistance, and public service responsibilities. This position focuses on ensuring timely and effective administration of erosion and sediment control, post-construction stormwater management, and related regulatory programs while assisting the District in maintaining compliance with applicable delegation agreements and regulatory requirements.
The position will assist with the review of permit applications, field inspections, complaint investigations, permit tracking, compliance monitoring, technical assistance, and public outreach activities associated with delegated programs. The position will work closely with permit applicants, consultants, engineers, contractors, municipalities, landowners, developers, regulatory agencies, and members of the public.
This position is intended to increase the District’s capacity to administer delegated programs while providing flexibility to support future program expansion, including additional Chapter 102 delegation levels, Chapter 105 responsibilities, enforcement activities, and other regulatory program responsibilities as assigned. The successful candidate will be expected to develop technical expertise in delegated program administration while providing excellent customer service and regulatory assistance.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The percentage allocations listed below are intended to reflect the general focus areas of the position and may fluctuate based upon seasonal workload demands, permit volume, inspections, enforcement activities, program responsibilities, and operational needs.
DELEGATED PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION (75% of time):
- Assist with administration of the District’s delegated regulatory programs, including Chapter 102 Erosion and Sediment Control, Post Construction Stormwater Management, and related program responsibilities.
- Review permit applications, plans, reports, calculations, and supporting documentation for completeness and regulatory compliance.
- Conduct site inspections associated with delegated programs and prepare inspection reports and related documentation.
- Respond to permit applicants, consultants, contractors, municipalities, landowners, developers, and the public regarding delegated program requirements and procedures.
- Assist with complaint investigations, compliance inspections, enforcement documentation, and corrective action follow-up activities.
- Maintain permit files, inspection records, databases, tracking systems, and program documentation.
- Prepare technical correspondence, review letters, permit recommendations, notices of deficiency, notices of violation, and other regulatory communications.
- Coordinate with DEP, municipalities, consultants, contractors, engineers, and other agencies as necessary to facilitate permit reviews and project compliance.
- Monitor projects during implementation to ensure compliance with permit requirements, approved plans, and regulatory standards.
- Assist with delegated program reporting requirements and maintenance of required program records.
- Maintain organized records and documentation associated with grant-funded projects and programs.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (20% of time):
- Provide technical assistance to municipalities, contractors, consultants, developers, agricultural producers, landowners, and the public regarding erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, permitting requirements, and conservation practices.
- Participate in contractor trainings, municipal outreach activities, workshops, educational programs, and public information efforts related to delegated programs.
- Assist with development and implementation of future delegated program responsibilities, including additional Chapter 102 delegation levels, Chapter 105 responsibilities, enforcement activities, and related regulatory programs as assigned.
- Assist with the development of program procedures, guidance materials, educational resources, outreach materials, and internal operating practices.
- Participate in professional development opportunities relevant to delegated programs, environmental regulations, inspections, permit review, engineering review, compliance activities, and regulatory administration.
OTHER CRITICAL FUNCTIONS (5% of time):
- Maintain records and documentation associated with grants, watershed programs, and delegated programs.
- Assist District staff with educational events, outreach activities, demonstrations, workshops, and special projects.
- Work to promote a District team concept by assisting with related District functions, activities, and programs.
- Prepare monthly activity reports and attend Board of Directors meetings as requested.
- Participate in professional development opportunities relevant to grant administration, communications, outreach, watershed restoration, conservation planning, GIS, photography, media production, and related technical areas.
- Other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Associate’s Associate’s degree in conservation, agriculture, environmental science, natural resources, biology, ecology, geology, engineering technology, construction management, engineering, surveying, planning, or related field; OR completion of a Registered Agriculture Conservation Technician Apprenticeship Program with JourneyWorker status; OR bachelor’s degree in a related field; OR equivalent combination of education, training, certifications, and applicable experience.
- Working knowledge of erosion and sediment control principles, post-construction stormwater management, earth disturbance activities, environmental permitting, construction practices, and applicable environmental regulations and programs.
- Ability to review permit applications, plans, reports, calculations, specifications, and supporting documentation for completeness and regulatory compliance.
- Ability to conduct field inspections, document observations, prepare inspection reports, and communicate findings effectively.
- Ability to interpret and apply applicable regulations, delegation agreements, technical guidance, policies, and procedures in a fair, consistent, and professional manner.
- Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with permit applicants, consultants, engineers, contractors, municipalities, agricultural producers, developers, regulatory agencies, elected officials, and members of the public.
- Ability to provide technical assistance regarding erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, permitting requirements, conservation practices, and regulatory compliance.
- Ability to organize and manage multiple permit reviews, inspections, complaints, compliance activities, deadlines, and administrative responsibilities simultaneously.
- Ability to work independently while also contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.
- Ability to read and interpret technical reports, engineering plans, grading plans, drainage calculations, topographic maps, permits, contracts, specifications, and regulatory guidance documents.
- Knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Office programs, spreadsheets, databases, permit tracking systems, virtual meeting platforms, and cloud-based file management systems.
- Experience with ArcGIS, GIS mapping platforms, drone operations, construction inspection, surveying, engineering plan review, or environmental permitting is preferred but not required.
- Strong written communication skills including correspondence, inspection reports, review letters, technical documentation, regulatory communications, and reporting.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain organization, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing workloads, permit volumes, inspection schedules, and operational needs.
- Ability to participate in office work, field work, inspections, meetings, and outreach activities in varying weather and environmental conditions.
- Possess a valid driver’s license and safely operate a motor vehicle while carrying out assigned duties.
- Possess a reliable vehicle that can be utilized for field work or travel purposes as needed. Mileage reimbursement for authorized use of personal vehicles will be provided at the approved rate.
WORK CONDITIONS
This position requires a combination of office work and field work activities. Field work may involve travel throughout Indiana County and surrounding areas, exposure to varying terrain and weather conditions, active construction sites, earth disturbance activities, developing sites, agricultural operations, and other locations associated with delegated program responsibilities.
Field responsibilities may include permit inspections, complaint investigations, compliance inspections, technical assistance visits, meetings with landowners, contractors, consultants, municipal officials, and other stakeholders involved in regulated activities.
District vehicles are available for field activities and should be utilized when available. Employees may occasionally be required to utilize a personal vehicle for field work or travel purposes when a District vehicle is unavailable. Mileage reimbursement for authorized use of personal vehicles will be provided at the approved reimbursement rate.
Office work is performed in a collaborative professional office environment with regular interaction among District staff, partner agencies, municipalities, landowners, contractors, consultants, developers, permit applicants, and members of the public.
The position may require occasional evening meetings, training events, emergency response activities, or other activities associated with delegated program responsibilities.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITIONS
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Ability to perform office-based and field-based work activities throughout the workday.
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, balance, reach, climb, and traverse uneven terrain as necessary to perform assigned duties.
- Ability to safely conduct inspections, field investigations, compliance reviews, and technical assistance activities in varying weather conditions and environmental settings.
- Ability to work around active construction sites, earth disturbance activities, agricultural operations, developing sites, and other locations associated with delegated program responsibilities while maintaining situational awareness and safe work practices.
- Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to operate computers, tablets, office equipment, GPS equipment, cameras, measuring devices, and other field or technical equipment as required.
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with coworkers, partner agencies, permit applicants, contractors, consultants, landowners, public officials, and members of the public.
- Ability to review, interpret, analyze, and prepare permit applications, engineering plans, technical reports, inspection reports, correspondence, regulatory documents, and project records with attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments, maintain organization, meet deadlines, prioritize workload, and adapt to changing permit volumes, inspection schedules, compliance activities, and operational needs.
- Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, maintain objectivity, and communicate regulatory requirements in a fair, consistent, and professional manner.
- Ability to maintain professionalism during inspections, complaint investigations, compliance activities, and interactions involving differing viewpoints or disputed regulatory matters.
The Indiana County Conservation District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
WORK SCHEDULE/COMPENSATION
Successful candidates will serve a 6-month probationary period.
Starting salary shall be based upon the applicable classification level and pay grade schedule approved by the District. Placement within the classification structure shall be based upon the candidate’s relevant education, certifications, apprenticeship completion, training, and professional experience as evaluated against the established classification criteria.
While not guaranteed, the District is currently offering an additional $6,000 annual retention incentive paid in quarterly installments to eligible full-time employees following successful completion of the probationary period. Employees become eligible for the retention incentive after completion of the probationary period, with the first quarterly payment issued following the next completed eligible quarter of employment.
The District offers a competitive benefits package including:
- Health, Dental, and Vision insurance with 100% employer-paid premiums
- Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (currently $4,300 annually for individual coverage, distributed in monthly contributions)
- Pension program with a minimum 5% employer contribution (currently contributing 10%) with 5-year vesting
- Sixteen paid holidays annually
- Two floating holidays annually
- Eighty (80) hours of annual vacation leave, with additional vacation leave provided based upon years of service in accordance with District policy
- Vacation leave becomes available for use following successful completion of the 6-month probationary period unless otherwise approved by the Executive Director
- Front-loaded sick leave available upon hire in accordance with District policy
- Twelve weeks paid parental leave for eligible employees
- Tuition assistance and student loan reimbursement program
Normal work hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., including a one-hour paid lunch period. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required for meetings, outreach events, field activities, emergency response activities, or project responsibilities.
This position requires a combination of office work, field work, meetings, outreach activities, and travel throughout Indiana County and surrounding areas.
Flexible scheduling opportunities, including modified schedules and limited remote/work-from-home opportunities, may be available following successful completion of the probationary period in accordance with District policies, operational needs, job responsibilities, and supervisor approval.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
The Indiana County Conservation District may use artificial intelligence (AI) or other technological tools to assist staff in reviewing and organizing application materials. These tools may be used to summarize information, identify qualifications, or facilitate the recruitment process. All employment decisions, including the selection of applicants for interviews and hiring recommendations, are made by District personnel.
