Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING

Position Number:  50592548

Description Activated On:  10/25/2023 1:14:07 PM


Position Purpose:
Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. 

This position has advanced professional responsibility for work assignments to assist with DEP regulatory program development, outreach, technical guidance, data management, and research that address agriculture and conservation practices statewide as well as within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Regulatory program areas include PA Clean Steams Law, Chapter 83 (Nutrient Management), Chapter 91 (Manure Management), Chapter 92 (NPDES), and Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) among others.

Description of Duties:
Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

Provide technical support relative to the regional implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Water Quality Management permit documents, policies, procedures, and guidance related to compliance and enforcement of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).
Provide input to the NPDES Permitting Division relating to the development of the CAFO permit and guidance materials.

Develop manuals, technical implementation guidance, and training modules relating to the environmental regulatory aspects of nonpoint source agricultural production including the movement of nutrients and sediment to surface and groundwaters. Leads or participates in education and outreach efforts concerning nutrient management and erosion and sediment control in all nonpoint source areas.

Work with other cooperating local, state, and federal agencies including County Conservation Districts, State Conservation Commission (SCC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Penn State Cooperative Extension to provide input on programs/assignments involving manure management and conservation planning, NPDES CAFO, Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan, and other policies and initiatives that relate to agriculture and stormwater management for water quality protection.

Reviews and provides professional comment to the Pennsylvania Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) on engineering standards, specifications, supporting documentation, design guides, etc. related to Best Management Practices (BMPs) found in the Pennsylvania Technical Guide, referenced in applicable Commonwealth regulations, and/or are necessary to meet the nutrient and sediment reduction goals outlined in Pennsylvania’s Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP).

Serve as technical advisor to agency managers and advisory committees concerning the advantages, disadvantages, and effects of new or modified agricultural BMPs and technical standards.

Provides program oversite of Chesapeake Bay Technician and Engineer contracts and quality assurance of contracted required output measures.
In coordination with the SCC to provide program and financial oversite of the Nutrient and Manure Management Program.

Coordinate with other DEP and SCC programs as necessary.
Provide advice and direction to field staff on complex compliance and enforcement issues related to manure management and erosion and sediment control regulations for agricultural activities.

Manage a caseload of Chesapeake Bay Agricultural Inspection Program compliance and enforcement activities related to manure management and erosion and sediment control regulations for agriculture.

Provide technical and expert support for program policies and regulations in the areas of BMP effectiveness; interactions between surface runoff, infiltration, groundwater recharge; the fate/transport of nutrients and sediment; land-use changes and their effect on surface and groundwater; monitoring protocols for nutrients; and modeling/GIS techniques appropriate for testing and tracking nutrient reduction scenarios and programs.

Lead or participates in training programs designed for nutrient management specialists and technicians, DEP staff, conservation district staff, and others involved in environmental regulation of agriculture.

Present information related to environmental regulation of agriculture, nutrient movement and changes in surface and groundwater to the Nutrient Management Advisory Board, Agriculture Advisory Board, County Conservation Districts, Agribusiness, and other stakeholder groups.

Attend conferences and workshops to review research findings on nonpoint source pollution to identify problems that merit increased research efforts to support ongoing programs.

Participate as a peer reviewer and consultant in multi-agency research projects to examine nutrient levels and movement in soils and groundwater systems. Coordinate with the USDA Agriculture Research Service, USDA NRCS, and the USGS.

Interprets regulations, policies and procedures relating to erosion and sediment control and manure management for the statewide implementation of environmental regulations for agricultural activities.

Manage data and provide quality assurance and quality control on data provided by conservation districts, SCC, and DEP regional offices in the PracticeKeeper geo-database, specifically related to the Chesapeake Agriculture Inspection Program, Nutrient Management and Manure Management Program, Erosion and Sediment Control for Agriculture, and agriculture BMP tracking and reporting for Chesapeake Bay Program.

Provide technical assistance and training to conservation districts, SCC, and DEP staff related to PracticeKeeper geo-database. Analyze data and provide reports to management related to program outputs and outcomes. Use GIS and other relevant software.

Promote the four pillars of the DEP Vision - Operational Excellence, Climate Leadership, Cultural Competence and Environmental Justice.

Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training, and policy across all of DEP’s electronic data systems; to include ensuring accuracy and completeness of entries, and where available, the use of system specific tools to ensure duplicative entries and data quality issues are minimized.

Other duties as assigned.

Decision Making:
Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

This position has advanced professional responsibility for work assignments to assist with DEP regulatory program development, outreach, technical guidance, and research that address agriculture and conservation practices. Regulatory program areas include PA Clean Streams Law, Chapter 83 (Nutrient Management), Chapter 91 (Manure Management Manual), Chapter 92 (NPDES), and Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) among others.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:



Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1. 
  Class C Driver's License
 
2.  
N/A
 
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N/A
 
4.  
N/A
 
5.  
N/A
 
6.  
N/A

Essential Functions
: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
 
 1. Communicate effectively orally and in writing
 2. Understand and follow verbal and written instructions
 3. Work independently
 4. Understand technical material
 5. Interpret and follow regulations and policy
 6. Build effective working relationships
 7. Legally operate a motor vehicle
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