Environmental Specialist

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Responsibilities

• Identify, inspect, and photograph potential pollution sources in Company watersheds or near Company groundwater supplies.
• Monitor watershed health and conditions, seek sources of pollution, and implement activities to mitigate pollution.
• Conduct interviews at properties with potential sources of contamination, educating people on the proximity and importance of streams, rivers, and wells; fill out reports of interviews and conduct routine follow-up inspections.
• Investigate spills, leaks, discharges, and/or occurrences of pollution; report to Leadership and appropriate government agencies, and observe/inspect remediation and clean-up, including after-hours, weekends, and holidays.
• Take groundwater-level and streamflow measurements; perform field water tests, stream surveys, and collect environmental samples for laboratory analyses.
• Prepare reports on routine inspections, tests/surveys, incidents of contamination, and their clean-up/remediation; maintain related maps, files, and records.
• Document regulatory compliance for specific projects, as assigned.
• Contact other agencies and organizations to obtain or share information on water resources.
• Draft compliance reports and compile data for reports; organize and track compliance work, including field data plots and graphs, ensuring timely preparation and filing of assigned compliance reports and permits.
• Review inspection reports and regulatory correspondence; share information electronically and draft response letters after meeting with Facility Owners and Operators to discuss observations and issues.
• Prepare and maintain sampling plans for watershed sampling studies; update sample sites as needed and ensure all samples are collected and reviewed, including data analysis.
• Attend Compliance, Engineering, and Operational meetings; assist with planning and budgeting for upgrades necessary for compliance.
• Assist in the administration of ongoing programs such as regulatory compliance and sampling.
• Assist with compliance-related field investigations and projects, as assigned.
• Work with local organizations and partners to implement water supply protection projects and activities.
• Answer customer inquiries regarding analyses and results; distribute copies of results if needed.
• Provide support to the Engineering Department by processing invoices and handling document management tasks (copying, routing, filing).
• Assist with other tasks or projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant science-oriented discipline (e.g., Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Hydrology), OR Associate's degree in a relevant discipline plus 2+ years of professional experience in environmental, water, and/or wastewater roles.

Skills

• Thorough working knowledge of relevant environmental regulations enforced by multiple state and federal agencies (or ability to develop this knowledge).
• Knowledge of watershed concepts and ability to work independently in the field.
• Above-average proficiency with computer programs, especially MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel). Experience using GIS applications is a plus.
• Proven analytical skills, particularly in developing data-driven reports.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with internal customers.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Working Conditions

• May be subject to extreme temperatures, noise, wet/humid conditions, mechanical, electrical, gas exposure hazards, fumes, dusts, mists, gases, and poor ventilation.
• Includes travel to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents.