Sanitarian Trainee (Environmental Trainee)

About the role

The position is a Sanitarian Trainee with the Department of Environmental Protection, offering a chance to learn essential skills while supporting safe public water systems across the state. You will grow your knowledge through hands-on work and real-world experiences, protecting public drinking water by monitoring systems and supporting regulatory requirements. The role includes both training and field activities that build important technical skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections of public water systems and prepare clear reports of findings
• Identify violations and prepare notices based on current rules and regulations
• Respond to water system emergencies and assist with public notifications
• Provide direction to system operators and officials on regulatory requirements
• Record inspection results, violations, and other information in required databases
• Collect and handle water samples for laboratory and field analyses

Qualifications

• 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 three months of graduating with a qualifying degree.
• Special requirement: possession of an active motor vehicle license.
• Other requirements: meet the PA residency requirement; ability to perform essential job functions.

Benefits

Telework opportunity: you may work from home part‑time, reporting to the office one day per month. To telework you need a securely configured high‑speed internet connection and an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If unable to telework, you may report to the headquarters office in Ebensburg. The ability to telework is subject to change.

Pay

Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin at a starting annual salary of $46,827.00 (before taxes).

Schedule

Full‑time employment, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM with a 30‑minute lunch. Travel is required for site visits.