Geoscientist

Full Job Description

Begin a fulfilling career that plays a crucial role in protecting Pennsylvania’s environment and public health.

As a Geoscientist, you will engage in meaningful tasks such as reviewing work plans, permits, and remediation reports, as well as evaluating site investigations to ensure that cleanup efforts comply with regulatory standards.

This position allows you to apply scientific knowledge to tackle real-world environmental issues, develop specialized skills, and influence decisions that protect communities and natural resources.

If you seek a career with purpose and the chance to make a significant impact, this opportunity is worth pursuing.

Requirements

In this role, you will perform geologic analysis to support environmental assessment and remediation efforts across the Storage Tank and Land Recycling Programs.

Your work will involve reviewing and evaluating technical documents such as work plans, SSIP permits, corrective action reports, milestone submissions, scopes of work, and other materials related to site investigations and cleanup activities.

Through this analysis, you will help determine whether proposed or ongoing remediation efforts meet regulatory requirements and effectively address contamination concerns.

You will also assess environmental incidents involving oil and gas site spills, remediation cases, and discharges that may affect surface water, groundwater, or private drinking water supplies.

This includes interpreting data, identifying potential impacts, and contributing to decisions that protect public health and natural resources.

Your work supports the Commonwealth’s efforts to ensure responsible environmental management and the safe restoration of affected sites.

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.
• Some travel will be required

Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, up to 3 days per week.

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 Pittsburgh. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time.

Additional details may be provided during the interview.

• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $63,335 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Possession of an active Geologist-in-Training certificate issued by or acceptable to the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists, and one year of professional experience in geologic work; or
• One year as a Geoscience Trainee (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• One year of professional geology experience, and a bachelor's degree in geology, hydrogeology, geoscience, geophysics, geochemistry, engineering geology, or a closely related field that includes 30 college credits in geologic coursework; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 30 college credits in geologic coursework.

Special Requirement:

• This position requires possession of an active Pennsylvania non-commercial Class C driver’s license or equivalent.

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

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).

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.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

Additional 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.