Pesticide Specialist

Full Job Description

Are you passionate about protecting the health and safety of your community? Join the Department of Agriculture and make a meaningful impact across Pennsylvania. In this role, you will perform essential work to ensure that state and federal environmental regulations governing pesticide use and disposal are followed, helping safeguard people, animals, and the environment. Apply today and become part of a team dedicated to keeping Pennsylvania safe and thriving

Requirements

In this role, you will have the authority to accept, reject, or modify the work completed by unlicensed staff, ensuring accuracy and compliance across all permitting activities.

You will oversee the implementation of Pennsylvania’s Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Strategy, including evaluating the adequacy of Nine Minimum Control (NMC) documents and Long-Term Control Plans (LTCPs).

You will also be responsible for reviewing new and renewal applications for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits under the Federal Clean Water Act.

This includes assessing engineering design standards and permit requirements for wastewater treatment technologies, collection and conveyance systems, storage facilities, and related infrastructure, as well as evaluating effluent limitations for municipal and industrial wastewater, industrial stormwater, pesticides and herbicides, and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).

Additionally, you will coordinate hydrogeologist and soil scientist reviews for spray irrigation and groundwater injection proposals, evaluate Social or Economic Justifications (SEJs) for proposed industrial discharges to special protection waters, and provide recommendations on whether such activities should proceed.

You will also prepare and coordinate comments on proposed departmental regulations, policies, and procedural updates, and may participate in regional and statewide workgroups, including periodic Permits Chiefs meetings.

Finally, you will supervise recycling staff and manage the Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling (PPCR) program, including oversight of program vehicles and equipment.

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 30-minute lunch.

Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time up to 5 days per pay period.

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

Additional details may be provided during the interview.

• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• 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:

• One year as an Agronomic Products Inspector or as a Plant Inspector (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Three years of professional agricultural regulatory, agricultural scientific, agricultural education, or agricultural industry experience, and four years of paraprofessional experience applying quality, safety, and efficacy protocols for a pesticide application business, pesticide manufacturer, or a pest control business; or
• Three years of professional agricultural regulatory, agricultural scientific, agricultural education, or agricultural industry experience, and a bachelor's degree in general agriculture, agronomy, plant pathology, entomology, horticulture, or a closely related field.

Other Requirements:

• This particular position also requires possession of a valid driver's license which is not under suspension.
• 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.

How to Apply:

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).

If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.

Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

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.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

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

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.