Environmental Protection Specialist I

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Closing Date/Time: 10/02/2024

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $4,766 monthly; Full Range $4,766 - $6,632 monthly.

Job Type: Salaried

Category: Full Time

County: Sangamon

Number of Vacancies: 3

Plan/BU: RC062

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Posting Identification Number 41616

Environmental Protection Specialist I

(Job Assignment Only: Targeted title for Life Sciences Career Trainee Bid Req# 41615)

• Please upload a copy of your official/unofficial transcripts for all degrees earned, and a copy of any applicable professional licenses you possess to the MY DOCUMENTS section of your application.

Note: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency must verify and have proof of higher education and coursework (if applicable) for any degree earned before any offer can be extended.

• Answer all questions thoroughly-DO NOT STATE SEE RESUME*

Job Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land (BOL), Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Section, Special Projects and Financial Unit is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Specialist 1. This position performs beginning-level professional duties related to the observation, participation in, or conduct of field inspections and investigations with other professional staff of pollution sources and environmental remediation systems in the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Section, Special Projects, and Financial Unit. The ideal candidate will assist higher-level staff in drawing conclusions that ultimately lead to preliminary recommendations for approval or denial of site investigation and/or corrective action plan or completion reports for remediation of LUST sites. The position will also assist higher-level staff in the interpretation of environmental laws and regulations, bureau/division programs, cleanup actions, and environmental/health impacts to prepare documents and reports.

The benefits of working at the EPA include a 37 ½ hour work week, a generous salary and benefits package (paid time off for vacation, sick or personal leave, holidays) pension and other retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement, and insurance eligibility on day one (medical, dental, vision, and life). We invite all qualified candidates to apply.

Essential Functions

• Observes, participates in, and assists higher level specialists in reviews of routine scientific corrective action plans and reports for groundwater and soil remediation of Special Projects to determine if they are technically adequate in the Special Projects and Financial Unit, for the Bureau of Land (BOL), in accordance with regulations pertaining to 35 Illinois Administrative Code, Part 731 and Part 734;

• Observes, participates in or reviews routine scientific 20-day, 45-day, and site investigation plans and reports for accuracy to ensure with all requirements of 35 Illinois Administrative Code, Part731 and Part 734;

• Observes and assists higher level specialists with material breakdown to ensure bills and receipts are included in a budget or reimbursement submittal.

• Observes, participates and assists in routines inspections at Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) sites to determine compliance with all approved plans and regulations;

• Under close review of the Unit Manager, assists higher level specialist and the Division of Legal Counsel in the preparation of enforcement cases against owners/operators for Non-compliance with the requirements of 35 Illinois Administrative Code, Part 731 and Part 734- The Illinois Pollution Control Board appeals regarding eligibility decisions, deductible amounts, and nonpayment costs which were deemed unreasonable by the Agency.

• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires the knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four years of college with coursework in the physical, life or environmental sciences and requires either: a) one year of professional experience in pollution abatement or a related field, or b) completion of an agency approved training program. OR
• Requires a master's degree with coursework in the physical, life, or environmental sciences.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

• Prefers the working knowledge of modern inspectional and investigative techniques and procedures.

• Prefers the working knowledge of modern environmental control systems, facilities, techniques and procedures.

• Prefers the working knowledge of state laws, rules and regulations as pertaining to environmental protection or pollution abatement.

• Prefers the ability to prepare comprehensive, technical and scientific reports of field investigations and/or inspections.

• Prefers the ability to analyze and interpret the scientific data of plans for facilities, installations and equipment.

• Prefers the ability to establish and maintain working relationships with municipal officials, facility operators and owners, plant managers, or their representatives and general public.

• Prefers the ability to interpret pertinent state laws, rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the agency to individuals and municipal bodies.

• Prefers ability to operate field equipment (and sampling equipment) such as a camera, dissolved oxygen testing and monitoring equipment, Hach field kit, real time analyzer, hand-held gas detectors, sound level meters and (drilling, sampling, and probing equipment).

• Prefers the ability to meet safety standards as specified by applicable state and federal laws.

• Prefers the ability to utilize a personal computer and knowledge of software applications.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a current and valid driver's license.

• Requires the ability to travel.

• As required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, this position will be required to take (within 90 days of employment) and maintain working knowledge of (8 hr. annual refresher) and/or certification to ensure position is up to date with laws, rules and regulations to maintain compliance with Il Department of Labor Occupational Safety Regulations: 24 hour OSHA training.

• Requires the ability to pass a name-based background check.

• All conditions of employment listed are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

Work Hours: 8:30 am

• 5:00 pm Monday

• Friday

Work Location: 1021 North Grand Avenue East, Springfield, IL 62702

Agency Contact: Chris Steinkruger

Email: Christopher.E.Steinkruger@illinois.gov

Phone #: 217-558-1256

Posting Group: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics; Environmental & Natural Resources

This position [DOES NOT] contain "Specialized Skills" (as that term is used in CBAs).

Revolving Door: "Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor ("OEIG"), and seek a revolving door determination from the OEIG, or may be subject to a fine."

Agency Statement: The mission of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is to safeguard environmental quality, consistent with the social and economic needs of the State of Illinois, so as to protect health, welfare, property and the quality of life. IEPA works to safeguard the states natural resources from pollution to provide a healthy environment for its citizens. By partnering with businesses, local governments and citizens, IEPA is dedicated to continued protection of the air we breathe and our water and land resources.

The IEPA does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status). To be considered for permanent IEPA employment, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the "Apply" button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.

State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees - a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.

Non-State employees should log in on the using the "View Profile" link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com - click "Application Procedures" in the footer of every page of the website.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your "junk mail", "spam", or "other" folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
• systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com

Nearest Major Market: Springfield