ENVIRONMETNAL HEALTH SPECIALIST III

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as an Environmental Health Specialist. Travels to perform difficult and complex professional environmental health investigations and regulatory inspections at regulated entities with an emphasis on the Structural Pesticide and Vector Control Programs, including site assessment, sample collection, and hazard identification for Office of Health Protection Programs.

Benefits Statement

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules are available in many program areas (when available and dependent upon position) 
• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
• 10-25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 paid sick days annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per calendar year (pro-rated dependent on start date)
• 13-14 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

These are just a few of the many perks available to all State employees. For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx.

Essential Functions

• Under direction of Regional Supervisor.
• Prepares detailed reports on investigation findings, regulatory inspection reports, and corrective action necessary for compliance with applicable program and division mandates and regulations.
• Participates in conferences, consultations and corrective action planning with owners, the public, program partners and the regulated industry related to applicable environmental programs.
• Attends and completes mandatory knowledge-based and practical training required by Office of Health Protection standard operating procedure and program requirements for regional program activities.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college with at least 30 semester hours in the physical or biological sciences, and six semester hours of coursework in entomology, vertebrate zoology, organic chemistry or biochemistry, or equivalent short courses in these areas.
• Requires three years professional experience in environmental health practice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification as a Structural Pest Control technician.
• Three (3) years of experience conducting environmental health regulatory assessments and inspections at regulated entities.
• Three (3) years of experience writing inspection reports and communications to the public and regulated entities.
• Three (3) years of experience applying knowledge of general environmental health sanitation principles and practices.
• Three (3) years of experience in environmental field sampling equipment and testing techniques.
• Three (3) years of work experience using Microsoft software products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel extensively within the state.
• Requires a current and valid driver's license.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is tasked with the oversight of communities within Illinois to achieve and maintain optimal health and safety. With an annual budget of over $2 billion in state and federal funds, 6 regional offices, 3 laboratories and over 1,200 employees, IDPH is equipped to fulfill its mission of protecting the health and wellness of the people of Illinois through the prevention, health promotion, regulation and control of disease and injury.