ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPECIALIST IV

Job Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Water (BOW), Division of Water Pollution Control (DWPC), Surface Water Section (SWS), Southern Monitoring Unit (CMU) is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Specialist IV (EPS IV).  This position will serve as a working supervisor of professional staff engaged duties related to the Surface Water Section and serve as a technical expert on field sampling activities, standard operating procedures, and quality assurance training.  The successful candidate will have experience in planning and conducting water quality and biological monitoring activities and reporting results.  As an EPS IV, you will also be drafting and reviewing technical documents including standard operating procedures, quality assurance plans, guidance documents, and permit applications.  You will also be applying complex scientific principles to coordinate and conduct water resource assessments and listings as required by the Federal Clean Water Act.

The benefits of working at the IEPA 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

• Serves as the Working Supervisor/Technical Expert to the staff of the Northern, Central and
  Southern Monitoring Unit, Southern Region, Surface Water Section, in the Division of Water
  Pollution Control/Bureau of Water, engaged in stream and lake monitoring to support the
  Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Network, Intensive Basin Survey, Facility Related Stream
  Survey, Ambient Lake, and Harmful Algal Bloom programs in Southern Illinois;
• Directs and participates with staff engaged in water quality and biological monitoring
  activities;
• Coordinates and conducts highly complex water resource assessments and listings as required
  pursuant to Sections 305(b) and 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act;
• Serves as technical expert participating, coordinating, implementing and advising on
  specialized surface water related activities and environmental investigations;
• Provides highly technical/scientific input and analysis on;
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of duties
  enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

•  Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four years college with coursework in

the physical, life, or environmental sciences, engineering, or geology.

• Requires four years of professional experience in the field of environmental protection or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

•  Prefers at least four (4) years of experience with lakes and/or streams in monitoring program design and sampling

techniques.

•  Prefers at least four (4) years of experience collecting, managing, analyzing, and interpreting scientific monitoring

information when assessing the quality of lakes and streams required by the Federal Clean Water Act.

•  Prefers at least four (4) years of experience in providing interpretations and preparing reports of complex chemical,

physical, and biological investigations.

•  Prefers at least four (4) years of experience utilizing a personal computer with knowledge of Microsoft Word, Access, Excel,

presentation software, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and statistical analysis packages.

•  Prefers at least four (4) years of experience supervising technical and/or professional staff in a private or public

organization.

•  Prefers ability to establish and maintain liaison with municipal officials, facility owners and operators, plant managers or

their representatives, and agency professional staff.

•  Prefers extensive knowledge of state laws, rules, regulations, and standards pertaining to environmental control or pollution

abatement.

•  Prefers a master’s degree with graduate coursework or primary research in aquatic ecology, limnology, freshwater

science, or a closely related field.

Specialized Skills

• Requires four years of experience with lake, stream, and Lake Michigan monitoring program design and sampling

techniques.

•  Requires four years of experience collecting, managing, analyzing, and interpreting scientific monitoring information when

assessing the quality of lakes, streams, and Lake Michigan required by the Federal Clean Water Act.

•  Requires four years of experience in providing interpretations and preparing reports of complex chemical, physical, and

biological investigations.

Conditions of Employment

•  Requires a current and valid driver’s license.
•  Requires the ability to travel.
• Requires the ability to swim, to lift, carry, and transport loads weighing up to 60 lbs.
•  Requires the ability to work under adverse environmental conditions.
•  Requires the ability to operate small watercraft (e.g., canoes, boats with outboard motors weighing up to

60 pounds, with ability to lift outboard motors) while collecting environmental samples.

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

* The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job
description.