ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENGINEER I OPT. SP (Spanish Speaking)

Job Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Water (BOW), Field Operation Section, Peoria Regional Office, is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Engineer 1, Spanish Speaking.  This position performs a variety of closely supervised functions that are designed to provide a basic introduction to and training in the explicit engineering programs for the Field Operation Section, Peoria Regional Office.  The ideal candidate will assist a higher-level engineer in the investigation of the design, location, construction, maintenance, or inspection of subsystems of public and private facilities relating to the Field Operations Section.

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

• Assists higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in conducting inspections of municipal and industrial
  wastewater treatment facilities; combined and separate sanitary sewer systems; municipal separate storm sewer
  system (MS4), industrial, and construction storm water facilities; mine facilities; and livestock facilities for the Peoria
  Regional Office, Field Operation Section (FOS), Division of Water Pollution Control, Bureau of Water;
• Assists higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in investigating/evaluating citizen complaints and
  emergency response incidents related to water pollution, odors from wastewater treatment and livestock facilities,
  and fish kills;
• Assists higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in providing technical support for the enforcement
  process;
• Assists higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in reviewing technical documents associated with
  federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State water pollution control permits; facility
  plans and specifications; long term control plans (LTCP); Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance
  (CMOM) plans; wastewater operator contracts; and loan projects.
• Participates with higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in conducting meetings and communicating
  with internal and external stakeholders;
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated
  above.

Minimum Qualifications

•  Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college with a bachelor's
  degree in an engineering science. Typically, the subject matter would involve the type of coursework associated with
  environmental (sanitary, hydraulic, hydrology, and air pollution specialties), civil (sanitary, hydraulic, and hydrology
  specialties), agricultural, general, industrial, mechanical, chemical, public health, electronic, acoustical, or aeronautical
  engineering or engineering mechanics or a closely related engineering specialty. 
•  Requires the ability to communicate verbally and written in Spanish at a colloquial level with Spanish-speaking clients.
  Requires no previous experience. 
• This class is included as an Upward Mobility Program credential title.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

• Prefers a civil, environmental, or agricultural engineering bachelor's degree.
• Prefers knowledge of water pollution control technologies, facilities, and technical documents.
• Prefers knowledge of inspection and investigative techniques, equipment, and procedures.
• Prefers knowledge of laws, regulations, and permit requirements concerning water pollution control or abatement and
  ability to explain the process of enforcing these laws, regulations, and permit requirements.
• Prefers the ability to prepare comprehensive and timely reports of inspection findings.
• Prefers ability to analyze and interpret complex and extensive scientific data relating to facilities, installations, equipment,
  and water pollution control systems and processes.
• Prefers ability to establish and maintain liaison and communicate inspection findings with local, State, and federal officials;
  facility owners, operators, plant managers, or their representatives; and the public.
• Prefers the ability to utilize a personal computer and software applications.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a valid and current appropriate driver’s license. 
•  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-hour 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
  HAZWOPER training. 
•  Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. 
•  Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime, including
  scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends. 
•  Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and training to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other
  industry-related topics to the job duties. 
•  Requires the ability to lift equipment up to 50 pounds. 
•  Requires the ability to operate field water testing and sampling equipment. 
•  Requires the ability to pass a name-based background check. 
•  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) or may be subject to a fine.

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