ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST III

Position Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Associate Director’s Office, Office of Toxicity Assessment is seeking to hire an Environmental Health Specialist III. This position, which requires three years of experience in environmental health practice, is responsible for reviewing human health and ecological assessments and health consultations related to exposures to hazardous substances. The position also communicates complex scientific information in plain language to the public, local governments, and community organizations. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of biology, chemistry, microbiology, and toxicology in the context of environmental health and safety.

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

• Performs complex, advanced and technical environmental health studies for the Office of Toxicity Assessment (TOX), Associate Director (ADO).
• Conducts investigations into threats/potential threats to public health related to environmental, occupational or residential exposure to hazardous substances or conditions.
• Prepares highly complex and technical data to be utilized in rulemaking hearings for new or revised pollution control standards.
• Independently responds to citizen, local health department or other state or federal agency inquiries, complaints, or referrals statewide regarding exposure to hazardous substances.
• Serves as a representative of the Office of Toxicity Assessment and the Agency on committees, task forces, and at meetings related to environmental risk assessment.
• Participates in Agency response to public health emergencies, which affect single or multiple environmental programs.
• 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 30 semester hours in the physical or biological sciences. 
• Requires three years of professional experience in environmental health practice.
• Requires at least six semester hours of coursework in toxicology, risk assessment, industrial hygiene, biochemistry, physiology, or equivalent short courses in health assessment, risk assessment, worker protection, or closely related areas, plus three years of professional experience in the area of toxicology, epidemiology, industrial hygiene, risk assessment, medicine, environmental health or science, or closely related fields.
• For incumbents with a master’s degree, requires two years of such experience.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

• Prefers extensive knowledge of biology, chemistry, microbiology, and
  toxicology as they relate to environmental health and safety.
• Prefers extensive knowledge of state and federal laws and department rules relating to the preservation of public health and safety against environmental hazards, the maintenance of sanitary conditions in public use areas, and the prevention and control of communicable diseases which are caused or spread by environmental factors.
• Prefers extensive knowledge of field sampling and equipment and testing techniques.
• Prefers ability to explain and interpret pertinent state and federal laws, regulations and requirements as well as department policies to persons involved in the inspection and investigation processes and to the public.
• Prefers ability to prepare complex technical records, reports, and correspondence.
• Prefers ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and to speak to large groups of people.
• Prefers ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships with coworkers, owners and operators, officials, and the general public. 
• Prefers the ability to utilize mathematical modeling to calculate pollution control standards and remediation objectives.
• Prefers extensive knowledge of field sampling and laboratory analytical methods and the ability to interpret results.
• Prefers the ability to utilize a personal computer with knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access software.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel.
• Requires a valid driver’s license.
• 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.