ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPECIALIST IV

Job Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land (BOL), Deputy Bureau Chief’s Office, Office of Site Evaluation unit is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Specialist IV.  This position will serve as a working supervisor to professional staff conducting environmental investigations related to contaminants and their impact on human health and the environment and will be an active participant in the same.  In this position, you would be the expert on techniques related to research, investigation, and hazard ranking of sites where hazardous substances are present.  The successful candidate will have significant experience assessing risk to human health and the environment through multiple pathways at facilities with substantial histories.  Exemplary applicants will effectively lead, encourage, and support staff while overseeing and reviewing work related to site assessment.

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 working supervisor responsible for coordinating activities of the technical professional staff of the Office
  of Site Evaluation Unit (OSE), Deputy Bureau Chief’s Office, for the Bureau of Land;
• Reviews and conducts highly complex and technical, scientific, sensitive, or unique in nature site inspections and
  investigations related to environmental contaminants and their impact on human health and the environment;
• Prepares highly complex and technical data that includes Hazard Ranking Scoring (HRS) packages for candidate
  National Priorities Listing sites;
• Plans and develops the work activities to be accomplished by subordinates based on individual subordinate
  abilities;
• Participates in meetings scheduled by the Unit manager, including BOL Management meetings;
• Serves as liaison to other sections, divisions, state and federal agencies relative to Office of Site Evaluation Unit;
• 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 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.

Specialized Skills (Used for certain BU Employees only)

•  Requires two years of experience in conducting site inspections and investigations related to environmental contaminants

and their impact on human health and the environment.

•  Requires two years of experience in the use of modern inspectional and investigative techniques and procedures.
•  Requires two years of experience working with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability

Act (CERCLA).

• Requires two years of experience working with Hazard Ranking Scoring of all pathways, including subsurface intrusion.
• Requires two years of experience in communicating both orally and in writing when analyzing and interpreting scientific

monitoring information utilized to assess Brownfield sites.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

•  Prefers at least (2) two years’ experience in conducting site inspections and investigations related to environmental

contaminants and their impact on human health and the environment and the preparation of detailed and comprehensive
reports documenting the results.

• Prefers at least (2) two years’ experience in the use of modern inspectional and investigative techniques and procedures.
•  Prefers at least (2) two years’ experience working with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and

Liability Act (CERCLA)

•  Prefers at least (2) two years’ experience in Hazard Ranking Scoring of all pathways including subsurface intrusion.
•  Prefers at least (2) two years’ experience in communicating both orally and in writing when interpreting scientific monitoring

information utilized to assess Brownfield sites.

•  Prefers at least (2) two years of experience in techniques relative to the supervision of a technical and/or professional staff.
•  Prefers at least (2) two years of experience interpreting and applying state laws, rules, regulations, and standards

pertaining to environmental control or pollution abatement.

•  Prefers the ability to analyze and interpret complex and extensive scientific data relating to facilities, installations,

equipment and environmental control systems and processes.

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

their representatives, and agency professional staff.

•  Prefers the ability to interpret pertinent laws, rules, regulations, concerning pollution control or abatement and to explain to

individuals the techniques and procedures utilized in enforcing the laws, rules, and regulations.

Conditions of Employment

•  Requires a valid driver’s license, the ability to travel, and the ability to pass a name-based background check.
•  Requires the ability to work under adverse environmental conditions.
•  Requires the ability to participate in a medical monitoring program.
•  Requires ability to pass a physical examination, carry and utilize a self-contained breathing apparatus (weighing

approximately 25 pounds), and wear respiratory protection and function in high heat stress situations while wearing chemical
protective clothing.

•  Requires the ability to wear an air-purifying respirator and/or other forms of respiratory protection for a long period of time

(e.g., 10 hours with only short 15-minute breaks) while wearing chemical-resistant clothing in high-heat stress situations and
performing strenuous physical tasks (e.g., carrying equipment up a steep ravine at a temperature of 100F).

• Requires ability to lift heavy equipment/supplies (e.g. 50 pounds).
•  Requires ability of hiking, climbing, wading in streams, or getting in/out of boats or swimming in emergency situations to get

to sites (as required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120).

• Requires sufficient dexterity to operate scientific sampling equipment.
• 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: 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER
training.

•  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.

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