ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SPECIALIST IV

Position Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land (BOL), Field Operations Section (FOS), Central Region/Springfield Unit is seeking an experienced Environmental Protection Specialist IV (Working Supervisor). This position serves as a working supervisor overseeing professional staff engaged in pollution control and pollution abatement programs within both field and office environments. The EPS IV may also serve as a key staff member collaborating with consulting agencies on complex issues or studies that carry significant programmatic or policy implications.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience independently managing complex environmental studies involving multiple variables and unknowns, requiring advanced technical knowledge, sound judgment, and strong problem‑solving skills. This role offers an opportunity to lead, mentor, and guide professional staff while contributing to initiatives that protect Illinois’ land and environmental resources.

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

• Serves as designated working supervisor responsible for coordinating activities for the technical and professional staff of the Bureau of Land (BOL), Field Operations Section (FOS), Central Region/Springfield.
• Independently performs difficult, complex technical and scientific duties related to inspections/investigations of hazardous and solid waste management sites and remediation sites, evaluations and inspections at Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulated facilities as assigned by the Region Manager, some of which may be sensitive in nature.
• Assists Region Manager in performing complex technical and scientific duties.
• Responsible for preparation of documents to refer facilities/sites for legal enforcement, including technical data and documents to be used as evidence.
• Attends technical seminars and workshops and conducts independent research to expand personal knowledge to increase job proficiency and to better assist or disseminate information to staff.
• Reviews permit applications or other projects and provides input to the BOL Permit Section and other sections concerning technical aspects of the application and permit approval.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four years college with coursework in 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 (In Order of Significance)

• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience in conducting complex technical evaluations and inspections at Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulated facilities.
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience in developing annual work plans and inspection schedules for hazardous and solid waste management facility inspections.
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience in conducting field operations inspections involving land pollution control.
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience preparing complex technical and scientific detailed and comprehensive reports of complex and sensitive field inspection and/or investigations.
• Prefers ability to analyze and interpret complex and extensive scientific data relating to facilities, installations, equipment and environmental control systems and processes.
• Prefers at least (4) for years of experience communicating with municipal officials, facility owners and operators, plant managers, or their representatives, and agency professional staff regarding environmental regulation and compliance.
• Prefers the ability to supervise a sub-unit of a technical activity within the assigned program.
• Prefers the ability to utilize a personal computer with knowledge of Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, and PowerPoint software; and use a State issued iPhone.
• Prefers extensive knowledge of modern inspectional and investigative techniques and procedures.

Specialized Skills

Of the four years of required experience, requires four years of experience in the following:

• Conducting complex technical evaluations and inspections at Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulated facilities.
• Developing annual work plans and inspection schedules for hazardous and solid waste management facility inspections.
• Conducting field operations inspections involving land pollution control.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires current and valid driver’s license with the ability to travel.
• Requires ability to participate in the medical monitoring program.
• Requires ability to pass a physical examination, which is intended to determine whether a person can wear respiratory protection and function in high heat stress situations while wearing chemical protective clothing.
• Requires ability to wear a respirator or other form of respiratory protection
• Requires ability to wear chemical resistant clothing in high heat stress situations while performing strenuous physical tasks (e.g. carrying equipment up a steep ravine at a temperature up to 100F).
• Requires ability to lift heavy equipment (e.g. 45 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 OHSA 29 CFR 1910.120).
• This position will be required to complete (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: 40-hour OSHA Training.
• Requires the ability to pass a name-based background check.
• 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. 

Conditions of Employment (continued)

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

*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.