SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR, OPT 4 (OPERATIONS MANAGER)

Position Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Division of Laboratory, is seeking to hire an Operations Manager (Senior Public Service Administrator, Opt 4). The Operations Manager will coordinate lab inventory and procurement, manage bench analysis staff, lead the lab safety program, and direct sample receiving.  The ideal candidate for this position will have experience with lab instrumentation, data management, and staff supervision.   The Illinois EPA laboratory is located in Springfield and analyzes surface water, drinking water, soil, and fish for clients statewide. 

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 the Bench Analysis and Support, Laboratory Operations Manager, Bureau of Safety and Sustainability (BSS), Division of Laboratory, for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).
• Serves as a full-line supervisor to staff
• Serves as the Chief Training and Laboratory technical and analytical expert:
• Serves as the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) and serves as the technical expert for hazardous waste and sample disposal.
• As Laboratory Liaison responsible for key laboratory support functions.
• 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 of college with coursework in chemistry.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to four years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the field of Analytical Laboratory Science.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience applying the principles, practices, and techniques of organic and inorganic chemistry through instrumental analysis in a laboratory setting.
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience in the utilization and administration of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience with purchasing, tracking, and management of laboratory inventory, supplies, instrumentation, equipment, contractual services, and commodities.
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience with managing staff in a laboratory setting.
• Prefers at least (4) years of experience serving as technical lead for bench and microbiological analyses, such as method development, quality control, troubleshooting of instrumentation, and recommendation of new equipment.
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience performing microbiological analysis of drinking water samples for coliform and E. coli.
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience in overseeing lab safety protocols, ensuring compliance with a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) through regular review and staff coordination, and serving as Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO).
• Prefers experience managing hazardous and other laboratory wastes, managing sample storage systems, and maintaining SOPs for proper handling, short-term storage and regulatory compliant disposal practices.
• Prefers at least 24 hrs. of college semester credit hours in chemistry or a masters degree in chemistry.
• Prefers at least (4) four years of experience developing and maintaining internal and external stakeholder relationships; including laboratory customers, external partners and laboratories subcontracted for analytical services.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel
• Requires a valid driver’s license
• Requires 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. Requires the ability to work overtime.
• In accordance with The NELAC Institute (TNI) Volume 1 Module 2, Section 5.2.6.1 Technical Manager Qualifications Requires a) Any technical manager of an accredited environmental laboratory engaged in chemical analysis shall be a person with possession of a bachelor’s degree in the chemical, environmental, biological science, physical sciences or engineering, with at least twenty-four (24) college semester credit hours in chemistry and at least  two (2) years of experience in the environmental analysis of representative inorganic and organic analytes for which the laboratory seeks or maintains accreditation. A master’s or doctoral degree in one of the above disciplines may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.
• Requires completing certification for microbiological analysis of drinking water within six months of starting the position.  
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
• 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 condition of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.