SMALL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE ENGINEER

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is seeking to hire a purpose-driven initiative-taking individual interested in assisting Illinois small businesses with understanding and complying with environmental regulations in the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) for the Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, & Technology (OEIT). In collaboration with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), SBEAP supports small businesses by providing a variety of assistance, including but not limited to one-on-one business assistance through a helpline, maintenance of a website containing relevant tools and information, the dissemination of information pertaining to environmental regulations, or training. We invite qualified applicants to apply for the Small Business Environmental Assistance Engineer position and help DCEO continue to provide top-notch customer service to Illinois small businesses.

Essential Functions

• Receives training and guidance, primarily related to the Clean Air Act, to evaluate environmental regulatory requirements to provide technical compliance assistance primarily to small businesses.
• Assist the unit manager in responding to requests for environmental regulatory assistance through the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) program’s helplines (phone or email).
• Assist the unit manager in developing of environmental compliance assistance tools including but not limited to: Written tools: training materials, recordkeeping tools, fact sheets, guides, brochures, flyers, Spreadsheet tools: emission calculators, compliance calculators, recordkeeping tools, etc., and Online tools: utilities, calculators, new or enhanced webpages, etc.
• Assist the unit manager in monitoring, reviewing, and analyzing state and federal environmental legislative and regulatory proposals as related to Illinois small businesses.
• Assist the unit manager in meeting and coordinating with appropriate regulatory agencies, trade associations, or other industry groups as needed.
• Assist the unit manager in participating in appropriate state, regional, and national workgroups or committees related to environmental assistance.
• Assist the unit manager in providing consultation services to evaluate compliance with the Clean Air Act requirements for small business owners.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) 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), general, industrial, mechanical, chemical, public health, electrical, acoustical or aeronautical engineering or engineering mechanics or a closely related engineering specialty. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers three (3) years working with air regulatory compliance permitting, licensing and regulatory processes. Air regulatory experience related to State rules (415 ILCS 5 Environmental Protection Act, and Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code), and Federal rules (New Source Performance Standards (NSPS, 40 CFR Part 60) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP, 40 CFR Part 63) is emphasized.
• Prefers four (4) years working with regulatory permitting, licensing, compliance and regulatory processes.
• Prefers experience designing and implementing compliance assistance tools, such as air emission calculators, fact sheets, guides, recordkeeping tools, regulatory training material, etc.
• Prefers intermediate-level experience utilizing Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office.
• Prefers experience with basic webpage design (i.e., layout, function, aesthetics, etc.) and maintenance.
• Prefers experience communicating (written or verbal) with the public or clients/constituents.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. 

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

About the Agency

The mission of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is to create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois. By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world-class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work and do business.