WEATHERIZATION SPECIALIST TRAINEE

Position Overview

Weatherization Specialist Trainee positions, within the Office of Community Assistance, serve a vulnerable part of the Illinois community by conducting quality assurance monitoring of the Weatherization program at the local agencies throughout Illinois. This ensures the low-income population of Illinois is receiving quality services under the Weatherization program. The ideal candidate must be organized with the ability to plan and prioritize a variety of tasks. Requires excellent oral and written communication skills and strong computer skills. We welcome qualified candidates who want to help support this important program assisting communities throughout Illinois to apply.

Essential Functions

• Under immediate supervision of the Weatherization Monitoring manager, for a period of six to eighteen months, participates in formal and on-the-job training related to weatherization assistance programs and field reviews of weatherization needs of residences of limited income individuals.
  • Learns to conduct on-site field reviews of weatherized homes and LIHEAP Furnace projects to evaluate the quality of work, accesses crawl spaces, roof areas and attics to conduct reviews.
  • Assists in the development of reports reflecting status of sub-grantee’s weatherization program.
  • Learns to identify problems enabling effective delivery of weatherization services by an agency.
  • Drafts recommendations for agency staff review on resolving problems.
  • Travels, with some overnight stays, to conduct field reviews.

• Receives training to develop skills of a grant manager
  • Observes and engages in reviews of grant budgets of assigned grantees to ensure that grant funds are being spent equitably across multiple grant allocations.
  • Learns to reviews and approve Weatherization Implementation Plans of subgrantees that is submitted with the annual subgrantee application package.
  • Learns to review Scope of Work documents to ensure that grant funds have been allocated to jobs correctly, and in compliance with grant regulations.
  • Observes the process to review and give approvals when requests for additional funding need to be added to agency jobs.
  • Learns to review production levels of assigned agencies and determine the need to enforce the Production Policy.
  • Schedule and attend meetings to ensure agencies are meeting targeted production goals. 

• Receives training to develop training and technical assistance plans to ensure needs of local sub-grantee agencies are met.
  • Attends and observes training on the usage of blower door technology, infrared thermography, flue gas analysis equipment, energy audit and final inspection procedures.
    • Travels to attend training. 

• Participates in conducting surveys and provides input into analyses reports to evaluate the status of work completed by local agencies.
  • Assists with the development and implementation of policy memorandums, training manuals, schedules and new program initiatives. 

• Attends staff meetings and weatherization training classes to learn and keep abreast of any changes in programs.
  • Acquires necessary certifications to monitor Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) projects. 

• 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 four years of experience in skilled building construction, construction management or the building performance/energy conservation industry or an equivalent combination of training and experience which meets the following standards:
  • Requires a minimum of one year of direct experience in skilled building construction, construction management or the building performance/energy conservation industry. This requirement is not subject to substitution.
  • Up to three years of education that provides insight, knowledge and/or application of the concepts and principles of energy management, environmental science, public administration, or construction management may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis, up to three years of experience. 

• Trainees must attain all indicated certifications in order to complete the training period and be eligible for promotion to the Weatherization Specialist I. The successful trainee will acquire the following certifications:
  • Building Performance Institute (BPI) Energy Auditor (EA),
  • BPI Quality Control Inspector (QCI),
  • Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) Training and Certification Program (TCP). 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers Quality Control Inspector and Energy Auditor Certifications issued by Building Performance Institute. 
• Prefer at least one year of experience in the Weatherization field. 
• Prefers intermediate level experience in the utilization of spreadsheet software and document creation. 

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.
• Requires the physical ability to work in confined spaces (attics and crawlspaces) and the ability to climb a ladder and work from heights up to 40 feet. 
• Trainees are required to obtain the following certifications during the training period to be eligible for promotion to the Weatherization Specialist 1.
  • Building Performance Institute (BPI) Energy Auditor (EA),
  • BPI Quality Control Inspector (QCI),
  • Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) Training and Certification Program (TCP).

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.