ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENGINEER I

Job Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Water (BOW), Field Operation Section, Champaign Regional Office is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Engineer 1. This position performs a variety of closely supervised functions that are designed to provide a basic introduction to and training in the explicit engineering programs for the Field Operation Section Champaign Regional Office. The ideal candidate will assist a higher-level engineer in the investigation of the design, location, construction, maintenance, or inspection of subsystems of public and private facilities relating to Field Operations Section.

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

40%  1. Assists higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in conducting inspections of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities, combined and separate sanitary sewer systems, municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), industrial, and construction storm water facilities, mine facilities and livestock facilities for the Champaign Regional Office, Field Operation Section (FOS), Division of Water Pollution Control, Bureau of Water;

• Assists in assessing compliance with applicable State and Federal laws, regulations, and permits.
• Utilizes field water testing and sampling equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Conducts inspections that complies with the safety requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 (24-hour OSHA HAZWOPER training).
• Utilizes a personal computer to prepare engineering data and reports for supervisor review and to update inspection and report tracking systems within designated timeframes.
• Assists in preparing Agency correspondence to facility owners and operators, State and Federal agencies and other such entities.
• Travels in performance of duties.

Essential Functions - Continued

20%  2. Assists higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in investigating/evaluating citizen complaints and emergency response incidents related to water pollution, odors from wastewater treatment and livestock facilities, and fish kills;

• Assists in assessing compliance with applicable State and federal laws, regulations, and permits.
• Utilizes field water testing and sampling equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Conducts investigation that complies with the safety requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 (24-hour OSHA HAZWOPER training).
• Utilizes a personal computer to prepare engineering data and reports for supervisor review and to update inspection and report tracking systems within designated timeframes.
• Assists in preparing Agency correspondence to facility owners and operators, State and federal agencies and other such entities.
• Travels in performance of duties.

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Essential Functions - Continued

15%  3. Assists higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in providing technical support for the enforcement process;

• Preparing Non-Compliance Advisory (NCA) letters
• Submitting Violation Notice (VN) requests
• Participating in enforcement meetings
• Reviewing enforcement documents
• Providing testimony in court proceedings

10%  4. Assists higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in reviewing technical documents associated with federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State water pollution control permits, facility plans and specifications, Long Term Control Plans (LTCP), Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM) plans, wastewater operator contracts, and loan projects.

Essential Functions - Continued

10%  5. Participates with higher level field staff to gain knowledge and training in conducting meetings and communicating with internal and external stakeholders;

• In preparing and presenting correspondence in writing, electronically and verbally to owners and/or their representatives, facility operators, local, State, Federal officials, and the public.
• Interpreting and explaining Agency policies and water pollution control regulations.
• Presenting findings, results and recommendations
• Attends meetings, conferences and trainings to maintain industry knowledge on related topics and relevant policies and procedures.

05%  6. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four 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), agricultural, general, industrial, mechanical, chemical, public health, electronic, acoustical, or aeronautical engineering or engineering mechanics or a closely related engineering specialty.
2. Requires no previous experience.
3. This class is included as an Upward Mobility Program credential title.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

1. Prefers a bachelor’s degree in civil, environmental, or agricultural engineering.
2. Prefers knowledge of water pollution control technologies, facilities, and technical documents.
3. Prefers knowledge of inspection and investigative techniques, equipment, and procedures.
4. Prefers knowledge of laws, regulations, and permit requirements concerning water pollution control or abatement and ability to explain the process of enforcing these laws, regulations, and permit requirements.
5. Prefers ability to prepare comprehensive and timely reports of inspection findings.
6. Prefers ability to analyze and interpret complex and extensive scientific data relating to facilities, installations, equipment, and water pollution control systems and processes.
7. Prefers ability to establish and maintain liaison and communicate inspection findings with local, State, and federal officials, facility owners, operators, plant managers, or their representatives and the public.
8. Prefers the ability to utilize a personal computer and software applications.

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires a valid and current appropriate drivers’ license.
2. 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-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: 24-hour OSHA HAZWOPER training.
3. Requires the ability to travel in performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
4. 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.
5. Requires ability to attend seminars, conference, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics to the job duties.
6. Requires ability to lift equipment up to 50 pounds.
7. Requires the ability to operate field water testing and sampling equipment.
8. Requires the ability to pass a name-based background check.

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