Environmental Protection Specialist I (Spanish Speaking)

Job Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land (BOL), Field Operations Section, Northern Region/Des Plaines is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Specialist I Opt. SS (Spanish Speaking). This position performs beginning level professional duties related to working routine field inspections/investigations of hazardous and solid waste management and disposal facilities and remediation sites. The ideal candidate for this position will be organized, detailed and possess the ability to adapt to change in a collaborative, fast paced environment. The ideal candidate will also need to be able to communicate effectively verbally, electronically and in writing with both internal and external stakeholders.

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. Observes and participates in or conducts routine field inspections/investigations of hazardous and solid waste management and disposal facilities and remediation sites for the Field Operations Section (FOS), Bureau of Land (BOL), Northern Region/Des Plaines;

• Completes a thorough review of the site’s activities
• Determines regulated status, and whether the site is in compliance with laws and regulations.
• Conducts activities that utilize safety equipment and performs rigorous physical activity to meet safety standards to comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120.  
• Travels in performance of duties.

25%  2. Provides for Region Manager’s close review and signature;

• Technical and basic scientific inspection/investigation reports, letters, and memorandums by data collected
• Takes pertinent photos
• Utilizes a personal computer, with word processing and database software

Essential Functions - Continued

20%  3. Assists in providing information (verbally or in writing) on relevant environmental matters to facility owners/operators, the public, governmental agencies and others outside the Agency.

• Prepares necessary compliance and enforcement documents to be utilized in hearings or court cases
• Attends and participates in legal proceedings

05%  4. Assists with collecting water, soil and waste samples to substantiate violations and/or determine the extent of contamination;

• Requires the utilization of field and safety equipment;
• Participates in multi-media inspections and investigations with bureaus and shares pertinent information with them.

05%  5. Attends and participates in meetings and keeps current on relevant laws, regulations, policies and procedures related to waste management in Illinois;

• Attends training and studies related documents to develop skills.

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

Minimum Qualifications

1.     Requires the knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four years of college with coursework in the physical, life or environmental sciences and requires either:
a) one year of professional experience in pollution abatement or a related
    field, or
b) completion of an agency approved training program.

2.     Requires the ability to communicate verbally and written in Spanish at a colloquial level with Spanish-speaking clients.

     OR

3.     Requires a master’s degree with coursework in the physical, life, or environmental sciences.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

1. Prefers one (1) year of experience of modern inspectional and investigative techniques and procedures. 

2. Prefers one (1) year of experience of modern environmental control systems, facilities, techniques and procedures. 

3. Prefers one (1) year of experience of state laws, rules and regulations as pertaining to environmental protection or pollution abatement. 

4. Prefers ability to prepare comprehensive, technical and scientific reports of field investigations and/or inspections. 

5. Prefers ability to analyze and interpret the scientific data of plans for facilities, installations and equipment. 

6. Prefers ability to establish and maintain working relationships with municipal officials, facility operators and owners, plant managers, or their representatives. 

7. Prefers ability to interpret pertinent state laws, rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the agency to individuals and municipal bodies. 

8. Prefers ability to operate field equipment such as a camera, dissolved oxygen testing and monitoring equipment, Hach field kit, real time analyzer, and sound level meters. 
9. Prefers one (1) year of experience utilizing a personal computer with knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Access software 

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires ability to participate in the medical monitoring program.

2. 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.

3. Requires ability to wear a respirator or other form of respiratory protection.

4. Requires ability to carry and utilize a self-contained breathing apparatus (weighing approximately 25 pounds).

5. 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).

6. Requires ability to lift heavy equipment (e.g. 45 pounds).

Conditions of Employment - Continued

7. 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 OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120). 

8. 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. 

9. Requires a valid driver’s license.

10. Requires the ability to travel.

11. Requires the ability to pass a name-based background check.