Life Sciences Career Trainee (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 Life Science Career Trainee Option SS (Spanish-speaking).   The ideal candidate will participate in the agency sponsored training program for a six to twelve months duration.  This trainee position receives working assignments designed to develop knowledge, understanding and practical skills consonant with various professional life sciences career disciplines within the Field Operations Section, Northern Region/Des Plaines.  As a LSCT, you will receive controlled assignments in a broad range of departmental activities with increasing difficulty and responsibility.

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

35%  1. Receives training for a period of six to twelve months duration to gain knowledge in and assist in conducting 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;

• Assists in 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.

35%  2. Receives training to assist in providing for Region Manager’s close review;

• Inspection reports, letters, and memorandums by data collected
• Taking pertinent photos
• Utilizes a personal computer, with word processing and database software

Essential Functions - Continued

10%  3. Receives training to provide information (verbally or in writing) on relevant environmental matters to facility owners/operators, the public, governmental agencies and others outside the Agency.

• Assist in preparation of necessary compliance and enforcement documents to be utilized in hearings or court cases
• Observes legal proceedings.

10%  4. Receives training to assist 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 to gain knowledge 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 a bachelor's degree in some field of the life sciences.
2. Requires the ability to communicate verbally and written in Spanish at a colloquial level with Spanish-speaking clients.

This class is included as an Upward Mobility Program credential title

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

1. Prefers ability to prepare comprehensive written and oral reports.
2. Prefers ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
3. Prefers ability to profit from training received in the designated area of state government.
4. Prefers ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with other employees and agency representatives.
5. Prefers ability to utilize a personal computer with knowledge of Microsoft Office 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).
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.