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Environmental Protection Specialist I

Under direct supervision of the Office of Emergency Response (OER) Engineering, Operations & Assessment Manager in the Associate Director's Office, participates with higher level field staff in performing routine scientific field investigations primarily for the Northern Region of the State. Assists in field inspections, sampling and documentation related to environmental emergency incidents (large/small scale), analyzes, classifies incidents, notifies regional personnel (intra) and local (inter) Officials. Meets safety standards to comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120. Assists in duties as an Environmental Emergency Responder for emergency incidents. Functions as staff consultant for routine and scientific OER activities including; explaining/interpreting Agency policy and procedures, maintenance of OER equipment and preparation of routine scientific data to be used in enforcement cases; Participates in training exercises and professional development classes; travels in performance of duties.

Education & Experience: Requires the knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four years of college with course work in the physical, life, or environmental sciences; requires one year of professional experience in pollution abatement or a related field; Prefers (15-17 semester hrs. in Chemistry).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Requires working knowledge of modern inspectional and investigative techniques and procedures; requires working knowledge of modern environmental control systems, facilities, techniques and procedures; requires working knowledge of state laws, rules and regulations as pertaining to environmental protection or pollution abatement. Requires ability to prepare comprehensive, technical and scientific reports of field investigations and/or inspections; requires ability to analyze and interpret the scientific data of plans for facilities, installations and equipment; requires ability to establish and maintain working relationships with municipal officials, facility operators and owners, plant managers, or their representatives; requires ability to interpret pertinent state laws, rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the agency to individuals and municipal bodies; requires 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.

Specific Job Requirements: Requires ability to coordinate and respond to emergencies during non-business hours; requires ability to participate in the medical monitoring program, and 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; requires ability to wear a respirator or other form of respiratory protection requires ability to carry and utilize a self-contained breathing apparatus (weighing approximately 25 pounds). 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); requires ability to lift heavy equipment (e.g. 45 pounds); 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); requires a valid driver's license and ability to travel; requires sufficient dexterity to operate scientific sampling equipment; requires the ability to utilize a personal computer and knowledge of Microsoft Word, Access and Excel software; Requires knowledge of and ability to utilize advanced digital mapping tools and related software. Requires skill and ability to communicate with the general public, local, state and federal officials, both verbally and in writing. This position will be required to take (within 90 days of employment) and maintain working knowledge of (8 hr 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.