Position Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Air (BOA), Air Pollution Control Division, Permit Section, Clean Air Act Permit Program (CAAPP) Operating Unit 1(b) is seeking to hire an Environmental Protection Specialist (EPS) IV as a Working Supervisor. This position will serve as a working supervisor of professional staff engaged in air pollution control permitting in an office setting and serve as a staff member of consulting agency personnel on complex or difficult problems or studies which have program or policy impact. The successful candidate will have experience independently working on studies which have a number of unknowns and require advanced knowledge and/or experience to complete. As an EPS IV, you will also be independently reviewing technical and scientific applications for a variety of complex permit applications, particularly applications involving major sources of air pollution.

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

30% 1.Serves as designated working supervisor to the technical and professional staff engaged in performing both highly complex and routine engineering review and analysis, involving the solution to issues related to granting, denying, and rejecting of permits for air pollution sources in the Bureau of Air (BOA), Air Pollution Control (APC), Permit Section, Clean Air Act Permit Program (CAAPP) Operating Unit 1(b):

• Assigns and reviews work.
• Provides guidance and training to assigned staff.
• Counsels staff regarding work performance.
• Reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs.
• Establishes annual goals and objectives.
• Approves time off.
• Prepares and signs performance evaluations.

Essential Functions (continued)

25% 2. Participates in and coordinates highly complex detailed in-depth engineering analysis of permit applications received by the Permit Section.

• Reviews applications to ensure all applicable requirements established by Federal, State and Agency rules and regulations are adhered too.
• Confers with applicants to request additional information, discuss applications and permit actions, and arrange meetings, as necessary.
• Directs and participates in the preparation of appropriate letters of response to permit applications.
• Assists in making recommendations for Agency action on applications (grant, deny, or reject) in a timely manner.
• Oversees staff engaged in permit fee resolution, assists with highly technical, complex, or controversial issues.
• Identifies and isolates problem areas in this review process and develops feasible solutions.
• Coordinates activities with other Bureau/Divisions/Sections/Units on compliance issues and multi-media sources.

Serves as a staff expert providing testimony at hearings or legal proceeding.

Essential Functions (continued)

15% 3. Develops and utilizes a thorough understanding of the comprehensive technical/scientific aspects of industrial categories in the review of complex studies and investigations relating to the area of expertise.

15% 4. Pursues the development of new technical criteria, policy, and regulations as applicable to specific industrial categories:

• Attends and participates in seminars, workshops, conferences, and meetings to assist the general public and permit applicants giving information related to specific industrial categories.
• Studies and evaluates current literature keeping Unit Manager and staff abreast of changes for utilization in daily work situations. 
• Travels in performance of duties

Essential Functions (continued)

10% 5. Utilizes the Permit Section data systems:

• Utilizes a personal computer to review and monitor permit information entered into permit files and the electronic data systems.
• Performs assessment of permit data from electronic data systems.
• Provides direction to staff on information in the permit applications received.
• Oversees and ensures staff are conducting any required updates.

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

Minimum Qualifications

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1. Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion of four (4) years college with coursework in physical, life, or environmental science.
2. Requires two years supervisory experience in the field of pollution abatement or related field.

Specialized Skills

Of the two years of required experience, requires two years of experience in the interpretation of State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to air pollution experience in the field of air pollution control, experience in permit review and issuance of Clean Air Act permits under Title V of the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act, successfully addressing progressively more complicated and difficult applications for a wide array of industries. 

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

1. Prefers a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
2. Prefers four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in air pollution control sources.
3. Prefers two (2) years of experience in the interpretation of State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to air pollution experience in the field of air pollution control.
4. Prefers two (2) years of experience in permit review and issuance of Clean Air Act permits under Title V of the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act.
5. Prefers two (2) year of experience utilizing a personal computer with knowledge of Microsoft Teams, Office, PowerPoint, Word, Access and Excel or equivalent software.
6. Prefers thorough knowledge of environmental control systems, facilities, and related techniques, procedures, and processes.
7. Prefers extensive knowledge of techniques relative to the supervision of a technical and/or professional staff.
8. Prefers ability to supervise a sub-unit of a technical activity within the assigned program.

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires the ability to travel.
2. Requires a valid driver’s license.
3. Requires the ability to pass a name-based background check.
4. Requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time.

*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 EPA is to safeguard environmental quality, consistent with the social and economic needs of the State of Illinois, so as to protect health, welfare, property, and the quality of life.

The Illinois EPA works to safeguard natural resources from pollution to provide a healthy environment. By partnering with businesses, local governments, and the public, the Illinois EPA is dedicated to continued protection of the air we breathe and our water and land resources.