What are the responsibilities and job description for the MANAGER, AIR INSPECTION - DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY (SHAKMAN EXEMPT) position at Cook County Government?
Overview
Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability is seeking a Manager, Air Inspection to lead environmental enforcement efforts focused on air quality and pollution control. This role supervises inspection staff, enforces environmental protection laws, and advises senior leadership on policies and ordinances based on current scientific and regulatory standards. The Manager coordinates enforcement actions, manages permitting and billing operations, and prepares analytical reports on air quality compliance. The position also oversees staff training, ensures alignment with Illinois EPA standards, and collaborates with local governments and other partners on environmental response initiatives.
Cook County offers great benefits and the chance to participate in a strong tradition of public service. Cook County is home to more than five million residents, roughly 45% of Illinois’ population. Cook County Government provides a range of vital services and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. These services range from health care to urban planning. Cook County is committed to empowering its employees to bring our constituents the best that public service has to offer.
Attention Applicants: Please note that as part of ongoing job architecture initiatives, the County is reviewing job titles and corresponding grades, which may be subject to change.
WHY PURSUE A CAREER WITH COOK COUNTY?
Benefits
In addition to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in the public sphere, including:
Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, one of the most formidable business districts in the world, the area has an astounding number of cultural foundations, stunning parks such as Millennial Park and Maggie Daley Park, steps away from the Chicago Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants, and plenty of shopping! In addition, Chicago is serviced by multiple bus and train lines for public transportation from the suburbs to the city, taxis are plentiful, public parking garages for motorists, and bicycle share rentals and local bike lanes for bicyclists.
Role Summary
Supervise staff and enforces environmental protection laws related to air pollution, while advising senior leadership on relevant policies and ordinances based on current scientific knowledge and regulations. Coordinates enforcement actions against non-complying businesses, including, but not limited to, issuing citations, and coordinating applicable administrative hearing cases. Manages the permitting and billing functions of the division and prepares and analyses reports regarding billing and permitting. Provides information to the general public pertaining to environmental protection guidelines, standards and methods for abating or controlling emission of pollutants. Trains new environment and sustainability inspectors, engineers and technical and administrative
support personnel relative to the policies and procedure of the department. Maintains communications with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, local governments and other entities to coordinate environmental responses.
Key Responsibilities And Duties
Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
Light Work involves exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job/occupation is rated Light Work when it requires: (1) walking or standing to a significant degree; (2) sitting most of the time while pushing or pulling arm or leg controls; or (3) working at a production rate pace while constantly pushing or pulling materials even though the weight of the materials is negligible.
The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.
EMPLOYMENT TERMS
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Pursuant to the Shakman Consent Decree, Supplemental Relief Order and the Cook County Personnel Rules, this position is exempt from the County’s career service rules, is at-will and political reasons or factors may be considered when taking any employment action. As an employee in a Shakman Exempt Position, if you do not currently live in Cook County, you will have six (6) months from date of hire to establish actual residency within Cook County.
Please contact shakmanexemptapplications@cookcountyil.gov for inquiries about this position.
Job Posting
Oct 14, 2025, 5:40:22 PM
Organization
Offices Under the President
Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability is seeking a Manager, Air Inspection to lead environmental enforcement efforts focused on air quality and pollution control. This role supervises inspection staff, enforces environmental protection laws, and advises senior leadership on policies and ordinances based on current scientific and regulatory standards. The Manager coordinates enforcement actions, manages permitting and billing operations, and prepares analytical reports on air quality compliance. The position also oversees staff training, ensures alignment with Illinois EPA standards, and collaborates with local governments and other partners on environmental response initiatives.
Cook County offers great benefits and the chance to participate in a strong tradition of public service. Cook County is home to more than five million residents, roughly 45% of Illinois’ population. Cook County Government provides a range of vital services and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. These services range from health care to urban planning. Cook County is committed to empowering its employees to bring our constituents the best that public service has to offer.
Attention Applicants: Please note that as part of ongoing job architecture initiatives, the County is reviewing job titles and corresponding grades, which may be subject to change.
WHY PURSUE A CAREER WITH COOK COUNTY?
Benefits
In addition to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in the public sphere, including:
- Top Tier Medical Benefits: Medical Plans, Prescription Drug Benefit, Dental Plans, Vision Plan and 7 Additional voluntary benefit plans
- Flexible Teleworking Options
- Generous, Flexible Paid Time Off (13 paid designated holidays; Minimum of 10 vacation days annually; Up to 4 personal days annually; and Paid sick leave)
- Pension Plan
- Financial Support Programs and Resources: Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts – Dependent Day Care, Commuter Benefits, Discounted Parking, PSLF Eligibility, Deferred Compensation and Education Tuition Stipend
- Health/Wellness Perks: Flexible Spending Accounts-Health Care, Employee Assistance Program and MyHealth Connections wellness program.
- Serves 5.28 million residents of Chicago and its inner suburbs
- 2nd largest county in America
- Larger than 27 states
- Cook County employs over 22,000 employees who work in a variety of skilled jobs and trades.
- Nearly 80% unionized workforce
- 15 unions represented
- 63 separate collective bargaining agreements
- Highway – Cook County maintains almost 600 miles of roads and highways.
- Land – Cook County assesses the value of more than 1.5 million parcels of taxable land and collects and distributes tax funds as a service for local government taxing bodies.
- Safety – Cook County provides vital services to local government, from conducting elections in suburban areas to offering 911 services in unincorporated areas and municipalities.
Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, one of the most formidable business districts in the world, the area has an astounding number of cultural foundations, stunning parks such as Millennial Park and Maggie Daley Park, steps away from the Chicago Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants, and plenty of shopping! In addition, Chicago is serviced by multiple bus and train lines for public transportation from the suburbs to the city, taxis are plentiful, public parking garages for motorists, and bicycle share rentals and local bike lanes for bicyclists.
Role Summary
Supervise staff and enforces environmental protection laws related to air pollution, while advising senior leadership on relevant policies and ordinances based on current scientific knowledge and regulations. Coordinates enforcement actions against non-complying businesses, including, but not limited to, issuing citations, and coordinating applicable administrative hearing cases. Manages the permitting and billing functions of the division and prepares and analyses reports regarding billing and permitting. Provides information to the general public pertaining to environmental protection guidelines, standards and methods for abating or controlling emission of pollutants. Trains new environment and sustainability inspectors, engineers and technical and administrative
support personnel relative to the policies and procedure of the department. Maintains communications with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, local governments and other entities to coordinate environmental responses.
Key Responsibilities And Duties
- Supervises and coordinates staff of environment and sustainability engineers and technical support personnel responsible for inspecting and identifying sources of pollutants by industrial and commercial enterprises, open burn sites and other locations relevant to the enforcement of federal, State, and County environmental protection laws.
- Assigns workloads to environment and sustainability engineer and technical support personnel, monitors their work activities as to timeliness and completeness.
- Prepares analytical written reports detailing investigatory environmental engineering pollution inspections, and reviews reports prepared by subordinate staff, which are subject to administrative review and determination for subsequent course(s) of action.
- Reviews installation permits for industrial process, combustion, and incineration equipment relevant to accuracy of specifications and compliance to environmental protection laws.
- Establishes operational procedures for division staff and offers technical guidance to the public on environmental protection, including compliance with regulations and pollution control strategies.
- Manages legal proceedings related to environmental violations and oversees permit fee billing, revenue tracking, and revenue projections.
- Trains new environment and sustainability engineer and technical support personnel relative to the policies and procedures of the department; schedules the assigned staff for environmental training seminars.
- Maintains communications with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, local governments and other entities to coordinate environmental responses.
- Advises the senior leadership regarding policies and ordinances related to air quality and pollution based on current and emerging science, regulation and standards. Drafts ordinance and policy language.
- Conducts operational analysis and develops recommendations for improvement, including participating in special projects like researching best practices, creating pollution prevention programs, and proposing ordinance updates.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
- Knowledge of Federal, State, and County environmental protection laws and demonstrate familiarity with industrial, heating, ventilation, and pollution control equipment, including their proper installation and operation.
- Skill in the use of Microsoft Office suite and with using databases for data tracking and analysis.
- Ability to develop and implement SOPs and create and review environmental inspection reports.
- Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with the public regarding environmental protection laws and best practices, and develop and maintain strong relationships with governmental and private entities.
- Skill in preparing detailed analytical reports on environmental pollution inspections and in analyzing processes to recommend operational improvements.
- Ability to manage professional and/or skilled support staff on a day-to-day basis.
- Ability to set overall direction and hold staff accountable for accomplishing work objectives by fostering positive relationships between employees, leadership, and stakeholders.
- Ability to travel to work assignments throughout Cook County, for which the employee may be required to provide his or her own adequate means of transportation.
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree or higher and
- Three (3) years of environmental science, environmental management, engineering, or industrial hygiene supervisory experience or directly related experience or
- An equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
- Five (5) years of environmental science, environmental management, engineering, or industrial hygiene supervisory experience.
- Three (3) years of previous management or supervisory experience.
Light Work involves exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job/occupation is rated Light Work when it requires: (1) walking or standing to a significant degree; (2) sitting most of the time while pushing or pulling arm or leg controls; or (3) working at a production rate pace while constantly pushing or pulling materials even though the weight of the materials is negligible.
The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.
EMPLOYMENT TERMS
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Pursuant to the Shakman Consent Decree, Supplemental Relief Order and the Cook County Personnel Rules, this position is exempt from the County’s career service rules, is at-will and political reasons or factors may be considered when taking any employment action. As an employee in a Shakman Exempt Position, if you do not currently live in Cook County, you will have six (6) months from date of hire to establish actual residency within Cook County.
Please contact shakmanexemptapplications@cookcountyil.gov for inquiries about this position.
Job Posting
Oct 14, 2025, 5:40:22 PM
Organization
Offices Under the President
