Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as an Environmental Health Specialist. Performs highly technical work within the Indoor Air Quality Program. Functions in a professional capacity working on a variety of environmental public health issues, technical problems and of a complexity requiring an in?depth analysis and knowledge of environmental health.

Job Responsibilities

1.  Under direction of the Program Manager, performs difficult and complex professional environmental health investigations and inspections at regulated facilities, including site assessment, sample collection, hazard identification, and risk communication.

• Independently conducts indoor air quality (IAQ) investigations in response to contamination, illness, complaints, or referrals and determines compliance with established IAQ guidelines.
• Travels to respond to incidents and conducts complex environmental health investigations; develops a plan of action and takes necessary steps to maintain environmental health safety.
• Provides technical assistance to local health departments, regional offices, state or federal agencies, schools, the public, and other organizations.
• Participates in infectious disease outbreak investigations, including but not limited to legionnaires’ disease.
• Represents the Program at meetings with regulated entities and public meetings to discuss investigatory findings and recommendations.

2.  Prepares detailed technical reports and correspondences concerning observations, field investigations, environmental assessments, proposed work plans, and equipment evaluations.

• Drafts letters and correspondence to regulated entities regarding investigation results and recommendations for corrective actions.
• Drafts enforcement proceedings with Program Manager.

3.  Develops and provides outreach, health education, and training for healthcare professionals, the public, and other interested organizations.

• Presents IAQ training, including traditional face to face meetings and webinars.
• Works with the Program’s Public Health Educator and other Office of Health Protection staff to develop fact sheets, posters, infographics, social media content, and other outreach materials.

4.  Serves as Deputy Occupational Health and Safety Consultant for the Division and helps maintain the respiratory protection program.

5.  Maintains the Section’s inventory of equipment for monitoring and sampling, including routine maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.

• Research new technologies to improve techniques used by Section staff to sample indoor environments for hazardous substances and conditions.
• Trains central office and regional Office of Health Protection staff to properly use and maintain equipment.

6.  Attends continuing education and professional development training.

• Completes mandatory knowledge and practical training required by Office of Health Protection standard operating procedure and program requirements.
• Attends professional meetings and continuing education training to expand knowledge and job skills appropriate to program areas.

7.  Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties listed above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college with at least 30 semester hours in the physical or biological sciences, including at least six semester hours coursework in toxicology, risk assessment, industrial hygiene, biochemistry, or physiology.
2. Requires three years of professional experience in environmental health practice.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Current licensure in Illinois as an Environmental Health Practitioner. Certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS/RS) is equivalent.
2. Ability to pass a medical evaluation, wear a negative pressure respirator, and walk for extended periods of time while carrying equipment weighing 15 to 30 pounds.
3. Two years of experience conducting indoor air quality investigations in schools and commercial buildings.
4. Two years of experience operating environmental monitoring and sampling equipment, analyzing, and interpreting data, and preparing technical reports.
5. Two years of experience responding to infectious diseases in congregate settings or workplaces, including assessing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
6. Two years of experience developing and presenting environmental health training, including traditional face to face and webinars
7. One year of experience authoring technical guidance document
8. One year of experience managing and developing a respiratory protection, medical surveillance, or health and safety program.
9. Working knowledge in public health principles, occupational health, epidemiology, and safety engineering.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires use of personal vehicle for work?related travel within the State.
• Requires possession of a current and valid driver’s license.