LIFE SCIENCE CAREER TRAINEE

State of Illinois•Collinsville, IL

3d•$4,747 - $6,446•Onsite

About The Position

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land (BOL), Land Pollution Control, Field Operations Section is seeking a motivated Life Sciences Career Trainee – Spanish Speaking (Option SS). This is an excellent opportunity for an emerging professional to begin their career in environmental protection. The selected candidate will participate in an agency-sponsored training program lasting six to twelve months. During this time, you will gain hands‑on experience through structured assignments designed to build knowledge, skills, and practical understanding across key life sciences and environmental protection disciplines within the Southern Region – Marion Unit. As a Life Sciences Career Trainee, you will take on progressively challenging responsibilities across a wide range of departmental activities, developing the foundation needed to advance into a professional environmental career with the State of Illinois. 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.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor's degree in some field of the life sciences.
Requires the ability to communicate verbally and written in Spanish at a colloquial level with Spanish-speaking clients.
Requires the ability to pass a name-based background check.
Requires a valid and current appropriate driver’s license, and the ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overtime and overnight stays as appropriate.
This position will be required to be complete (within 90 days of employment) and maintain a working knowledge of (8-hour annual refresher) and/or certification to ensure the 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.
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 and participating in the medical monitoring program.
Requires ability to use an agency-issued cell phone.
Requires ability to wear a respirator or other form of respiratory protection and wear chemical-resistant clothing in high heat stress situations while performing strenuous physical tasks (e.g., carrying equipment up a steep ravine at temperature up to 100F).
Requires ability to carry and utilize a self-contained breathing apparatus (weighing approximately 25 pounds).
Requires ability to lift heavy equipment (e.g., 45 pounds).
Requires ability to hike, climb, wade in streams, get in/out of boats, or swim in emergency situations to get to sites (as required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120).
Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and training to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry-related topics to the job duties.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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), Southern Region/Marion.
Receives training to assist in providing for the Region Manager’s close review.
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.
Receives training to assist with collecting water, soil, and waste samples to substantiate violations and/or determine the extent of contamination.
Attends and participates in meetings and keeps current on relevant laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to waste management in Illinois.
Perform other duties as assigned or required, which are reasonably within the scope of duties.