ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST III

Position Statement

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to perform difficult and complex food safety and dairy inspections, collecting samples, investigating complaints, and providing detailed technical reports for supervisory review and approval. Conducts non-routine investigations in response to complaints, contamination or illness.

Benefits Statement

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• Flexible and hybrid work schedules are available in many program areas (when available and dependent upon position)
• Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
• Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
• Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
• Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
• 10-25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
• 12 paid sick days annually which carryover year to year
• 3 paid personal business days per calendar year (pro-rated dependent on start date)
• 13-14 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

These are just a few of the many perks available to all State employees. For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx

Essential Functions

• Under direction of Regional Program Supervisor.
• Prepares notices and reports on investigation findings, regulatory inspection reports, and corrective action necessary for compliance with applicable program and division mandates and regulations.
• Travels to conduct investigations in response to complaints, contamination, or illness outbreaks.
• Attends and completes mandatory knowledge-based and practical training required by Office of Health Protection standard operating procedure and program requirements for regional program activities.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college with a with at least 30 semester hours in the physical or biological sciences.
• Requires three (3) years professional experience in environmental health practice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years of experience applying knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental health and public health laws and regulations.
• Three (3) years of experience conducting environmental health regulatory assessments and inspections at regulated entities.
• Three (3) years of experience writing inspection reports and communications to the public and regulated entities.
• Three (3) years of experience applying knowledge of general environmental health sanitation principles and practices.
• Three (3) years of experience in environmental field sampling equipment and testing techniques.
• Three (3) years of work experience using Microsoft software products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of duties.
• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

*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 Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is tasked with the oversight of communities within Illinois to achieve and maintain optimal health and safety. With an annual budget of over $2 billion in state and federal funds, 6 regional offices, 3 laboratories and over 1,200 employees, IDPH is equipped to fulfill its mission of protecting the health and wellness of the people of Illinois through the prevention, health promotion, regulation and control of disease and injury.