Methods & Procedures Advisor

Job Overview

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Water (BOW), Division of Water Pollution Control (WPC), Permit Section, Industrial Unit, 401 / Mines Sub-Unit is seeking to hire a Methods & Procedures Advisor I to perform routine technical studies and research functions related to the development, analysis and revision of methods of operation, and techniques and procedures utilized in specific phases of the operation in the 401 / Mines Sub‑Unit.

This position will assist with larger, more complex studies of methods and procedures. The ideal candidate will be organized, detail‑oriented, and able to adapt to change in a collaborative, fast‑paced environment. The candidate must also communicate effectively verbally, electronically, and in writing with both internal and external stakeholders.

The position offers a 37½ 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).

• Design and perform routine studies in methods and procedures for water pollution control programs that include federal Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certifications and associated state permits for Lake Michigan construction activities and dredged material disposal facilities, state and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for coal and non‑coal mining activities, Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFO) permits, and Illinois Environmental Protection Act endorsements for agrichemical facilities and tax certifications for livestock and agrichemical facilities.
• Develop, revise, and document methods and procedures used to catalog unit workflow data in multiple database systems and analogous spreadsheets, in support of agency data collection requirements for unit programs that include Clean Water Act Section 401 certifications, mining activity permits, agrichemical facility endorsements, state permits for Lake Michigan construction activities, tax certifications of livestock and agrichemical facilities, dredged material disposal permits, and NPDES permits for CAFOs.
• Perform research, analysis, and procedural evaluation for the federal Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification (WQC) program; assist in revising and installing improved operating procedures.
• Conduct methods and procedures studies of the state and NPDES coal and non‑coal mine activities (mining) program.
• Receive and, when approved by supervisor or management, respond to inquiries from coregulators, the regulated community and the public concerning matters related to unit methods, procedures, and regulatory programs; assist in developing procedures for handling such inquiries.
• Develop training materials, methods, and procedures for staff assigned to the Administrative Support Unit for the Division of Water Pollution Control, Bureau of Water, to facilitate the unit’s goals; assist in the installation of new procedures.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned that are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

• Completion of four years of college with courses in public administration, accounting, industrial relations, pre‑legal, or personnel management.
• One year of professional experience in public administration, business management, or accounting.

• One year of experience implementing a state water quality certification program pursuant to federal Clean Water Act Section 401 under the 2020 CWA Section 401 Certification Rule.
• One year of experience utilizing a dredge and fill certification application database.

• One year of experience implementing a federal or state water quality certification program pursuant to federal Clean Water Act Section 401 under the 2020 CWA Section 401 Certification Rule.
• One year of experience using a database to manage environmental permit applications.
• One year of experience developing or revising standard operating procedures for a regulatory program.
• One year of experience…