Environmental Jobs in Illinois

Job Description

General Information:

Job Title

Environmental Practitioner/Sanitarian I/II

Working Job Title (if different)

Environmental Practitioner/Sanitarian

Department

Center for Natural and Built Environments

Revised Date

August 2026

Reports To

Director of Departmental Infrastructure

FLSA Status

Non-exempt

General Schedule (GS) Pay Designation

GS-7

GS-8

GS-7 to GS-8 commensurate with applicable Environmental Health Practitioner (LEHP) and/or Registered Environmental Health Sanitarian license(s).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

We are actively seeking to create a diverse work environment because organizations are stronger with different perspectives and experiences. BCHD is committed to cultivating a workforce representative of the community which it serves. We examine our unconscious biases and take responsibility for always striving to create an inclusive environment that makes every employee and candidate feel welcome. We encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, older members of society, and others from minority groups and diverse backgrounds to apply.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other non – merit characteristics. All employees and those contracted by BCHD are responsible for maintaining a work culture free from discrimination and harassment by treating others with kindness and respect.

General Summary:

The Environmental Practitioner/Sanitarian I/II promotes individual and population public health by providing the essential services of public health within a variety of settings. Responsibilities include: inspecting properties, businesses or homes; collecting samples; identifying health and environmental hazards, assists in food-, water-, and vector-borne illness outbreak investigations; ensuring compliance with a broad range of local, state, and federal codes, regulations and policies related to public health and environmental health; participating in multi-faceted public health or environmental projects; and providing technical assistance and information to community, contractors and vendors, stakeholders, outside agencies/departments, and other groups regarding public health and environmental issues. This position requires knowledge of public health and environmental science.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Under general supervision and/or as part of various workgroups and teams, the Environmental Practitioner/Sanitarian performs the following functions within the framework of Boone County Health Department’s provision of the core functions and essential services of public health.

· Conducts routine/required inspections (food, housing, tanning, body art, nuisance, demolition, inspections for real estate loans, site verifications, pumper truck, and land application sites) and/or audits to ensure compliance with existing local, state, and federal codes, regulations and policies (i.e., private sewage treatment and disposal, vector control, private well water construction, and retail food compliance).

· Provides information and technical assistance to individuals and/or groups regarding compliance with current local public health and environmental health codes, regulations and policies, such as new well inspections and homeowner education regarding private wells and private sewage disposal systems.

· Oversees private well and private sewage disposal system construction, installation, and proper abandonment.

· Investigates complaints regarding environmental health concerns and/or hazards, initiates enforcement or corrective actions as required, and/or referrals to corresponding agencies/departments.

· Collaborates in the development and delivery of programs and activities that promote health and prevent disease.

· Collects water samples for laboratory analysis to ensure compliance of existing local, state, and federal codes, regulations and policies.

· Reviews plans for properties (i.e., septic, well, building additions, and pools), reviews soil bore reports, and sizes septic systems through interpretation of soil data.

· Reviews plans for establishments (i.e., restaurants, mobile food trucks, cottage food operators, and temporary events), reviews soil bore reports, and sizes septic systems through interpretation of soil data.

· Participates in response teams to prevent, minimize, and contain adverse health events and conditions resulting from communicable diseases; food-, water-, and vector-borne outbreaks; and environmental hazards.

• Participates in Department and community emergency response training and drills consistent with job classification in support of public health emergency and disaster preparedness.

· Performs public health emergency response duties as assigned and consistent with training provided and job classification, in response to threats to the public’s health.

· Collaborates in the development of and contributes to individual, team, and Departmental quality improvement (QI) and performance management (PM) processes and/or techniques to improve the effectiveness of the respective public health program.

• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by pursuing education, participating in professional committees and work groups, and contributing to a work environment where continual improvements in practice are pursued.

Data Analytics and Assessment Skills:

• Describe factors that affect the health of a community.
• Assess community health status.

Policy Development and Program Planning Skills:

· Influence policies, programs, and services external to the organization (e.g., zoning, transportation, housing, education).

• Engage in organizational strategic planning.

Communication Skills:

• Communicate with internal and external audiences.
• Respond to information, misinformation, and disinformation.
• Facilitate communication among individuals, groups, and organizations.

Health Equity Skills:

· Apply principles of ethics, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

· Engage in continuous self-reflection about one’s biases.

· Recognize the diversity of individuals and populations.

· Contribute to achieving and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and competent public health workforce.

· Advocate for health equity and social and environmental justice.

Community Partnership Skills:

• Collaborate with community members and organizations.

Public Health Sciences Skills:

• Describe systems, policies, and events impacting public health.
• Apply public health sciences in delivering the 10 Essential Public Health Services.
• Use evidence in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.
• Contribute to the evidence base for improving health.

Management and Finance Skills:

• Engage in professional development.
• Apply critical thinking in decision making.
• Engage individuals and teams to achieve program and organizational goals.
• Facilitate collaboration among individuals, groups, and organizations.
• Engage in performance management.

Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills:

• Create opportunities for creativity and innovation.
• Respond to emerging needs.
• Manage organizational change.
• Advocate for public health.

Other Duties Include:

· Performs any and all other related duties as assigned or directed in order to promote, further, and ensure the effective and efficient operation of the Boone County Health Department.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

Education, Licensure, Certifications, Experience:

· Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university related to the field of Health/Environmental/Planning or closely field. A minimum of 30 credit hours in basic sciences with at least three (3) hours in each of the following areas: physical sciences, chemical sciences, biological sciences, and math.

• 2 years’ experience as an Environmental Health Practitioner or equivalent preferred.
• Environmental Health Practitioner License (LEHP) and/or Registered Environmental Health Sanitarian preferred.
• Certified Food Protection Manager Certification (CFPM) within 90 days of employment.
• National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700.a, and 800 certifications within four (4) months of employment.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license, current certificate of vehicle insurance, and access to reliable transportation to all assigned work locations.

· Current CPR certification.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of environmental sciences and environmental public health principles.
• Basic understanding of environmental public health protection programs, laws, regulations, policies, and processes in Illinois and Boone County.
• Knowledge of data collection, analysis, interpretation techniques, monitoring and investigation methods.
• Knowledge of federal, Illinois State and local environmental regulations that are applicable to a practitioner in a local public health agency.
• Knowledge of incident command structure and its use.
• Demonstrates effective written and oral communications (i.e., email, letter, reports, presentations, policies), which include but are not limited to, conveying technical information or responding to questions from individuals and/or groups.
• Demonstrates ability to respond to common inquiries and/or complaints from individuals, community members, contractors and vendors, stakeholders, outside agencies/departments, and other groups.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques.
• Demonstrates ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume; demonstrates ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Demonstrates effective problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate a variety of variables, in situations where parameters exist.
• Demonstrates ability to assess various situations and conditions while making informed and reasonable decisions, based on regulations and the potential public health impact.
• Demonstrates ability to work independently and collaboratively within teams (i.e., internal and external stakeholders, individuals, contractors and vendors, agencies/departments, and other groups).
• Demonstrates basic knowledge and use of computerized data management systems.

Due to the need for all Health Department personnel to respond to public health emergencies, the employee must be assessed for their ability to meet the physical demands of performing the following activities:

· Must be able to be fitted and wear NIOSH 95 mask.

· Engage in the following movements: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, writing, and repetitive motions.

· The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

· Hearing ability sufficient enough to communicate with others effectively in person and over the phone. Visual ability sufficient enough to read documents, screens, and to drive a car.

If unable to demonstrate these abilities based upon a standardized, objective assessment performed by external occupational health professionals, all reasonable accommodations will be made, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable Federal and Illinois law.

Working Conditions While Performing Essential Functions:

General office setting in health department facilities, as well as community sites including clients’ homes and restaurants or other workplaces.

The Environmental Practitioner/Sanitarian will work in a general office setting in health department facilities, as well as community sites in clients’ homes and workplaces. Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions such as snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity, vibration, sudden temperature changes, and poor illumination at the job site or while traveling. While performing duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions (wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, and extreme cold and heat), as well as to allergens such as molds, animal dander, ragweed, and pollen. Travel to and from field locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards, and the employee may be required to travel to attend job-related conferences, training, or to other departments. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals. The employee must be able to work well, perform, and complete duties under stress, deadlines, and while attending to multiple duties at once. The employee must follow all county and department policies, goals, and objectives.

Staff member drives approximately 50% of time each week in transit to out of office inspections as needed. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be excessive when performing field inspections such as observing well drillings and septic installations.

In all settings, employees in this classification may occasionally need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical, or hostile behaviors and/or communication.

Equipment used to Perform Essential Functions:

Computer, fax, copier, personal or county vehicle, Mobile Unit, Public Health and medical equipment, and supplies related to duties. Must be comfortable using environmental and clinical testing supplies that include but are not limited to medical equipment and laboratory analysis tools.

Reporting Structure:

Title of Immediate Supervisor:

Director of Departmental Infrastructure

Titles of any others this position reports to:

Public Health Administrator

Titles of those who directly report to this position:

Training and supervising of interns.

Blood borne Pathogen Risk Code: None __ Low __ Medium X High__

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $28.92 - $41.64 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person