Category: Job announcements

Job announcement: Science Writer, University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering

Closing date: 06/06/2022
Full announcement and to apply

The Office of Marketing & Communications (OMC) at The Grainger College of Engineering seeks a Science Writer who is responsible for writing and editing high-level communications, publications, and materials with research-related subject matter. Designs, researches, and writes technical and research-related press releases, news and feature stories for print and web.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

Indiana DEM seeks engineers for two pollution prevention and compliance assistance positions

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Office of Program Support,  Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance Section is hiring for two Senior Environmental Management positions.  Both are regional positions that cover pollution prevention voluntary programs as well as provide compliance and technical assistance to businesses and others needing confidential regulatory assistance. 

One is located in the  IDEM Northwest Regional Office in Valparaiso, Indiana (Close to Chicago, IL) and the other is in the IDEM Southwest Regional Office in Petersburg, IN (near Evansville, IN)

Job announcement: Associate Director for Computing and Data Services, Prairie Research Institute

Close date: Mar 3, 2022
View the full announcement.

The Prairie Research Institute (PRI), a research and service institute of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, houses five large scientific surveys covering a wide range of expertise including biology, water resources, climate, geology, sustainable technology, and archaeology. PRI’s mission is to provide objective, integrated scientific research and service that allow citizens and decision-makers to make choices that ensure sustainable economic development, enduring environmental quality, and cultural resource preservation for the people, businesses, and governments of Illinois. Learn more at go.illinois.edu/PRIjobs.

PRI is seeing to hire an Associate Director for Computing and Data Services to be responsible for the leadership and management of the operations of the Prairie Research Institute Computing and Data Services group, overseeing IT services, infrastructure, security, and application development and to develop and align technology with business strategies by enabling institution processes with the appropriate technologies.  This includes advising the PRI Executive Director on IT needs, planning, policy development, and providing direction to information technology subgroups; Desktop Support, Network and Server Administration, and Application Development for five state surveys and over one thousand employees in fifty-three staff occupied buildings.  The Associate Director for Computing and Data Services reports directly to the Executive Director and serves as one of eight members of the Prairie Research Institute Executive Leadership Team.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

Major Duties & Responsibilities:

Technology Development, Implementation, and Management

  • Responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and providing strategic direction for PRI’s use of technology.
  • Develop plans and budgets to build PRI’s emerging IT infrastructure to align with PRI’s strategic plan and to support PRI’s scientific research programs that rely on computing and business data infrastructure.
  • Develop and monitor policies and procedures governing internal technology use and purchase, as well as support for the systems within PRI.
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with PRI division managers and other key leaders. Advise and inform leadership on policies and procedures that impact their programs and staff.
  • Provide high-level direction and management for IT projects.
  • In collaboration with the Associate Directors and Survey Directors, identify and meet emerging IT needs and opportunities for faculty and research staff. 
  • In collaboration with the Associate Directors, identify opportunities for IT to increase efficiencies of business processes for administration staff.
  • Responsible for the upkeep and continued development of PRI’s emerging internal information infrastructure from database technologies to the information systems used by scientists, managers and staff to effectively use business data to manage the daily operations of PRI.
  • Provide comprehensive data, workflow analysis and IT capability to assist with decision support, planning, and management of PRI, in collaboration with PRI research, finance, and human resource leadership.
  • Oversee and develop applications in a client/server database environment to meet the needs of PRI administration and principal investigators/scientists.
  • Contribute to the identification and potential solutions to address various scientific data conversions and digitization, archival, storage, and common database needs across the institute.
  • Provide oversight and project planning for CDS and system upgrades.
  • Establish, maintain, and continuously review the internal and external computing systems.

Policy development and management

  • Advise the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, Administration, division leaders and managers, serve as a key liaison and subject matter expert on IT strategy development and implementation for PRI.
  • Update and communicate IT procedures and Management Information Systems to improve management and end user understanding of PRI operations.

Networking/Outreach

  • Collaborate with campus on IT infrastructure, follow campus IT policy, and advocate for the IT needs of PRI.
  • Serve on campus committees to improve services for the campus.

Supervision/Administrative

  • Direct and lead the PRI CDS unit and provide supervision and training for professional personnel.
  • Oversee day-to-day operations of the IT groups as it relates to upkeep and running of the servers including those that provide 24/7 support for all production services.
  • Collaborate with PRI Finance to develop cost recovery mechanisms for general IT services. Direct and manage the operation of all IT Services and the associated cost recovery programs, including budgeting and planning for staffing and equipment.
  • Provide information and reports required by the university and campus, PRI management, staff, and funding agencies.
  • Develop and revise PRI IT policy and procedures to maintain and improve daily operations within PRI as related to IT Services.
  • Supervise and lead staff to achieve success and foster a culture of innovation and high-level performance at both individual and organizational levels.  This includes task assignment, scheduling, ongoing performance management with coaching and feedback, career development planning, leave/travel approval, as well as conducting annual performance reviews.  
  • Collaborate on and lead the development of grant proposals to obtain additional IT funding.
  • Manage technical staff to assist in projects and provide recommendations on equipment and services required by PRI research projects.

Other

  • Keep abreast of developments in this discipline.
  • Perform other duties as needed in order to further the mission and goals of PRI.

Qualifications:

Education: Required: Bachelor’s degree in an IT related field. Alternate degree fields will be considered/accepted depending on the nature and depth of the experience as it relates to this position.

Experience: Required:  A minimum of 10 years of highly specialized knowledge/experience in an information technology field. A minimum of 5 years of experience in the coordination or management of information technology or information system strategies, policies, and implementation.  A minimum of 5 years of experience collaborating with human resources and/or finance in the development of decision support tools. A minimum of 5 years of experience managing information technology budgets and staff in a scientific and technical academic research environment. A minimum of 5 years of experience and proven ability to develop a cost-effective business model to develop, sustain, and manage a complex IT infrastructure in a scientific research organization. Experience providing decision support tools and analysis to inform evaluation and strategic planning within a research enterprise. Valid Driver’s License

Successful Candidates will also have: Strong analytical, critical thinking, creative problem solving, good judgment, negotiating, influencing, and strategic decision-making skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality, tact, and diplomacy. Exceptional interpersonal skills and understanding of group dynamics.  Successful track record of establishing credibility and trust with a diverse client group, including senior leaders. Demonstrated leadership skills and management.  Effective communication, personal relations, collaboration, organizational, teamwork, and leadership skills. Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a diverse and fast-paced work environment consisting of multiple and changing priorities with stringent deadlines, under minimal supervision. Attention to detail, sound judgment, and strong conflict resolution skills. In depth knowledge of the following software: Microsoft Visual Studio including VB.net or C#, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Networking including Active Directory and Microsoft Office.  Working knowledge of PHP programming language also desired.

Environmental Demands: The work of this position takes place in an office setting. The work is sedentary and involves remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time working at a computer, using a keyboard and mouse, and using repetitive hand motions. Light lifting, such as moving computer hardware, may be necessary. Periodic travel to field offices is required. Occasional overnight travel may occur. 

This is a regular full-time academic professional appointment, renewable annually based upon satisfactory progress in the position and continued funding. The starting date is negotiable and salary is commensurate with experience and skills.

Application: 

If interested in the opportunity to join the PRI team, please complete your candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a cover letter, CV/resume, and the contact information for three professional references must be received by Thursday, March 3, 2022.  Interviews may be conducted before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date.  All requested information must be submitted for your application to be considered. 

For further information regarding application procedures, you may contact Megan Weeks at mkweeks@illinois.edu or 217-244-4768. 

University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.

University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Convictions are not a bar to employment. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment.

Prairie Research Institute offers applied science internships for summer 2022

In collaboration with the Graduate College’s Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP), the Prairie Research Institute is offering hands-on summer internships that will enable undergraduate students from populations underrepresented in graduate study at Illinois to explore careers in applied science. This opportunity is open to students at any undergraduate institution. 

During the 10-week summer program, interns will be immersed in hands-on field and lab projects, led by PRI scientists, for 30 to 40 hours each week. Interns also will participate in other professional and career development activities and will learn about the pathway to graduate study. As a capstone, each student will present at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium.

Each summer intern will receive:

  • a $4,000 stipend
  • funds to cover travel to/from Urbana-Champaign
  • on-campus housing and meals, plus supplies for workshops and symposiums

There are opportunities in atmospheric science and climate; biology, ecology, and environmental science; geology; sustainable energy; and water supply and safety. To see all of the internship options and to apply, visit https://go.illinois.edu/PRI-interns

Job announcement: Visiting Scientific Specialist, Environmental Contaminants

View the full announcement.
Application deadline: Feb 3, 2022

The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) is part of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which is centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. ISTC integrates applied research, technical assistance, and information services to advance efforts in the areas of pollution prevention; water and energy conservation; and materials recycling and beneficial reuse. Learn more at go.illinois.edu/PRIjobs.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status.  For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

ISTC is hiring a Visiting Scientific Specialist, Environmental Contaminants to participate in research and communication in the areas of environmental and emerging contaminates issues. This position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Research contaminants and emerging contaminants issues.
  • Review and assess submitted scientific abstracts for their validity and relevance to the annual research symposium on emerging contaminants.
  • Contribute to writing reports, blogs, and website content.
  • Collaborate with scientists on research topics.
  • Respond to requests for information and provide technical expertise to PRI staff, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, industry, and the general public.
  • Attend, participate in, and contribute to meetings, conferences, and workshops.
  • Review scientific literature with the purpose of selecting scientific content and speakers for upcoming outreach activities.
  • Prepare structure and research content for the annual research symposium on emerging contaminants.
  • Manage webinars and annual symposiums, including scientific content and logistics.
  • Contribute in the areas of education, outreach, and/or other service to the Survey, PRI, the University of Illinois, and the state of Illinois.
  • Keep abreast of developments in this discipline.
  • Perform other duties as needed in order to further the mission and goals of PRI.

Required Qualifications:   Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related discipline. Alternate degree fields will be accepted/considered based upon the nature and depth of the experience as it relates to this position.  Scientific background, preferably in environmental contaminants and emerging contaminant issues. Effective communication, personal relations, collaboration, organizational, teamwork, and leadership skills. Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a diverse and fast- paced work environment consisting of multiple and changing priorities with stringent deadlines, under minimal supervision. Attention to detail, sound judgment, and strong conflict resolution skills. Affinity for cooperative or interdisciplinary research with scientists at the Survey, professionals at other Surveys or other academic units, as well as governmental and other academic institutions. Proficiency in commonly employed software and databases. Valid driver’s license.  

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in environmental science or related discipline. Alternate degree fields will be accepted/considered based upon the nature and depth of the experience as it relates to this position.

This is a full-time, visiting academic professional, grant supported, 12-month position subject to the continued availability of funding and programmatic need. Position may become a regular, non-visiting position at a later date depending on funding and programmatic need. The starting date is negotiable and the salary is commensurate with experience.

Applications must be received by February 3, 2022.  Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after this date.  To apply, please visit https://jobs.illinois.edu/academic-job-board to complete an online profile and to upload 1) a cover letter that clearly articulates how your qualifications and experience make you a viable candidate for this position and should address the qualifications listed above, 2) a résumé/CV, and 3) the names and contact information (including e-mail addresses) of three professional (not personal) references. All requested information/documentation must be submitted for applications to be considered.  Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

For further information please contact Lori Walston-Vonderharr, Human Resources, Prairie Research Institute, at lwalston@illinois.edu or 217-244-2401.

University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment.  As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

Mongabay internships now open for Spring 2022

Mongabay.org is once again offering its internship program, which primarily involves writing environmental news stories for their affiliated news site – Mongabay.com.

What you will do

Interns will have the opportunity to develop their writing skills and have their news stories be published on their renowned website which boasts over two million global readers every month. This internship will run from Jan 1 – June 30, 2022 with a six-month commitment.

To allow a more diverse pool of candidates that get accepted into our internship program, we plan to select at least a candidate from the Global South and another from the Global North region. We encourage applicants who identify as being from or part of these regions to apply.

How to apply

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Job announcement: Director, Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Application deadline: November 23, 2021
View the full job posting.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites applications for the position of Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) to provide visible and compelling leadership ensuring the Institute’s position as a world leader in sustainability, energy, and environmental research; educational and outreach programming; and campus sustainability development. The Director will plan strategies to address grand challenges from varying perspectives and deliver internationally competitive results for the benefit of science and society.

Job announcement: New York State P2 Institute hiring P2 engineers

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is hiring two Pollution Prevention Engineers and two Senior Pollution Prevention Engineers to provide P2 technical assistance to industry and other identified sectors. The positions are located in Rochester, NY.

For more information and to apply, visit http://careers.rit.edu/staff and search for “pollution prevention”.

Job announcement: Visiting Scientific Specialist, Institutional Water Treatment Chemistry

Closing date: May 19, 2021
Read the full job description and apply online.

ISTC is seeking to hire a Visiting Scientific Specialist, Institutional Water Treatment Chemistry to conduct water quality research for institutional water treatment clients. Conduct on-site collection, testing, analysis, and recommendations for improvement. This position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Conduct on-site collection and testing of water samples of institutional water systems such as potable, boiler, closed systems and cooling towers.
  • Complete 1 to 6 site visits per year to each assigned client requiring overnight travel two to three nights per week.
  • Perform onsite testing and analysis.
  • Interpret testing results and transmit those results with corrective recommendations to the site engineers.
  • Provide written and verbal communication, including analytical results of samples, detailing any noted deficiencies in treatment or control with recommendations for improvement, opportunities for human health and safety, reducing energy, water, and treatment chemical use.
  • Consult with institutional personnel concerning the state of their systems and answer requests for assistance in person, by phone and/or e-mail, including updating of control charts, complex problem solving, water treatment, and equipment recommendations as necessary.
  • Identify efficiency opportunities in the IWT system to streamline information flow and decrease labor and time required from IWT personnel.
  • Perform laboratory analysis on collected samples and other laboratory duties as required.
  • Collaborate with TAP team members to recommended testing and services based on systems at prospective client facilities.
  • Visit prospective client facilities in support of writing service proposals.
  • Perform other duties as needed in order to further the mission and goals of the Survey, PRI, and the University of Illinois.
  • Keep abreast of developments in this discipline.

Required Qualifications:  Bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Alternate degree fields will be considered depending on the nature and depth of the experience at it relates to this position.  Experience conducting chemical analysis. Experience with wet chemical analysis following Standard Methods procedures including preparation, titration and digestion. Maintain and calibrate laboratory and field equipment and solutions. Ability to ensure compliance with all ISTC and laboratory safety procedures. Effective communication, personal relations, collaboration, organizational, teamwork, and leadership skills. Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a diverse and fast-paced work environment consisting of multiple and changing priorities with stringent deadlines, under minimal supervision. Attention to detail, sound judgment, and strong conflict resolution skills. Proficiency in commonly employed software and databases. Must be able to meet the physical demands of transporting testing and analysis equipment weighing up to 50 pounds for distances up to 100 yards. Must also be able to meet medical requirements for wearing a respirator. Must be able to climb 3 stories of stairs. A wide range of temperatures and condition will be encountered. Boiler rooms are typically up to 110 degrees with high humidity and cooling towers are often located on roofs and exposed to the elements. Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in chemistry. Alternate degree fields will be considered depending on the nature and depth of the experience at it relates to this position. Experience conducting research on water quality. Experience building client base and working with institutions in Illinois.

ISTC hiring up to six applied scientists to assist businesses with sustainability

The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) is part of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which is centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. ISTC integrates applied research, technical assistance, and information services to advance efforts in the areas of pollution prevention; water and energy conservation; and materials recycling and beneficial reuse.

ISTC is seeking to hire up to four Visiting Senior Scientific Specialists, Technical and up to two Visiting Senior Scientific Specialists, Sustainability (depending on applicant pool and programmatic need) to collaborate with businesses, manufacturing, and industrial entities as well as municipal agencies, colleges, and universities throughout Illinois to improve sustainability, provide technical assistance in identifying opportunities and implementing sustainable solutions associated with materials, processes, water and wastewater, energy utilization, waste minimization and recycling.

Closing dates

Learn more at PRI Jobs.