Job Description

We are looking for a full-time engineer to design and oversee the implementation of small, innovative farm-based wetlands treating subsurface drainage runoff under the Wetlands Initiative’s Smart Wetlands program. This is a full-time position with benefits that will provide conceptual design, feasibility studies, basic and detail engineering, permitting, and construction oversight support for our senior environmental engineer/project manager. This will be an excellent position for someone early in their career path in civil, agricultural and biosystems, environmental, or water resource engineering. The work will be conducted mostly during normal office hours with occasional evening / weekend hours.

This position has two work options: being based primarily in TWI’s downtown-Chicago office (with some work-from-home flexibility) which means traveling to sites throughout Illinois for occasional field work; OR being based primarily in north-central Illinois with the requirement of coming to the Chicago office 5-7 days a month to work in person with the Senior Environmental Engineer and other team members.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct off-site and on-the-ground project site inventory and evaluation (feasibility) assessments.
• Collect GPS data points and develop site specific topographic maps.
• Analyze surface and subsurface storm water runoff for wetland design.
• Perform the necessary hydrological and hydraulic technical calculations in designing a treatment wetland.
• Create conceptual treatment wetland designs that meet the best practice standards for treatment wetlands.
• Draft, develop, and modify engineering design sets with plans and specifications.
• Assist in the development of project cost estimates.
• Perform various field work tasks including staking (using GPS survey equipment), quality assurance/quality control, oversight, etc. during construction.
• Assist in writing supporting design documentation, including feasibility assessments, reports, and technical analyses.
• Assist in the writing of permit applications.
• Work with TWI’s full-time staff GIS Analyst to analyze data and create maps and visuals for design documentation.
• Collaborate with TWI’s full-time Field Outreach Specialist and part-time Wetland Field Technician on field work and site assessments.
• Other duties as assigned by the Senior Environmental Engineer.

Key Qualifications

• S. or M.S. in Civil Engineering, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, or Environmental Engineering
• Or has an Engineer-in-Training certification or has passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination (Civil, Agricultural and Biological Engineers or Environmental Engineering) administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
• Proficient with ArcGIS and AutoCAD to create drawings and design plans (e.g., grading, drainage.
• Experience with HydroCAD and/or HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS software.
• 1-2 years of experience collecting data, completing hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, writing reports, and preparing design drawings.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be team oriented as team input is valued and encouraged.
• Must be a reliable, productive team member that produces quality work that conforms to organization standards.
• Must have organizational/time management skills for working on multiple projects and completing them on schedule.
• Must be able to carry out field-evaluations while walking over varying terrain.
• Required to have a valid driver’s license.

Additional experience that is helpful but not required:

• Experience with RTK GPS data collection
• Completed coursework or training in stormwater or agricultural drainage design
• General understanding of treatment wetland design
• Basic knowledge of wetland function and ecology
• Familiarity with Illinois NRCS Conservation Practice Standards

This is a full-time position with benefits; starting annual salary is in the $60,000-$70,000 range depending on experience.

How to Apply

The Wetlands Initiative is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or marital status. Increasing diversity of all kinds at the staff and board levels is an organizational priority.

Applicants should submit a letter of inquiry and resume (NO PHONE CALLS) to:

[email protected]

OR

Engineer

The Wetlands Initiative

53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1015

Chicago, IL 60604

Job Categories: Environmental. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: See posting for details.

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