(Internal) Environmental Health Specialist III

Environmental Health Specialist III

NOTE: This is an internal promotional opportunity for current Skagit County employees. Position is contingent upon grant funding and may be eliminated if grant funding is eliminated in the future.

This job description is applicable to all EHS III. Specific tasks according to area of assignment follow the common narrative.

An experienced Environmental Health Specialist who performs a wide range of activities in the Environmental Health Division will provide technical support and monitor all duties of environmental health programs area of assignment to ensure compliance with federal, State, and local standards and regulations regarding sanitation and disease control. Performs and monitors all environmental health related activities, in the Environmental Health Division including, solid and hazardous waste, food safety, and onsite waste programs. The incumbent is expected to participate in program planning, development of policies, procedures and regulations, program implementation and evaluation as well as providing technical support to field staff and performing field work as assigned. Required to apply knowledge of communicable diseases and their means of transmission and control to work situations that are varied and complex.

Salary upon hire is in accordance with Skagit County promotion policy. Progressive increases are based on years of service with Skagit County, up to 8 total steps (top step $54.06/hr. ). The Environmental Health Specialist III is range 18 of the PROTEC Health salary schedule.

Essential Functions

Under general supervision of the Environmental Health Manager, performs the following functions within the framework and provision of the core functions and essential services of public health.

Maintains a professional relationship with public agencies and private individuals engaged in business with the Public Health Department. Works collaboratively with Planning and Development Services, Public Works, and other County departments that interface with environmental health related program areas.

Collaborates in the development of and contributes to individual, team and departmental quality improvement, performance management and evaluation activities.

Demonstrates knowledge of applicable professional guidelines for licensed environmental health practitioners applicable to practice as an environmental health professional.

Coordinates all aspects of assigned program areas, including permitting, inspections, operations and maintenance, enforcement, and program development.

Performs extensive review, evaluation, and oversight of all environmental health related program areas including meeting with managers, vendors, and facility owners/operators.

Organizes, reviews, and provides feedback on staff assignments and leads special projects. Reviews staff work for accuracy, appropriateness, and timeliness. Provides feedback to staff regarding their fieldwork observations and assessments.

Investigates complaints regarding environmental health problems and hazards and initiates enforcement or corrective actions as required.

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.

Provides instruction and training for staff about uniformity and standardization of inspection tools and new technology.

Provides technical support to staff including troubleshooting problems and issues.

Ensures staff perform duties within the core functions of environmental health practice, ensuring that activities are within scope and role of public health as defined by RCW and WAC.

Interprets and applies policies and guidelines as they relate to areas of assignment. Ensures staff are updated on current regulations, practices, and policies.

Organizes, reviews, and provides feedback to staff assignments and leads special projects.

Meets with and educates the public and responds to inquiries and complaints.

Conducts and interprets appropriate surveillance, inspections, and investigations. Issues and renews permits as related to area of assignment.

Provides oversight on quality improvement projects including standardization of inspections and inspection reports.

Provides health education and technical assistance to individuals and/or groups regarding compliance with current local public health and environmental codes, regulations, and policies. Delivers targeted, culturally appropriate information to help individuals and groups understand local policies, regulations, and code.

Monitors and implements the grant requirements relevant to the area of assignment.

Performs technical report writing, record keeping, and project analysis.

Represents Skagit County at public meetings concerning environmental public health. Attends meetings with local, state, and federal public health agencies to network, share information and to keep apprised of current trends in environmental health.

Maintains active field workload or other program responsibilities, but at a reduced level.

As a Food Safety and Living Environment Lead: Organizes and conducts advanced level training and educational classes for food services managers, owners, and operators. Organizes general public information and food worker educational programs relative to food safety. Leads food establishment permitting and inspection activities, including coordinating the complex staff scheduling requiring assigning weekend, evenings and holiday coverage.

Leads and coordinates outbreak investigations among EH specialists and Communicable Disease staff.

Provides oversight for Recreational Shellfish Monitoring and BEACH programs.

Leads living environment permitting and inspection activities for water recreation facilities and camps.

Coordinates response to landlord/tenant and other housing complaints in coordination with other department staff as appropriate.

As Solid and Hazardous Waste program lead: Leads solid waste and permitting activities, including operational plan review and technical assistance to new solid waste facilities.

Assists and guides staff in Investigation of solid waste handling and promiscuous dumping and disposal complaints, including those involving dangerous and hazardous waste situations Assists and guides in Investigation of rodent and other vector complaints associated with solid waste Provides oversight to staff in Pollution Prevention Assistance and Secure Medicine Return programs.

As On-Site Septic System and Drinking Water Lead: Reviews and approves license requirements for Operations and Maintenance Specialists and Septic System Installers.

Reviews and approves septic permits as relevant to applicable state and local codes and regulations.

Monitors septic system inspection compliance and provides oversight of education and outreach to property owners on health and maintenance of septic system.

Serves as liaison with State Department of Health for Drinking Water compliance.

Directs on-site staff in cooperation with objectives of Clean Samish Initiative and other similar special projects.

SUPERVISORY: Leader/Project Leader – A leader role requires the employee to assist in planning and organizing work, assign and check work of, and/or assist and instruct others. Directly oversees the work and operations of assigned staff.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS: May require some weekend and evening work and adjustments to normal working hours as required to conduct inspections.

May be tasked with performing related duties. Related duties as required are duties that may not be specifically listed in the position description but are within the general occupational series and responsibility level typically associated with the employee's classification of work.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical path to obtaining the required qualifications would be:

• Bachelor's degree in bacteriology, environmental health, public health or a related field, and
• Four years of professional environmental health work experience.

Requires knowledge of:

• Field of assignment and physical ability sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full scope of responsibility.
• Federal, state, and local health laws, policies, programs, and relationships as they impact environmental health.
• Environmental Health programs, policies, and procedures.
• Potential diseases, means of transmission and controls associated with food borne, solid and hazardous waste, vector borne, water borne infections.
• Solid waste and chemical hazards and awareness of other agencies dealing with the handling and control of dangerous and toxic wastes
• Quality assurance and improvement practices.
• Environmental Health programs, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.

Requires the ability to:

• Apply disease intervention techniques such as interviewing, investigation, screening, and surveillance.
• Evaluate plans and operating criteria for program areas.
• Gain confidence of persons and groups requiring services and ask questions to elicit required information.
• Collect and analyze data.
• Deal with the public in a courteous manner in situations which can be confrontational.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Plan and monitor work assignments related to a specific program or group of programs.
• Prioritize work schedules and assignments in an effective manner.
• Oversee coordinate and evaluate the work of staff.
• Keep up to date with advanced technology and keep staff members up to date on this information.
• Navigate geographical locations, including, but not limited to, the ability to read maps accurately and to use locator information appropriately for investigations.
• Read and understand architectural plans for food service mobile home parks, camps, and similar establishments.
• Establish and maintain