Environmental Health Specialist I/II

Environmental Health Specialist

The County of Siskiyou is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants of any race, religion or ancestry.

Environmental Health Specialist I $28.02 - $35.78 Environmental Health Specialist II $32.20 - $41.13

Under supervision, to assist with and learn to conduct sanitary inspections and investigations in the enforcement of federal, state, county, and local environmental health, safety, and hazardous materials laws, rules, regulations, and standards; and to do related work as required.

This is the training and first working level in the Environmental Health Specialist class series. Incumbents assist Registered Environmental Health Specialists and learn environmental health inspection and enforcement. Incumbents are expected to attain state registration within three years of initial employment. Upon notification of passing the State REHS examination the employee is eligible for flex promotion to the REHS II classification. This class is distinguished from Environmental Health Specialist II in that incumbents are working in a training and learning capacity.

Deputy Director of Environmental Health, Land Use Manager, Waste Management Unit Manager, Consumer Protection Unit Manager

This is not a supervisory class.

Under general direction, to conduct sanitary inspections and investigations in the enforcement of federal, state, county, and local environmental health, safety, and hazardous materials laws, rules, regulations, and standards; and to do related work as required.

This is an entry level position in the Environmental Health Specialist class series. Incumbents in this class are Registered Environmental Health Specialists and conduct investigations in a broad range of Environmental Health areas on an independent basis. This class is distinguished from Environmental Health Specialist I by requiring that incumbents be registered and the assignment of a broader range of duties. Incumbents in this class are expected to serve in a stand-by capacity for dealing with hazardous materials emergencies.

Deputy Director of Environmental Health, Land Use Manager, Waste Management Unit Manager, Consumer Protection Unit Manager

This is not a supervisory class.

Assists with inspections to secure compliance with federal, state and local sanitation laws and regulations governing food handling establishments, sewage disposal systems, substandard housing, land use, swimming pools, recreational health facilities, water supply systems, solid waste management, public nuisances, toxic/hazardous waste materials, zoning, underground storage tanks, and other areas; recommends changes and provides instruction for deficiency and violation corrections; advises food handlers and restaurant operators on correct sanitation methods; assists with special investigations of public complaints; assists with community sanitation surveys and conferences with local officials; assists with investigations of insect nuisances or infestations; works with solid waste issues and problems, including illegal garbage dumping; assists with a variety of health and safety compliance inspections; inspects facilities to minimize future health threats; takes water, sewage, soil, and waste samples, interpreting data; interprets environmental health laws and regulations for the public; reviews plans for new subdivision, ensuring adequate water and sewage facilities; reviews and recommends changes in building plans for environmental health compliance; assists with on-site evaluations of sewage disposal systems; assists with studies and evaluates information regarding hazardous materials storage, treatment, disposal, reduction, and reuse; completes reports of findings; assists with initiation of legal actions and scheduling administrative hearings for compliance issues; assists with the development of division rules and ordinances; makes abatement recommendations to resolve environmental health problems; learns to issue permits for wells, food handing establishments, septic systems, and hazardous and medical waste facilities; assists with development of technical reports; prepares correspondence on a variety of issues.

Desired Skills:

• Assist with and learn to perform a variety of environmental health and hazardous waste investigations, inspections, and enforcement.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data, reaching valid conclusions.
• Read and interpret and apply policies, regulations, and procedures regarding environmental health inspections and compliance.
• Prepare a variety of technical reports.
• Perform research and analytical work.
• Operate a variety of office and technical equipment and computers in the performance of environmental health inspections and investigations.
• Effectively represent the Environmental Health Division of the Public Health Department in contacts with the public, other county staff, and other law enforcement agencies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Knowledge of:

• Chemical, biological, physical, and environmental sciences.
• Basic principles and practices of environmental health and hazardous waste inspection, review, compliance, and consultation.
• Sampling techniques and standards.
• Computers and software used in environmental inspections and investigations.

Conducts inspections to secure compliance with federal, state and local sanitation laws and regulations governing food handling establishments, sewage disposal systems, substandard housing, land use, swimming pools, recreational health facilities, water supply systems, solid waste management, public nuisances, toxic/hazardous waste materials, zoning, underground storage tanks, and other areas; recommends changes and provides instruction for deficiency and violation corrections; advises food handlers and restaurant operators on correct sanitation methods; conducts special investigations in response to public complaints; conducts sanitation surveys and confers with local officials on sanitation problems; conducts investigations of insect nuisances or infestations; works with solid waste issues and problems, including illegal garbage dumping; makes inspections of public and private recreational facilities and swimming pools; makes housing inspections to determine health and safety compliance with appropriate laws and standards; inspects facilities to minimize future health threats; takes water, sewage, soil, and waste samples, interpreting data; interprets environmental health laws and regulations for the public; reviews plans for new subdivisions, conducting on-site inspections to ensure suitable water and sewage facilities; reviews and recommends changes in building plans to comply with Environmental Health regulations and standards; conducts on-site evaluations of sewage disposal systems; conducts studies and evaluates information regarding underground storage tanks and other hazardous materials storage, treatment, disposal, reduction, and reuse; completes reports of findings; initiates non-compliance legal actions, filing criminal complaints in court, or scheduling an administrative hearing, as appropriate; assists with the development of division rules and ordinances; develops abatement recommendations for environmental health problems; issues permits for wells, food handing establishments, septic systems, and hazardous and medical waste facilities; develops and writes technical reports; prepares correspondence regarding a variety of issues; testifies in court as an expert witness.

Knowledge of:

• Policies and procedures of the Environmental Health Division and the Public Health Department.
• Laws, rules, regulations, requirements and procedures governing environmental health inspection and enforcement.
• Chemical, biological, physical, and environmental sciences.
• Principles and practices of environmental health, including inspection, review, compliance, and consultation methods and practices.
• Functions and operations of state and federal environmental health agencies.
• Sampling techniques and standards.
• Computers and software used in environmental inspections and investigations.

Desired skills:

• Perform a variety of environmental health and hazardous waste investigations, inspections, and enforcement.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data, reaching valid conclusions.
• Read and interpret and apply policies, regulations, and procedures regarding environmental health inspections and compliance.
• Prepare a variety of technical reports.
• Perform research and analytical work.
• Operate a variety of office and technical equipment and computers in the performance of environmental health inspections and investigations.
• Provide instruction, guidance, and consultation on environmental problems.
• Effectively represent the Environmental Health Division of the Public Health Department in contacts with the public, other county staff, and other government agencies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Training and experience that would provide the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the listed duties is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Education equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university with a major in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science or closely related field. The Environmental Health Department is comprised of three divisions, consumer protection, landuse, and hazardous materials. The consumer protection and landuse divisions require possession of a valid environmental health specialist trainee letter from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Applicants that seek to work within the hazardous materials division do not require possession of a trainee letter from CDPH, however experience with hazardous materials/waste is preferred.

Ability to obtain valid Environmental Health registration issued by the State Department of Health Services within three years of initial employment with the County. Possession of a valid and appropriate driver's license.

Experience performing a variety of environmental investigations and inspection is preferred. Education equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university with a major in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or a closely related field. The Environmental Health Department is comprised of three divisions, consumer protection, land use, and hazardous materials. The consumer protection and land use divisions require possession of a valid Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) card issued by The California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Applicants that seek to work within