Environmental Health Specialist

Job Title Environmental Health Specialist Department Public Health Reports To Deputy Director Classification Full-Time, Non-Exempt Compensation Range $25-30/hr Benefits Employee Benefits: Employee Benefits | Lake County, CO Position Summary Lake County Public Health Agency (LCPHA), an EOE employer, seeks a full-time Environmental Health Specialist to join our Consumer Protection (retail food, tobacco, schools and childcare) inspection program. This is either an entry-level inspector position within the Lake County Environmental Health Program where training is provided, or a position for someone with previous experience and training. This employee serves as an inspector, consultant, administrator, program manager, and educator to retail food establishments, tobacco retail establishments, schools and childcares. This employee performs a variety of duties to help prevent the spread of disease, mitigate health risks, and ensure compliance with all rules and regulations in the areas of health and safety for environmental health programming in Lake County. This position will also assist with all additional environmental health programs in the department including but not limited to radon, vector surveillance, water/air quality, and environmental planning and emergency response. This position requires the ability to speak and write fluent English; a bilingual English/Spanish person is preferred. This position will report to the Deputy Director of Public Health. General Duties and Responsibilities Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential Functions Conducts retail food, temporary events with food, and retail tobacco compliance inspections in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and ordinances. Conducts retail food establishment plan reviews and pre-operational inspections as required. Conducts administrative duties related to retail food licensing and utilizes provided software to manage permits. Manages administrative duties related to the Tobacco Retail Licensing program. Works closely with CDPHE to ensure all regulations are met in Lake County. Issues retail food licenses and permit reviews for special events. Works with the schools, childcare, retail food industry, and the public to reduce environmental health related health and safety risks. Performs investigations of public complaints related to health and safety. Conducts epidemiological investigations related to school, childcare, and retail food illness outbreaks and complaints and trains in pandemic or illness related emergency preparedness. Actively serves on and participates with various committees and professional groups dealing with environmental health regulations, community safety and emergency preparedness. Travel and attend environmental health trainings, meetings, workshops and conferences which may include overnight travel as needed. Updates Environmental Health web pages and posts to Public Health social media to provide public information, reduce environmental health-related safety risks, and raise awareness of special health issues. Cross trained to work Public Health front desk and assist with administrative duties and Vital Records when necessary. Fosters teamwork and open communication among staff; participates in office meetings, team-building activities and trainings. Performs other duties, as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities Not applicable Requirements Compensation will be determined by the applicant’s full skillset with consideration of the following: Bachelor’s degree in public health, environmental health, environmental science, natural sciences, or closely related field. Equivalent experience may be substituted for education. Public contact experience in a service‑related field with the ability to remain flexible and sensitive to a clientele diverse in age, ethnicity, and maturity. Preferred CDPHE Standardized Retail Food Inspector or FDA Standardized Retail Food Inspector. Preferred NEHA REHS/RS credential or ability to obtain credential. Ability to work as part of a team. Effectively communicate and work with co‑workers, clients, other agencies, and the public. Ability to assess situations and make prudent and appropriate decisions; ability to apply conflict resolution and problem‑solving skills to minimize negative personal impact. Ability to effectively manage time and maintain organization with keen attention to detail; ability to complete quality work amidst multiple, competing priorities. Superior verbal and written communication skills and effective listening skills. Any combination of education and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. You will have six (6) months to acquire the necessary experience and certification to obtain the full-title of Environmental Health Specialist – Consumer Protection. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. Hazard Notice This position requires a majority of time be spent in the field. The Environmental Health Specialist may be exposed to hazards related to restaurant environments including but not limited to chemicals, cooking byproducts, and noise. Occasional work may be performed in an outdoor environment where conditions are variable and dependent on weather. Physical Activity & Work Environment Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Prolonged periods of standing or walking. Frequent bending, kneeling, reaching, or climbing. Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Occasionally pushing, pulling, or moving objects. Use of hands for repetitive motions such as typing, writing, or operating equipment. Operation of standard office equipment (computers, phones, copiers, etc.). Visual acuity to read and produce accurate documents and materials. Hearing ability sufficient to respond to spoken communication. Ability to climb stairs. Ability to operate motor vehicles. Standard office environment with controlled temperature and lighting. Work performed in a loud, noisy, or distracting environment. Exposure to fumes, chemicals, or hazardous materials. Interaction with the public, sometimes in high‑pressure or emotionally charged situations. Travel to offsite locations or satellite facilities. Work in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven, or high‑volume environment. May be required to work occasional outreach events on weekends or evenings. Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners. To be prepared for this role, all employees and emergency service function (ESF) leads will attend emergency management trainings and exercises as requested by the Director of Emergency Management. With advanced notification from OEM, employees will make reasonable efforts to attend training events in coordination with other employees and supervisors. Other Duties Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Equal Opportunity Employer Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request. #J-18808-Ljbffr