Public Health Sanitarian

Purpose of Position Under the supervision of the Environmental Health Supervisor, provides professional public health services and coordination of the day to day operations of the programs within the Environmental Health Program, which includes the Food Safety and Recreational Licensing Program Agent Contract and Body Art Contract under the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Implementation and maintaining the contract with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) programs in the Radiation Protection Unit and Lead Poisoning Prevention Unit, and Radon Information Center (RIC). Identifying and solving community environmental health problems; implementing and using policies, ordinances, and standards; enforcing ordinances and codes; public health nuisance investigation and environmental hazard investigation. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Analytical/Assessment Skills 1. Maintains knowledge of public health provisions in Wisconsin statutes and administrative codes, as well as local ordinances; implements and interprets state and local public health policies. 2. Collaborates in community health assessment and health improvement planning and intervention activities as needed. Collects samples, conducts field tests, collects and analyzes environmental public health data; interprets results and makes recommendations for corrective action(s). Policy Development/Program Planning Skills 3. Assists with review of policies and procedures for the department. 4. Coordinates environmental public health activities with professionals and investigators from other agencies and jurisdictions, which enforce laws and regulations to protect the public’s health. 5. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written with the general public, licensed operators, service technicians, and others verbally and in writing. 6. Ability to work in a team environment and review the work of others. 7. Ability to prepare, maintain clear and accurate records, documentation and reports as may be necessary to meet all requirements of identified programs. Cultural Competency Skills 8. Delivers targeted, culturally-appropriate information to help individuals and groups understand local environmental public health policies, regulations and code, utilizing appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with persons of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles and physical abilities. Community Dimensions of Practice Skills 9. Educates the public on environmental health issues and the public health rationale for environmental health regulations. 10. Provides environmental health information, interpretation, technical assistance and regulatory compliance advice to individuals, industry organizations, the general public and other agencies regarding local public health and environmental codes, regulations, policies, and identified environmental health problems. 11. Must have knowledge of current principles and techniques governing environmental and sanitary conditions. 12. Performs inspections and/or provides consultation on a variety of environmental health issues including asbestos, radon, mold, lead, and pest control. 13. Performs operations of the water lab. 14. Conducts routine inspections of various retail food establishment and lodging facilities, pools/spas/water attractions, campgrounds, recreational educational camps, and tattoo and body piercing facilities to ensure compliance of existing state and local public health and environmental codes, regulations and policies. 15. Investigates outbreaks of foodborne and water-related communicable diseases. 16. Responds to public complaints and inquiries on environmental or public health matters. 17. Collects water samples for laboratory analysis for the DNR as part of the Transient Non-Community well water program. 18. Investigates complaints regarding public health and environmental health hazards and initiates enforcement or corrective actions as required. 19. Collaborates in the development and delivery of programs and activities that promote health and prevent disease, in settings including, but not limited to the Health Department, homes, community organizations and businesses, schools, and the community in general. 20. Attends meetings, conferences and trainings to keep abreast of recent research, concepts, equipment, educational techniques, code changes, and to meet federal, State and local requirements or recommendations. 21. Maintains a general knowledge of the National Incident Management System (ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800) and higher-level courses as assigned by Public Health Officer or Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. Financial Planning and Management Skills 22. Ability to track hours worked and report. 23. Works under the general direction of the Environmental Health Supervisor. 24. Ability to work with minimal supervision and exercise considerable judgment and discretion in performance of duties pursuant to established policies and procedure. 25. Responsible for using quality improvement (QI) and performance management (PM) processes and/or techniques to improve the effectiveness of the respective public health program. This includes, but is not limited to: creating, implementing, and evaluating performance standards and identifying, implementing, and assessing program quality improvement processes. Direct Service Skills 26. Work during normal business hours, off-hours, on weekends and holiday, as needed. 27. Available to be on-call for the Environmental Health program after hours. 28. Is available as a first responder, seven days a week, 24/7 coverage for public health and/or emergency government public health outbreak, or disaster. 29. Performs public health emergency response duties as assigned and consistent with training provided, in response to threats to the public’s health consistent with job classification. 30. Participates in Department and community emergency response training and drills in support of public health emergency and disaster preparedness consistent with job classification. 31. Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to responding to public health emergencies, based on community needs. Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions Education, Certifications and Experience: * A Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in environmental health, biology, microbiology or related field is required. * Wisconsin Registered Sanitarian or National Environmental Health Association Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian preferred. * Experience consisting of at least one year as a sanitarian or in a public health agency; or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities. * Education and work experience that allows for the Registered Sanitarian examination as stated in SPS 175.02 and successful exam completion within 1 year of employment. * Requires Wisconsin driver's license. Preferred License/Certifications:

• Certified Pool Operator (CPO)
• Certified Radon Mitigator and Measurement Professional
• Certified Lead Inspector/Assessor/Investigator
• Pass and maintain State Certification of Standardization in the Wisconsin

Food Code; which includes exercises in risk-based inspections based on the application of HACCP principles. Special Requirements: If not a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian, (REHS/RS) must obtain the credentials within 2 years of employment or termination may occur.