Environmental Health Specialist I

The Position

The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions throughout the County, should they occur. Pursuant to current bargaining unit agreements, employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or in Covelo are eligible to receive a 5% assignment premium. The current vacancy is in Ukiah.

Under general supervision performs a variety of basic technical functions to assure compliance with local, state and federal public health and environmental laws and regulations, including: advising the public regarding related matters; investigating complaints; preparing various reports; inspecting facilities; reviewing plans and applications; and issuing permits.

Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged to apply. Se buscan personas bilingües en inglés y español. Para recibir una solicitud en español, llame a Recursos Humanos al 234-6600.

Job Requirements and Minimum Qualifications

All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.

• Meets with and/or advises the public, contractors, business representatives, etc., concerning public health and environmental issues, including: explaining applicable laws, regulations and fees; responding via letter, telephone and personal inquiry; assisting in completing business plans.
• Investigates routine complaints, including: collecting evidence, taking samples of food, soil and water for laboratory analysis; reviewing analytical lab reports to determine if further investigation is needed; preparing reports; making referrals; and forwarding information to law enforcement or legal officials.
• Prepares complex, routine and non-routine reports as requested utilizing a variety of software; receives, sorts, and summarizes material for the preparation of reports; prepares work reports; and relays and interprets administrative decisions, policies and instructions.
• Reviews and approves annual underground storage tank operations certificate submissions and other public health and environmental documents, certificates, reports, etc.
• Investigates complaints of illegal handling, storage, disposal or release of hazardous materials.
• Monitors safety procedures and practices at underground storage tank removal and closures.
• Inspects businesses storing or handling hazardous materials and businesses generating or treating hazardous waste.
• Reviews applications, issues permits and conducts field inspections related to handling and treatment of hazardous materials; underground storage tanks, well construction, destruction and repair; and other projects under the division’s jurisdiction.
• Reviews applications and building plans and conducts construction inspections of new or remodeled food facilities and public pools and spas.
• Inspects public food facilities, small public water systems and public pools and spas for compliance with state health laws and regulations; issues written reports identifying violations and compliance requirements.
• Reviews quarterly monitoring reports of small public water systems for compliance with state regulations.
• Reviews and approves plans for new small public water systems, septic systems, new and remodeled food facilities, and new and remodeled public pools and spas for compliance with state regulations.
• Conducts inspections of housing units to locate vermin, vectors, refuse, poor water quality and other health and safety concerns; follows up to assure compliance and/or refer cases to law enforcement agencies or legal entities.
• Approves, processes and comments on various coastal permits, making sure coastal projects meet County requirements for water and septic services.
• Reviews applications and recommends conditions that must be met; reviews reports that satisfy conditions and notifies senior staff.
• Reviews building permits and applications and collects information pertaining to application from other agencies.
• Reviews applications and issues permits and conducts inspections of water wells.
• With the assistance of senior staff, develops designs for on-site sewage disposal systems in repair situations; reviews mathematical calculations and performs field checks of soil reports and on-site sewage system designs for compliance with state and local laws and regulations; issues permits for construction; inspects construction for compliance with approved design.
• Collects shellfish samples and sends to state lab for detection of paralytic toxins.
• Inspects organized camps and special events to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Reviews hazardous materials business plans for completeness and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Conducts routine inspections of solid waste facilities.
• Inspects and issues permits for septic tank cleaning and refuse disposal trucks.
• Drafts guidelines and procedures for underground storage tank permit compliance per state and federal laws.
• Reviews and implements new laws and regulations.
• Maintains and calibrates equipment and meters, including: scheduling maintenance; and taking inventory of supplies and equipment.
• Updates and maintains computer database information and related documents, records and files.
• Maintains and upgrades knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars, meetings and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
• Reports administrative and/or operational problems to supervisor.
• Disseminates a variety of information and/or reports to various agencies, divisions, or departments via telephone, mail, email or fax.
• May serve as backup for other positions within the department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree, including 30 semester units of basic sciences, or equivalent from a four-year college in Biology, Environmental Health, or related; and notification from the California Department of Health Services that candidate has met minimum standards as an environmental health specialist trainee; or, when possessing notification from CA DHS of trainee eligibility, a combination of higher education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Licenses and Certifications: Valid driver's license

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of :

• Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, codes, laws, rules and regulations and legislative issues.
• Basic principles of physical, biological and social science as related to public health and environmental quality control.
• Methods and techniques of inspecting and making investigations of hazardous material handlers, facilities and criminal violations.
• Microbiology, chemistry, mathematics, statistical analysis, hydraulics, hydrology, science soil morphology and physics.
• Vector control measures.
• Proper food handling procedures.
• Proper design and operation of pumps, piping, valves, filter and other equipment associated with pools and spas.
• Nature, generation, use, treatment, storage, disposal, release and clean up of hazardous materials and waste.
• Design and operation of fuel delivery stations.
• Basic hydraulics.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Internal departmental policies and procedures.
• External governmental bodies and agencies related to area of assignment.
• All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.
• Standard business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.
• Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.
• General office procedures, policies and practices, as well as knowledge of computer and other general office equipment.

Skill in:

• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Using a computer to accurately and rapidly enter and retrieve data and information.
• Communicating orally with internal staff, citizens, and other departmental staff in order to give and receive information in a courteous manner.
• Operating and routine maintenance of general office machines such as copiers, facsimile machines, telephone systems, and two-way radio base stations.

• Compile and evaluate data and make recommendations.
• Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, etc.
• Interpret lab results and prepare clear reports.
• Understand and carry out written and oral instructions, giving close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
• Deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.

• Perform the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit.
• While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to