Environmental Health Specialist 4

***THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE***

Job Summary

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) Food Safety Program is seeking to fill one vacant Environmental Health Specialist 4 position in Sparks. This position is under the direct supervision of the Health Program Manager 3. The Supervisor of Environmental Health Specialists (Food Safety Program) oversees the daily operations of the food protection program and supervises Environmental Health Specialists responsible for regulatory inspections investigations and enforcement activities related to food establishments. This position provides leadership technical guidance quality assurance and program oversight to ensure compliance with applicable federal state and local food safety laws and regulations. The supervisor works collaboratively with public health partners industry stakeholders and internal leadership to protect public health and prevent foodborne illness.

Environmental Health Specialists are responsible for conducting drug licensing investigations; label review sampling and inspection of drug and cosmetic manufacturing plants; inspection of dairies and milk processing plants; certification of septic systems; inspection of food warehouses traditional food and drink establishments health facilities public institutions and other related facilities to ensure compliance with State laws and regulations.

Essential Qualifications

Licensure as an Environmental Health Specialist and five years of experience performing professional environmental health duties for a regulatory environmental health agency; OR two years of experience as an Environmental Health Specialist 3 in Nevada State service.

Additional Position Requirements:
Have a current drivers license.
Travel more than 50% of the time for statewide inspections and occasional national travel.
Participate in a fingerprinting/background check as part of this hiring process.
REHS Certification
Transcripts
Availability to work nights/weekends/holidays

Job Duties

Investigate waterborne and foodborne illnesses epidemics vector control problems public nuisances or other public health problems for public protection by conducting food water and other material sampling (chemical bacterial radio nuclide parasite and turbidity samples); analyze data; perform follow up interviews with patients and others; survey sites in the field and record and analyze observations and data to identify and solve problems and to protect the public health.

Conduct a variety of inspections and evaluations to protect the public health including restaurants bars delicatessens markets bakeries food processors hotels motels recreational vehicle parks dairies milk plants milk haulers septic systems private wells pools spas food warehouses hospitals health care facilities schools septic tank pumper trucks child care centers bottled water plants labor camps jails State institutions and temporary food events such as fairs; record observations; analyze data received and/or recorded including temperature reporting charts in dairies and milk processing plants turbidity measurements and pool/spa records; inform operators or owners of deficiencies and violations and initiate corrective actions or enforcement procedures to ensure compliance with health codes.

Conduct inspections and investigations of landfills and public sewage systems in accordance with the requirements of the Division of Environmental Protection.

Certify real property for well water quality and septic system certification for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Veterans Administration (VA) and other mortgages by on-site evaluations water sampling and septic tank inspections.

Represent the Food and Drug Commissioner when inspecting drug and cosmetic plants; conduct periodic inspections; summarize observations and data analyzed in a report and make written recommendations; issue directives in the field if conditions are hazardous to health to include closures or impounding of drugs pending further legal action.

Apply sound practices and principles and related field experience to the review of engineering and other plans for establishments and businesses regulated by the section for conformance with the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC); review plans for housing subdivisions food establishments spas pools warehouses health facilities institutions hotels motels and septic systems including an evaluation of new products to ensure conformance with health regulations; review equipment specifications and technical data and perform on-site inspections as needed.

Enforce applicable NAC and Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) for public health protection; document on-site observations; compile data and write reports; follow up on inspections to ensure compliance; appear in court as an expert witness as required.

Compile data and write technical reports and recommendations using data which has been gathered through field observations evidence and lab analysis; prepare data to ensure integrity for future legal actions; prepare press releases official notices and letters of advice.

Represent the Food and Drug Commissioner in emergencies involving food (truck wrecks restaurant fires) by accepting call-back response; visit the site and evaluate the immediate public health danger; issue directives to protect persons at the site; inspect the food drug and cosmetic products and quarantine or condemn as required.

Evaluate current health codes and needs; draft proposals for changes in regulations and statutes for public health protection.

Represent the divisions position at official meetings between agencies and individuals; organize and participate in training to present information and discuss programs regulations and trends; provide information and technical assistance to the general public and regulated community.

Organize evidence and documentation for presentation to the State Board of Health State Health Officer Division Administrator and at administrative hearings .

Coordinate work with federal State and local agencies (FDA EPA county health departments) regarding public health matters; consult with other professionals such as engineers land surveyors architects nurses and physicians on health concerns.

Incumbents act as a full supervisor to lower-level Environmental Health Specialists Rating and Survey Officers Staff Engineers and Administrative Assistants by assigning and reviewing work providing training and technical advice preparing work performance standards evaluating performance and initiating disciplinary action. Incumbents also perform the full range of duties described above. Incumbents report to a Bureau Chief and work is reviewed through completed reports and consultations.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

This class specification lists the major knowledge skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge skills and abilities from a previous level.

Working knowledge of: basic principles and practices of supervision; U.S. Food and Drug and/or U.S. EPA survey methods techniques and requirements; federal and State regulations governing milk drug and cosmetic programs.

Ability to: assign and evaluate the work of professional staff; interpret public health laws and write relevant policies.

Recruiter information: Alan Carino -

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse inclusive and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race color national origin religion or belief age disability sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression pregnancy domestic partnership genetic information (GINA) or compensation and/or wages.

Please send direct Inquiries or correspondence to the recruiter listed on this announcement.

Required Experience:

IC