Environmental Health Specialist III

Salary : $82,659.20 - $111,384.00 Annually
Location : Santa Ana
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 5116HP-0426-042 (O)
Department: Health Care Agency
Division/Service Area: Public Health Services
Opening Date: 04/24/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


CAREER DESCRIPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST III
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59p.m. (PST) on the day the County's needs are met. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

The eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Environmental Health Specialist III positions. This eligible list may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.
THE HEALTH CARE AGENCY

The County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the direction of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) services areas - Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Public Health Services, Specialized Medical Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION

The Environmental Health Division (EH) is comprised of various programs aimed toward protecting the health and safety of Orange County residents and visitors from harmful conditions in the environment. Staff enforce laws and regulations and emphasize education to assist businesses with providing healthy and safe communities. Services include retail and wholesale food protection, foodborne illness investigations, public pool inspections, childhood lead exposure prevention, water quality, ocean water protection, solid waste facility oversight, hazardous materials surveillance and mitigation oversight, underground and aboveground storage tank oversight, body art facility and practitioner oversight, medical waste management inspections and a used oil recycling education program.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Environmental Health Specialist III (EHS III) is the advanced level in the Environmental Health Specialist series and works independently on complex assignments and handles unusual, sensitive, and/or difficult inspections and investigations. The EHS III is the lead of a unit or team and provides technical direction, assistance, and training to other environmental health staff. Incumbents may be assigned to a specialized environmental health program and may act in the absence of the Supervising Environmental Health Specialist.
Essential job duties and functions include, but are not limited to:

• Implement skills training and professional development designed to provide environmental health staff with current information on environmental health procedures and public health laws, and to improve the quality of environmental health inspections, investigations, and services to the public
• Demonstrate advanced skills and knowledge of public health laws and regulations to effectively enforce public health laws and regulations which include conducting complex assignments and handling unusual, sensitive, and/or difficult inspections and investigations in, for example, restaurants, mobile food facilities, public pools and spas, water, and body art facilities to ensure public health and safety
• Reviews data and relevant information to prioritize and direct work assignments to appropriate team members including assessing and triaging public inquiries and complaints, organizing upcoming tasks and inspections to ensure that team is aware and appropriately assigned next phase of work
• Builds relationships and maintains rapport with food facility operators, pool operators, business owners, and members of the public that support compliance efforts and contribute to the overall mission of public health and safety
• Handle challenging and complex situations in a professional manner with facility operators to address non-compliance and enforce regulations, including delivering corrective action plans that may be met with resistance or confrontation

IMPORTANT - REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) III applicants must attach a certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Applications submitted without this certificate will not be processed.


Information on how to obtain the certificate as a REHS can be found by visiting the
CORE COMPETENCIES

The Ideal candidate will also possess the following core competencies:
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Demonstrates advanced skills and knowledge in safety and environmental health concepts to perform as a lead on specialized technical field inspections and investigations
• Proficient and knowledgeable in environmental health principles and practices, including understanding of environmental risk assessment, public health safety, and disease prevention to implement staff development and training and/or meet with concerned parties and the public to provide education on complex environmental health procedures and laws
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail to identify potential violations, ensure accuracy, and support through inspections and documentation
• Proficiency navigating modern technologies, including word processing and database systems with confidence and efficiency

Adaptability/Flexibility

• Maintain composure in high-pressure situations and approaches challenges with solution-oriented mindset, effectively managing reactions, emotions, and decision-making in a professional and productive manner
• Ability to quickly adjust to changes in work processes and team dynamics, reassess situations, and develop effective strategies when faced with challenging or evolving circumstances
• Effectively establishes goals and priorities, follows through on commitments and deadlines, and adapts to shifting priorities with focus and composure, maintain productivity without becoming overwhelmed
• Demonstrates openness to learning and adaptability by actively seeking guidance, feedback, and direction from supervisors, and applying coaching to enhance performance

Communication/Customer Service

• Engage with clients and stakeholders in a professional and courteous manner, utilizing effective business communication to support enforcement activities
• Actively listen to concerns, addresses and resolves issues, and helps prevent potential public health hazards and safety risks
• Collects information and produces clear, concise, and detailed written documents and reports
• Displays confidence with public speaking and tailors communication to clearly convey complex and/or technical information in a manner that is easily understood by a variety of stakeholders including the public, public officials, community partners/agencies, and County leadership
• Demonstrates collaborative and adaptive communication skills to effectively build positive relationships with Establishments/Operators educate, guide, and work together on correcting health and safety issues

Critical Thinking/Judgement

• Uses common sense and exercises good judgement in decision-making; understands the limits of decision-making capabilities
• Identifies potential problems and analyzes relevant facts and possible solutions/alternatives before taking action; considers the impact of decision(s) on others
• Asks effective questions and gathers adequate information to make quality recommendations and credible decisions

Leadership

• Handles the unavoidable crisis effectively; tackles difficult challenges and competently troubleshoots
• Ability to develop novel guidance and directives, based on environmental health principles, to a variety of situations
• Effectively plans and organizes appropriate priorities team situations; gives responsibility, authority and autonomy in the right amount to match team developmental readiness and delegates to stimulate staff growth and development
• Gives importance to critical work and department objectives; develops and coaches team to ensure sufficient skills and knowledge to perform key components of the job

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

Required licenses, certifications, and registration must be maintained throughout employment in this class.
A valid California Class C Driver's License, which must be maintained throughout employment in this class, is required. Employees in this class will be required to use their own personal vehicle.
A valid certificate of registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the State of California.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Please click here to view the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Health Specialist III as well as the physical, mental, environmental, and working conditions.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified candidates. After screening, qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.


Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants with the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.


Application Screening| (Refer/Non-Refer):


Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.


Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List

Once all assessments have been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.


NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.


Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at .


Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Janeth Boudreaux at View phone number on click.appcast.io or
EEO INFORMATION
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Employer

County of Orange

Address

400 W CIVIC CENTER DRIVE


Santa Ana, California, 92701

Phone

View phone number on click.appcast.io

Website
Please note that Extra Help employees are not eligible for the benefits listed.
Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
01


The information you provide will be used to rate your qualifications for the position. Incomplete information will result in a lower rating. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing these questions. Please provide concise, descriptive, and detailed information when answering the question. If you do not have experience, please write N/A.NOTE: 'See resume', 'See above', or copy and paste of your resume are not considered qualifying responses and will not be scored.By selecting yes below, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this application requirement.

• Yes
• No

02


Please note that you are required to attach a copy of a valid certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to your application to move forward in the recruitment process. Are you in possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the California Department of Public Health?

• Yes
• No

03


If you possess a valid certificate or registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) by the State of California, please provide your REHS License Number below. If you do dot have one, please write "N/A".***Please note that you must include a copy of your valid certification as an REHS with your application***
04


A valid California Class C Driver License is required to carry out essential functions.If you are selected, will you be able to present a valid California Driver's license (Class C or higher) by time of appointment?

• Yes
• No

05


This position requires driving to multiple sites each day. Candidates who are selected for the position are required to use their personal vehicles for conducting inspections and County business and will be reimbursed through the mileage claim process.Do you have a reliable means of transportation that would enable you to conduct daily inspections and county business?

• Yes, I have a personal vehicle that would enable me to conduct daily inspections and county business.
• No, I do not have a personal vehicle that would enable me to conduct daily inspections and county business.

06


Please select the option that best describes your experience performing the duties of a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) that can be directly related to the knowledge and abilities listed in the minimum qualifications.Note: A Master's Degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in a science field, such as biology, chemistry, environmental health, public health, environmental engineering, ecology, or geology, may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience.If you are qualifying with a master's degree, a clear copy of your unofficial transcripts must be attached to your application for verification to move forward in the recruitment process.

• At least two (2) years of experience as an Environmental Health Specialist II with the County of Orange.
• At least three (3) years of experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS).
• Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) and substituting one (1) year of experience with a master's degree in a related science field (must attach unofficial transcript).
• None of the above.

07


Describe in detail your experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) and in all applicable areas selected in Question #8 below. Include in your response, your scope of responsibilities, years of experience in each area, the organization you obtained this experience from, and all certifications you possess pertaining to the related experience. If you do not possess this type of experience or certification, please write "N/A".
08


Please check all applicable areas in which you have experience in:

• Body Art/Tattoo facilities
• Emergency Response
• Food facilities
• Foodborne illness investigations
• Hazardous materials and waste management
• Land & water clean-up, permitting, quality management
• Mobile foods facilities
• Plan check (drafting or construction planning review of food facilities and/or commercial/public pools)
• Public swimming pools
• Technical and field training
• Temporary food facilities/events
• Administrative/data management
• Other

09


This is a public-facing, field-based position responsible for enforcing Health & Safety Code regulations and providing verbal public health and safety education. Selected candidates are required to work in the field and interact with the public on a daily basis. Are you able to meet these requirements?

• Yes, I understand and am willing to perform all required duties
• No

Required Question