Environmental Health Specialist I

Environmental Health Specialist I

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

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 I positions. This eligible list may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

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 leadership of the Agency Director, a dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) service areas – Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Public Health Services, and Specialized Medical Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

Public Health Services (PHS) is a multi-dimensional department that includes Communicable Disease Control, Public Health Lab, Environmental Health, Community & Nursing Services, Clinical Services, and Health Promotion & Community Planning. Through assessment, policy development and assurance, PHS provides a wide range of services aimed at reducing death and disability by reducing the transmission of communicable diseases, preventing and lessening the impact of chronic diseases, and ensuring healthy and safe environments.

The Environmental Health Division (EH) is comprised of multiple 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 and communities with creating and maintaining 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 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 Environmental Health Specialist I (EHS I) is the first working level class in the Environmental Health Specialist series and works independently in the field and under the technical direction of higher-level environmental health staff.

The EHS I is in possession of a valid certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) and has legal authority to initiate enforcement action when public health or safety is endangered or to issue citations which are reviewed after issuance.

Essential job duties and functions include, but are not limited to:

• Interact daily with food facility operators, pool operators, business owners, and members of the public to explain violations and regulatory expectations, and provide education on laws and prevention strategies to ensure public health and safety
• Enforce public health laws and regulations, which include conducting periodic inspections and investigations in restaurants, mobile food facilities, pools, and spas to ensure public health and safety. This involves:
• entering kitchens, mechanical rooms, pool pump rooms, and other environments that may be noisy, wet, or physically restrictive
• conducting inspections both indoors and outdoors in hot, cold, rainy, or humid weather conditions
• carrying inspection equipment up to 30 pounds
• identifying violations and determining corrective actions to ensure compliance
• communicating and documenting findings in detailed inspection reports provided to the public
• 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

• Advance skills and knowledge of public health laws and regulations, including enforcement of health codes, conducting food safety inspections and investigations, issuing permits, and all the EHS core competencies

Important – Required Documentation

Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) I 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 California Department of Public Health (CDPH) website.

Minimum Qualifications & Core Competencies

The Ideal candidate will also possess the following core competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Possess sufficient skills and knowledge, such as food safety and environmental health concepts, to perform key components of the job
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of Environmental Health principles and practices, including environmental risk assessment, public health safety, and disease prevention, to complete work accurately, thoroughly, and in a timely manner while maintaining close attention to detail
• Detailed-oriented with the ability to identify potential violations, ensure accuracy, and support thorough inspections and documentation
• Proficiency in 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
• Collect information to produce clear, concise, and detailed written documents and reports
• Tailor communication to clearly convey complex and technical information in a manner that is easily understood by diverse stakeholders, including the public, public officials, community partners, agencies, and County leadership
• Build positive relationships with restaurant staff to educate, guide, and collaboratively resolve health and safety issues

Critical Thinking/Judgement

• Effectively retain and apply training concepts and principles to perform daily job responsibilities
• Apply sound judgement and practical reasoning to make effective decisions, while recognizing the scope and limits of decision-making authority
• Identify potential issues, evaluate relevant facts, and consider alternative solutions before taking action, while assessing the impact of decisions on others
• Asks effective questions and gathers adequate information to make quality recommendations and credible decisions

Organization/Effectiveness

• Structures activities and assignments to maximize efficiency and results; commits to achieve goals
• Effectively plans and organizes a large volume of work; makes good use of time to accomplish assigned duties and projects within established timeframes
• Generates new ideas and champions initiatives to enhance effectiveness in a fast-paced and dynamic environment; collaborates with peers and supervisors to identify and implement improvements

Minimum Qualifications

Please click here to view the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Health Specialist I 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 (Download PDF reader) 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. Online Assessment|(Refer/Non-Refer)

Applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in one or more job-related assessments. Applicants will be notified of their test date and access code, if applicable. Only the most qualified applicants will move forward to the next step in the recruitment process. Based