Assistant Environmental Health Specialist/Environmental Health Specialist I

OCERS; California (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking dedicated individuals for the Assistant Environmental Health Specialist and Environmental Health Specialist I roles. These positions offer an exciting opportunity to engage in vital public health work, ensuring safety and compliance in food establishments and environmental health regulations. You will be trained to conduct inspections, analyze environmental risks, and provide education on health standards. Join a dynamic team committed to enhancing community health and safety, while enjoying a supportive work environment that fosters professional growth and development. Your contributions will make a significant impact on the well-being of the community.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of environmental health principles and practices.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills for public engagement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct food safety inspections and environmental health investigations.
• Prepare detailed reports and communicate findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Environmental health principles

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Food safety training concepts

Education

Letter of Eligibility from California Department of Public Health

Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Data tracking systems

Job description

Assistant Environmental Health Specialist / Environmental Health Specialist I

In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive a salary range increase on the following date:

Effective June 27, 2025 – 4.00% increase

SALARY INFORMATION
Assistant Environmental Health Specialist $28.35 - $38.21 Hourly
Environmental Health Specialist I $33.36 - $44.97 Hourly

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 Assistant Environmental Health Specialist/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.

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 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 (PHS) and Specialized Medical Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

THE DIVISION

Through assessment, policy development and assurance, Public Health Services 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 PROGRAM

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. EH services include retail and wholesale food protection, foodborne illness investigations, public pool inspections, childhood lead exposure prevention, water quality monitoring, 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 and outreach.

Click below to learn more about Environmental Health Services:

THE OPPORTUNITY

Assistant Environmental Health Specialist (AEHS)
The AEHS is the trainee level in the Environmental Health Specialist series. The AEHS will learn to perform food safety inspections and investigations in the enforcement of environmental health laws and regulations. Incumbents may be assigned to this class for up to 36 months while completing the training requirement.

Satisfactory performance at this trainee level involves completion of a comprehensive training academy and assessment of a broad set of skills and qualifications including:

• Strong knowledge of environmental health principles and practices including understanding of environmental risk assessment, public health, and disease prevention
• Excellent communication skills and strong leadership presence to convey complex environmental health information to a variety of audiences, including the general public, public officials, and other stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for gathering data for making evidence-based decisions and devising and implementing effective solutions to environmental health problems
• Ability to use a variety of methods and technical tools for conducting field inspections and evaluations, analysis of sampling to identify potential health hazards, and report writing and documentation

To be considered for the AEHS position applicants must provide a copy of the required Letter of Eligibility issued by the California Department of Public Health.

Environmental Health Specialist I (EHS I)

The EHS I is the first working level class in the Environmental Health Specialist series. The EHS I plays a vital role in educating the public and regulating health and safety laws. The EHS I is required to possess a valid registration from the California Department of Public Health as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) to perform a broad range of inspections and investigations in the enforcement of environmental health laws and regulations. The EHS I will liaise closely with government agencies, businesses, and the public on environmental health issues. Their work involves conveying complex environmental health information, rules, and regulations to a variety of audiences and the preparation of detailed reports and presentations to communicate their findings and recommendations to policymakers, stakeholders, and to the general public.

Their primary duties and responsibilities include but is not limited to:

• Inspect food establishments, food service providers, mobile food trucks, public swimming pools and spas and other establishments for regulatory compliance with health and safety standards
• Conduct educational programs and workshops on environmental health risks and prevention strategies
• Investigate and address health and safety concerns related to environmental health in various settings including residential rentals, workplaces, and other public spaces
• Collect and analyze samples of air, soil, water, and other substances to identify potential environmental health risks
• Prepare written reports detailing inspection findings and recommend actions for remediation of violations
• Work with other health and environmental professionals to create and implement policies aimed at improving public health
• Participate in disaster preparedness activities, and respond to environmental emergencies, such as chemical spills

All applications submitted to Human Resource Services for the EHS I position will not be processed without a valid REHS registration issued by the California Department of Public Health. Information on the REHS Program can be found by visiting the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) website.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will possess the following core competencies:

Technical Knowledge

• Understanding of food safety training concepts
• Understanding of applied sciences, such as health sciences, microbiology, chemistry, and physics
• Collaborating with supervision and co-workers to explore new opportunities, and implement new techniques, and approaches, such as active learning and listening, using education to modify behaviors, and improve overall safety
• Analyzing data and facts
• Utilizing and implementing Microsoft Office and data tracking systems

Oral|Written Communication Skills

• Excellent communication skills to explain complex technical information to individuals and groups clearly both verbally and in writing
• Providing verbal feedback to others and clearly articulating public health issues to operators
• Gathering and reporting data consistently from inspections, writing reports and entering into the database

Collaboration|Organizational Skills

• Managing numerous projects simultaneously and working collaboratively with a committee or team
• Collaborating to independently solve problems or issues with industry or other regulatory entities
• Collaborating with Division staff and external partners, including local, state, and federal agencies

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Clickhere to view the minimum qualifications for an Assistant Environmental Health Specialist as well as the physical, mental, environmental, and working conditions.

Clickhere to view the minimum qualifications as an 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 the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please clickhere 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 as 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 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.

Email Notification
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 www.governmentjobs.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Clickhere for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Janeth Boudreaux at 714 834-2217 or [e-mail].
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.