Environmental Health Specialist

Adams County; Commerce City (CO); On-site; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Adams County Health Department in Colorado is seeking Environmental Health Specialists I–IV. Roles include inspecting facilities, investigating environmental health conditions, issuing notices, and supporting emergency preparedness. Training is provided for EHS I, with escalating responsibilities and team roles for EHS II–IV.

Salary ranges are provided per level and experience. All levels require strong communication, data accuracy, and the ability to work with diverse communities; fields cover

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental health is required for all levels.
• Master’s degree is preferred and may substitute for one year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Investigates environmental health conditions and ensures compliance with laws and regulations.
• Performs inspections and field tests to determine proper operation of facilities and equipment.
• Communicates findings clearly to owners, managers and occupants of facilities.

Skills

Verbal communication

Analytical thinking

Public health knowledge

Ethical judgment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental health

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Environmental Health Specialist I (EHS I)

The Environmental Health Specialist I is an entry-level position. Training is provided for inspections of various facilities, handling complaints, and other functions, as required. The Environmental Health Specialist I performs basic to intermediate inspections and investigations as required by laws, rules, and regulations of the State of Colorado and Adams County Health Department. This role documents violations and recommends the initiation of enforcement action to supervisor.

Environmental Health Specialist II (EHS II)

The Environmental Health Specialist II is a mid-level position that performs basic to intermediate level inspections and investigations as required by laws, rules, and regulations of the State of Colorado and Adams County Health Department. This role documents violations and recommends the initiation of enforcement action to supervisor. In addition to the responsibilities noted above, this position requires the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) to participate on an EH special team such as the Food Team or Vector Team.

Environmental Health Specialist III (EHS III)

The Environmental Health Specialist III is a mid-level position that performs basic to intermediate level inspections and investigations as required by laws, rules, and regulations of the State of Colorado and Adams County Health Department. This role documents violations and recommends the initiation of enforcement action to supervisor. In addition to the responsibilities noted above, this position requires the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) to participate on an EH special team such as the Food Team or Vector Team.

Environmental Health Specialist IV (EHS IV)

The Environmental Health Specialist IV is a senior-level position and demonstrates mastery in performing inspections and investigations pursuant to all environmental health programs. This role maintains responsibility for the implementation of all programs in an assigned geographical area. This senior-level position works independently or may assume limited supervision and extensive training responsibilities in the administration of environmental health programs. Incumbents must be Registered Environmental Health Specialists with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), possess detailed knowledge in the general EH programs, and provide training and mentoring to lower-level staff. In addition to the requirements noted above for the EHS III position, they must work with their respective supervisor on the development and execution of special projects as necessary.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $61,805.39 - $89,732.06 annually.

The hiring team has selected to consider a range of experience. Hiring and salary determination will be based on experience and qualifications.

The full earning potential for each level is below:

• EHS I: $61,805.39 - $89,617.82
• EHS II: $69,444.54 - $100,694.58
• EHS III: $73,611.21 - $106,736.26
• EHS IV: $78,027.88 - $113,140.43

Environmental Health Specialist I & II

• Investigates environmental health conditions. Initiates issuance of orders and instructions to maintain compliance with environmental health requirements of laws, rules, and regulations.
• Performs a variety of field tests to determine proper and safe operation of equipment and facilities.
• Attends scheduled inspections of industrial, commercial, public, or private facilities to assure continued compliance with environmental standards. Notifies owners or operators of unsafe, inadequate or non-complying conditions; maintains records of contacts made and conditions encountered.
• Uses excellent verbal communication skills to explain findings of investigations, field tests and laboratory analysis to owners and managers of establishments and occupants of premises subject to environmental health requirements.
• Employs listening skills to hear others in an unbiased manner, respects points of view of others, and promotes the expression of diverse opinions and perspectives.
• Proficiently and accurately inputs data into computer systems associated with environmental health programs.
• Reviews and recommends approval of plans and specification for routine situations. Issues permits as appropriate.
• Effectively uses analytic skills to define problems and applies ethical principles to the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of data and information. Utilizes appropriate methods for interacting sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic educational, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages and lifestyle preferences. Develops and adapts approaches to problems that takes cultural differences into account.
• Attends formal training programs devoted to public health topics as directed and approved.
• Actively participates in community outreach activities to promote understand and support of environmental health programs.

Environmental Health Specialist II

In addition to the duties above, the Environmental Health Specialist II is responsible for the following:

• Must participate on an EH special team such as the Food Team or Vector Team.

Environmental Health Specialist III

In addition to the duties above, the Environmental Health Specialist III is responsible for the following:

• Participates as part of an environmental health special team.
• Assigned as the lead of a program, or manage a grant, or responsible for a special project that is equivalent to the work of leading a program.
• May conduct any of the following: plan reviews, enforcement, retail food establishment inspections, mobile food inspections, child care and school inspections, pool and spa inspections, Onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) inspections, complaint investigations associated with retail food, child care and schools, water or OWTS or a combination of the following; and/or other duties as necessary.

Environmental Health Specialist IV

In addition to the duties above, the Environmental Health Specialist III is responsible for the following:

• Extensive knowledge of Environmental Health (EH) principles, practices, and objectives.
• Knowledge of National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) equipment standards related to NSF commercial equipment acceptance and installation.
• Extensive knowledge of all EH programs administered by Adams County Health Department (ACHD).
• Thorough scope and application of all applicable laws and regulations.
• Act as a lead worker to and provide expert advice and training to all other specialists.
• May conduct any of the following: plan reviews, enforcement, retail food establishment inspections, mobile food inspections, child care and school inspections, pool and spa inspections, Onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) inspections, complaint investigations associated with retail food, child care and schools, water or OWTS or a combination of the following; and/or other duties as necessary.

All Levels

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Duties - Environmental Health Specialist I - IV

• Responds, as required, to support public health emergencies, incidents and events. Participates in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness and response, as required. Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee.

All Levels

• Abilitytoapply the principles, techniques, and practices consistently and appropriately as related to environmental health in a community public health program
• Ability to keep records and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate with the general public in establishing and maintaining reasonable standards of environmental health in the interest of public health. Negotiate and resolve conflict with members of the general public.
• Demonstrate ability to exercise tact, discretion, and sound judgement.
• Outstanding skills and abilities in verbal and written communications; ability to adapt a style to fit audiences of varying technical levels, and at various levels within an organization, in groups and individual settings.

Experience

• Environmental Health Specialist I: No previous experience is required and training is provided for inspections of various facilities, handling complaints, and other functions as required.
• Environmental Health Specialist II:
  • Two years of experience required.
  • Working experience performing relevant duties at another public health agency may be considered
• Environmental Health Specialist III:
  • Four years of experience is required
  • Working experience performing relevant duties at another public health agency may be considered
• Environmental Health Specialist IV:
  • Six years of experience is required
  • Working experience performing relevant duties at another public health agency may be considered

Education & Training

• Environmental Health Specialist I:
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental health, with thirty semester hours of academic work in the physical, biological, chemical, or sanitary sciences is required.
• Environmental Health Specialist II:
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental health, with thirty semester hours of academic work in the physical, biological, chemical, or sanitary sciences is required.
  • A master's degree is preferred and may substitute for one year of practical Environmental Health experience, as approved by the EH Manager and EH Director.
• Environmental Health Specialist III:
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental health, with thirty semester hours of academic work in the physical, biological, chemical, or sanitary sciences is required.
  • A master's degree is preferred and may substitute for one year of practical Environmental Health experience, as approved by the EH Manager and EH Director.
• Environmental Health Specialist IV:
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental health, with thirty semester hours of academic work in the physical, biological, chemical, or sanitary sciences is required.
  • A master's degree is preferred and may substitute for one year of practical Environmental Health experience, as approved by the EH Manager and EH Director.

License or Certificate

• All Levels: A valid Colorado Driver's License is required or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Environmental Health Specialist III & IV: Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) credential through the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

Background Check - All Levels: Must pass a criminal background check.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements - All Levels

• Work is primarily conducted indoors with occasional time spent in an outside environment.
• Incumbent will experience routine exposure to hazards of a typical office environment and occasional exposures to disease, toxic compounds, pesticides, gases, and fumes.
• Requires work in industrial and construction areas, occasionally experiences exposures to machinery, working at heights and underground, and excessive noise.
• May be required to work outside regular hours to attend meetings or events.
• Requires ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions and ability to walk and navigate on all types of terrain.
• Requires ability to negotiate restricted pedestrian pathways. (e.g., assembly line, building maintenance areas, and construction sites) obstructed by equipment. necessary to the particular operation.
• Requires sufficient hearing and speech ability to communicate verbally in response to inquiries, complaints, and to speak to large groups of people in an educational presentation.
• Requires ability to lift and carry sampling equipment occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Requires manual dexterity to operate computer equipment and test equipment.
• Requires color vision to distinguish titration/chemical reaction to color changes.
• Requires correctable vision to observe sampling activities and conduct investigations of health situations.
• Requires reliable transportation and access to drive an automobile in all types of weather conditions.