Environmental Health Specialist (HHS)

Walworth-County; Elkhorn (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Walworth County seeks an Environmental Health Specialist to protect public health by conducting inspections and enforcing environmental health codes in the field. The role focuses on safe water, food, air, and addressing health hazards within Wisconsin statutes and county ordinances.

You will lead laboratory operations, participate in emergency preparedness, and coordinate with local universities for research and internships. This is a field-based position with standard county duties.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health or related field with minimum 1 year related experience.
• Minimum 80 hours of laboratory experience; internships may count.
• Knowledge of basic math for rate, ratio and percent; ability to interpret graphs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental inspections and evaluations to protect public health.
• Manage day-to-day water laboratory operations: testing, certification, scheduling, recordkeeping.
• Investigate complaints and prepare formal reports with corrective actions or enforcement.

Skills

Environmental Health

Laboratory experience

Trauma-Informed Care

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health

1 year related experience

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Water testing

Job description

This position provides environmental health services to citizens and protects the health and safety of the public from adverse environmental determinants. The position works to ensure access to safe water, food, air, and preventing or abating human health hazards. The position conducts environmental inspections and evaluations while taking action as established by procedure in programs governed by state and local public health statute or ordinances. This is a field-based role.

SCHEDULE

• Division: Public Health
• Days: Monday - Friday
• Work Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Hours Per Shift: 8
• Shifts Per Pay Period: 10
• Position FTE: 1.00

This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Provide on-going assessment of the county’s environmental issues to manage and implement the county’s environmental health program. Ensure compliance to policies, procedures and ordinances related to the county’s public health code and Wisconsin Public Health Statutes including Wisconsin Chapters 251, 252, 254, 95, 163, 145 and NR 810 and 812. Take enforcement actions as established by procedure.

Complete day-to-day operations of the water laboratory, training, certification and scheduling, recordkeeping, and compliance with NR 149 and ATCP 77. Provide troubleshooting and problem solving for laboratory errors as necessary. Participate in annuals updates to the laboratory policies to reflect procedures appropriately and participate in quality review of the laboratory on an ongoing basis.

Maintain compliance with responsibilities as outlined in the Transient Non-Community Water System contract with the DNR including sampling, reporting, record keeping and enforcement.

Work in coordination with communicable disease surveillance program.

Investigate complaints, perform inspections and provide written formal reports of violations, that adhere to applicable code, with consultation for corrective action or enforcement on a variety of environmental health issues including but not limited to human health hazards, rabies, asbestos, lead, radon, vector monitoring and pest control in accordance with established laws, regulations and local ordinances. Follow-up may occur outside of normal business hours with supervisor approval. Issuance of orders or referrals is conducted in accordance to established protocols.

Conduct recreational water monitoring in support of Walworth County Code and WI Chapters 254 and 251.

Participate in emergency preparedness training and activities for responding to public health emergencies in conjunction with local, state and federal emergency response teams. Lead discussions on environmental recovery as part of preparedness exercises.

Develop and coordinate internship experiences for students. Coordinate interactions with area universities to further environmental health research and findings.

With direction, develop and implement expansion of service and quality improvement plans within the environmental health unit on an ongoing basis. Support all other public health programs and initiatives by providing an environmental health viewpoint. Evaluate program performance, manage and interpret environmental data, and coordinate community issues concerning environmental health programs. Participate as directed in other public health initiatives such as community health assessment and improvement, continuous quality improvement, and strategic planning.

Demonstrate commitment to development of skills aligned with the Core Competencies for Public Health staff.

Respond to Public Health emergencies, as needed, including outside regular office hours.

Demonstrate a commitment to county safety and risk management efforts.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health or related degree in physical, chemical or biological sciences or related field with a minimum of one year of related experience (internships considered toward experience). Must have a minimum of 80 hours of laboratory experience, educational experience may qualify. Proven experience in ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals as well as ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care Principles is essential.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Valid driver license.
• Proof of minimum liability auto insurance coverage.
• Access to reliable transportation to all assigned work locations daily.
• National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) – Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200 and 700 – within three (3) months of hire.
• National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) – Incident Command System (ICS) 300certification required within twelve (12) months of hire.
• LHRA or LHI within 12 months of hire
• RS/REHS Preferred

Interactions & Communication

Provides specialized information and/or recommendations to others regarding an area of expertise.

Decision Making

This position has authority to make decisions that are consistent with policies and precedents; supervision and managerial direction is available as requested. Responsible for all lab decisions. These decisions directly impact performance at the department wide level and information is provided with additional research and observations which contributes to the decision making process.

Thinking & Problem Solving

In relation to established procedures, protocols and policies of the County, challenges and problems occurring in this position must be addressed within broader, department-wide procedures and practices.

Tools and Equipment Used

Telephone Copy Machine Laboratory Analytical Equipment

Personal Computer/Printer FAX Machine Microscope

Calculator Propane torch

Thermometer Camera

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment requires the ability to work in adverse weather conditions and challenging environmental locations. The noise level in the work environment varies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision.

TO INCLUDE

• Formal Walworth County Electronic Application
• Education & Experience Review
• Verification of Driver License
• Oral Department Interview
• Reference Check
• Background Check
• Post Offer Physical Exam
• Drug Screen
• Other job related tests may be required.