Environmental Health Specialist I

County of Nevada; California (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS retirement

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Life insurance

Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

Nevada County is seeking Environmental Health Specialists to interpret, implement, and enforce local, state, and federal public health laws for residents and visitors. The team emphasizes a well‑rounded skill set, including customer service and technical expertise, while supporting professional growth and training opportunities.

Incumbents must complete approved training and pass the California registration exam within three years of employment.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college coursework involving chemistry, biology, physics, calculus and algebra as approved by the State of California Department of Health.
• Possession of a letter issued by the California Department of Public Health -REHS Division, verifying the incumbent's acceptability to participate in a training program.
• Applicants would need a letter from CDPH REHS Department approving employment as an "EHS Trainee".

Responsibilities

• Interpret, implement, and enforce local, state, and federal public health laws.
• Participate in training and complete California registration as an Environmental Health Specialist within three years of employment.

Skills

Customer service

Technical skills

Project management

Process analysis

Process improvement

Education

Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Calculus and Algebra coursework

CDPH-REHS training program eligibility letter

CDPH REHS Trainee eligibility letter

Job description

Definition and Class Characteristics

INTERVIEWS FOR SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL BE HELD THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2, 2026.

Environmental Health Specialist II, Environmental Health Specialist III, Environmental Health Specialist IV

Nevada County is nestled in California's Sierra Nevada foothills, about an hour outside Sacramento and two hours from the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a rare opportunity to join the Nevada County Team as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist. You will be working with a friendly and inclusive group of well-rounded Environmental Health Specialists and Technicians who maintain work-life balance through a variety of activities from backpacking, camping, and traveling to art and literature.

Environmental Health Team members primarily interpret, implement, and enforce local, state, and federal laws for the protection of public health and safety for our residents and visitors. The ideal Environmental Health Specialist is well-rounded, possessing strong customer service and technical skills, in addition to experience managing special projects, analyzing current procedural processes, and implementing improvements.

Education and Experience Required:

• Equivalent to 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college coursework from an accredited college or university involving chemistry, biology, physics, calculus and algebra as approved by the State of California Department of Health.
• Possession of a letter issued by the California Department of Public Health -REHS Division, verifying the incumbent's acceptability to participate in a training program.
• Applicants would need to have a letter from California Department of Public Health (CDPH) REHS Department approving employment as an "EHS Trainee". Please visit the CDPH website https://www.cdph.ca.gov Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program for more information.

Incumbents must participate in an approved training program of field instruction and pass the California examination for registration as an Environmental Health Specialist within three years of the date of employment. Completion of the required training within the mentioned time periods is a condition of continued employment.

Please note: Training requirements for this series are covered in the California Health and Safety Code Section 106600-106735. Specific job assignments may require specialized training per various Federal, State and local codes.

Benefits:

• We offer you an extensive benefit package including, but not limited to, CalPERS retirement, medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Nevada County is a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program through the Department of Education.

Why Nevada County? Our leadership values employee development and engagement, promotes open and transparent communication, sets us up to be a high-performing organization, and recognizes our contributions. Our leadership connects with the community, listens to them, and provides significant programming to keep us safe and healthy.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Education and Experience Required

• Equivalent to 30 semester or 45 quarter units of college coursework from an accredited college or university involving chemistry, biology, physics, calculus and algebra as approved by the State of California Department of Health.
• Possession of a letter issued by the California Department of Public Health -REHS Division, verifying the incumbent's acceptability to participate in a training program.
• Applicants would need to have a letter from California Department of Public Health (CDPH) REHS Department approving employment as an "EHS Trainee". Please visit the CDPH website https://www.cdph.ca.gov Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program for more information.