Environmental Health Specialist I (GRANT FUNDED)

Douglas County Nebraska; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 43,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance: health, dental, vision, and

Life insurance

Pension

Sick Leave

Vacation Leave 13 Holidays

Flex Spending Accounts

Deferred Income plans (457 plan)

EAP

Health Savings Accounts

Job summary

Douglas County Nebraska seeks an Environmental Health Inspector to perform inspections, investigate complaints, and enforce city and state health codes. The role requires coordinating with the public, officials, and partner agencies, conducting on-site assessments, and documenting findings and actions.

Responsibilities include educating residents, reviewing plans for compliance, responding to requests, and participating in training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, Biology, or Chemistry with at least 30 science hours.
• 6 months inspections experience preferred.
• Must obtain and maintain environmental health registrations within 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Perform regular inspections of establishments and investigate public complaints.
• Establish relationships with public, officials, and agencies.
• Conduct onsite investigations and inform owners of corrective actions.
• Prepare reports and documentation of investigations and enforcement actions.
• Respond to public requests and participate in training on health and safety.

Skills

Public health knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, Biology, or Chemistry

Job description

The Position Incumbent works under the direction of an assigned Supervisor, or designee, conducting routine inspections, investigating complaints and enforcing city ordinances, and state laws (e.g. the applicable food codes, or environmental health and safety laws).

Essential Functions

• Perform regular inspections of establishments regulated by city, county or state laws and regulations and investigate complaints from the public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, supervisors, other City and County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, and other agencies.
• Conduct onsite investigations and inform owners/operators of necessary corrective actions to take, which may occasionally require the closing of establishments.
• Perform follow-up investigations to ensure proper corrective actions are complete.
• Conduct environmental assessments to identify public health concerns.
• Perform prescribed tests on samples obtained through routine and special inspections, which may occasionally involve transporting the samples to the appropriate laboratory for analysis.
• Submit inspection, investigation, and test results to Supervisor and then to other proper authorities as directed.
• Perform joint investigations with outside agencies upon request and as needed regarding suspected violations of ordinances, laws and/or regulations. This may include the Omaha Fire Department, State Health Department, Omaha Police Department, Omaha Permits and Inspections Division, Nebraska Humane Society, Nebraska State Patrol and other agencies.
• Complete thorough documentation, including reports of investigations and reports regarding enforcement activities.
• Enforce compliance with applicable laws and ordinances, which may involve providing testimony in court, administrative hearings or other proceedings.
• Take action to rid infested areas of rodents, vermin, and other infestations including, but not limited to: placement of rodenticide, or insecticides or like materials, and removal of trash and rubbish in strict adherence to established public health and safety regulations.
• Educate residents and property owners regarding the specific nature of conditions in violation of applicable laws, explaining remedial actions needed to correct problems and prevent future recurrences.
• Review plans for new construction and modifications to existing establishments to ensure compliance with appropriate standards of health, sanitation, and safety.
• Respond to requests from residents to keep non-domesticated animals, which may include conducting an inspection of the premises and proposed plans to 'house' the non-domestic animals and recommend issuance of permits where applicable.
• Prepare and maintain various records, reports, correspondence and other departmental documents, including mileage reports, time sheets, inspection reports, and documentation.
• Prepare drafts of various correspondence, (e.g. notice of violations, notice of hearings, referrals for prosecution, etc.), for review and consideration by the Supervisor or Division Chief.
• Conduct educational sessions on topics related to environmental health and safety as directed.
• Receive and record complaints from the public regarding suspected violations of environmental health and safety laws.
• Attend various training courses, seminars and conferences to maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in job-related skills and techniques.
• Serve on inter-departmental or community committees, as directed; collaborate with community agencies regarding public health emergency preparedness as assigned; and, respond to inquiries from the public.
• Participate in public health emergency response training and respond as directed in a public health emergency.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work at assigned location with regular and predictable attendance.
• Perform other related duties as needed or assigned.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Studies, Biology, or Chemistry and shall include at least 30 semester hours in the basic natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Health, etc.) required.
• Six (6) months experience involving compliance inspections preferred.
• Must have, or obtain within 2 years of employment, and maintain throughout the course of employment registration as an Environmental Health Specialist with the State of Nebraska or Registered Sanitarian or Environmental Health Specialist with the National Environmental Health Association.
• Valid driver's license and transportation at the time of hire, and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen required.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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.

Work is generally performed indoors in a variety of settings and outdoors in a variety of locations. Noise level is usually moderate and occasionally loud. Work hours are typically standard day hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. varied days, shifts, weekends, overtime/extra hours, holidays, and emergency call-in). Work involves potential exposure to the elements and hazards associated with unsanitary conditions in commercial kitchens and private residences. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources and uncooperative/irate individuals.

Work requires physical activity including extended periods of walking and standing with occasional climbing, reaching, carrying, balancing, kneeling, crouching and bending. An incumbent must have the agility, balance and strength to maneuver over rough terrain, around various obstacles and to access property on foot. Work also requires the ability to frequently lift/carry objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.

Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Benefits

• Insurance including health, dental, vision, and life
• Pension
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Leave 13 Holidays
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Deferred Income plans (457 plan)
• EAP
• Health Savings Accounts

The pay range salary for this position is $31.22 to $32.82 per hour.

Employer Douglas County (NE)

Address: 1819 Farnam Street, Suite 505 Omaha, Nebraska, 68183

Phone: [phone]

Website: http://hr.douglascounty-ne.gov/employment