Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III - Hazardous Materials/CUPA
County of Ventura, CA
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Job summary
County of Ventura seeks Environmental Health Specialist I–III to perform inspections, investigations, and program support within the Environmental Health Division. The role involves field work, data collection, and reporting on hazardous materials, waste, and related environmental health programs.
Successful candidates will have relevant education and knowledge of state and federal health regulations, along with strong communication skills for liaising with the public and agencies.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental health science or related field.
- Experience or education demonstrating environmental health program knowledge.
- REHS credential or substitution options may apply.
Responsibilities
- Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with health laws and regulations.
- Conduct field investigations and participate in enforcement actions as needed.
- Coordinate projects and engage stakeholders across departments.
- Prepare technical reports and present findings to the public and agencies.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package.
- General Salary Increase –3.5% effective December 20, 2026, and December 19, 2027.
- Educational Incentive– An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor’s degree, or 5.0% for completion of a graduate degree.
- Underground Storage Tank Inspector Certification Incentive– Regular employees in the classifications of RMA Technician II, III, or Environmental Health Specialists II, III, IV, or Supervising Environmental Health Specialist, who are assigned to the Hazardous Materials Program and who have a California UST Inspector Certification from the International Code Council and certification for APSA by the Office of State Fire Marshall may be eligible for a $1.56 hourly premium pay, up to 80 hours per bi-weekly pay period, in addition to their base pay.
- Environmental Health On-Call Pay– Environmental Health Employees in classifications of Environmental Health Specialist II-IV or Supervising Environmental Health Specialist who are assigned by the Director-RMA or his/her designee may be eligible for a bi-weekly premium of $389.76.
- Merit Increases– New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
- Bilingual Incentive– Proficiency levels by exam are $0.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
- Sick Leave– Full-time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
- Vacation Accruals– New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation per year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 20 years of service, topping out at 26 days per year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
- Vacation Redemption– After 10,400 hours of continuous County service (approximately five (5) years), an employee may elect to “cash in” or redeem up to 120 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
- Deferred Compensation– Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
- Health Plans– Full-time regular employees are provided an annual flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626.96 to help offset the purchase of medical insurance for themselves and their eligible dependents.
- Employee only – $463.99 per biweekly pay period.
- Employee plus one dependent – $834.32 per biweekly pay period.
- Employee plus family – $1,024.11 per biweekly pay period.
- Flexible Spending Accounts– Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increases spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
- Pension Plan– Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as CalPERS.
- Holidays– 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
- Additional Benefits– Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.
Ventura County is located on California’s “Gold Coast,” about 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. Residents enjoy rolling hills and wide ocean views in an early perfect Mediterranean climate, with an average annual temperature of 74.2 degrees. The beautiful scenery and pleasant weather, along with a high quality of life, are the main reasons why our residents choose to call Ventura County “home.”
The primary goal of the Resource Management Agency (RMA) is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public through the administration and enforcement of County ordinances, Board policy, and state and federal laws regarding land use, and commercial and environmental regulation. The agency includes five divisions: Environmental Health, Building & Safety, Code Compliance, Operations, and Planning. RMA also plays an important role in economic development by assisting County residents and businesses in obtaining permits needed to construct new or reconfigured buildings, start new businesses such as home occupations, restaurants and food service establishments, and agricultural enterprises.
RMA recognizes the value of having a diverse and inclusive workforce at all levels of our Agency to best serve our clients and be representative of the community we serve and is committed to being an active participant in removing barriers to ensure equitable access and opportunities for success. The Agency is dedicated to attracting, hiring, developing, retaining, and valuing quality employees fully empowered to protect everyone’s health, safety, and the environment, and committed to providing excellent customer service through the efficient, accurate, and consistent application of laws, ordinances, regulations, and policies.
The key responsibility of the Environmental Health Division is to protect public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to the following programs: food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks, and vector control.
Under immediate supervision (Environmental Health Specialist I), general supervision (Environmental Health Specialist II), or general direction (Environmental Health Specialist III), performs progressively complex professional environmental health activities involving investigation, inspection, data collection and analysis, enforcement action, report preparation, and public contact; assists in environmental health program administration; and performs related duties as required.
There are four levels (I-IV) in the Environmental Health Specialist series. Each level performs increasingly responsible public contact; interaction with public and private entities; conflict resolution; and a wider range of environmental health projects at a higher level of complexity (i.e., understanding concepts relating to environmental, biological, water, wastewater, etc.). Those at the Environmental Health Specialist IV level may act as project team leaders and program coordinators. Each succeeding step in the job series is expected to function at a higher level of individual initiative, creativity, self-direction, and independent judgment.
$29.02 - $40.62 Hourly
$2,760.33 - $3,854.45 Biweekly
$3,063.54 - $4,297.90 Biweekly
If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.
is represented by the Services Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.
are represented by the Services Employees' International Union (SEIU) and are not eligible for overtime compensation.
- Drives to and performs inspections at various facilities and properties to ensure compliance with applicable state laws and county ordinance code sections related to hazardous materials, hazardous waste, underground storage tanks, and above-ground petroleum storage tanks.
- Researches, compiles, synthesizes, analyzes, and interprets hazardous material information and data submitted through the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) in order to meet environmental health objectives.
- Coordinates environmental health projects, defines problems and alternative solutions, and sets objectives.
- Prepares written reports and makes recommendations for the completion of environmental health projects.
- Conducts field investigations and complaint investigations of various sites in order to gain first-hand knowledge of the location under study.
- May participate in enforcement activities, which include civil or criminal cases, and may involve the issuance of citations, report writing, collection of evidence, and court appearances.
- If assigned to the Hazardous Materials emergency response team, may be required to respond to emergency incidents involving hazardous materials.
- Coordinates and/or negotiates with other individuals, developers, groups, sections, divisions, departments, and agencies on various technical or legal aspects of environmental programs, some of which may be controversial or politically sensitive.
- Makes oral presentations to public groups and governmental bodies to explain and clarify environmental health reports and recommendations.
- Provides general information to the public in response to questions about projects, environmental health programs, applicable ordinances, policies, and procedures related to the Hazardous Materials, Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA).
- Performs other duties as required.
These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
Some experience in environmental health which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities. The required knowledge and abilities also can be obtained by completion of a Bachelor’s degree in environmental health science or a related field.
Some experience in environmental health that has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities. The required knowledge and abilities can also be obtained by completion of a bachelor’s degree in environmental health science or a related field AND one (1) or more years of progressively responsible environmental health experience.
Considerable experience in environmental health that has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities. The required knowledge and abilities can also be obtained by completion of a Bachelor degree in environmental health science or a related field and three (3) or more years of progressively responsible environmental health experience.
- For EHS II/III: A master’s degree in environmental health or a related field, and/or registration as a REHS in California may each substitute for one (1) year of experience
- Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain a valid California driver’s license at the time of appointment.
- Depending on assignment, must be willing and able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays throughout Ventura County including the Simi Valley office may be required on occasion.
- California UST Inspector certification issued by International Code Council must be obtained within six (6) months of hire.
- Must pass an Above Ground Petroleum Storage Tank Act course and exam approved by the California Office of State Fire Marshal within six (6) months of hire.
- Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) from the State of California Department of Public Health.
- Experience conducting audits or inspections to determine compliance with hazardous waste, hazardous materials, or underground storage tank laws and regulations.
- Three (3) or more years of experience in Environmental Health
Work is performed in an office environment and in the field and may require occasional exposure to hazardous conditions and moderate physical demands while making inspections.
Some to comprehensive (depending on level in series) knowledge of:
- Chemistry, microbiology, and environmental health science.
- Techniques of urban and regional water and land use planning.
- State, federal, local laws and regulations relating to environmental health programs and functions, such as above ground and underground storage tanks.
- Federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to hazardous waste and hazardous materials.
- Leaking Underground Fuel Tank Program requires some knowledge of geology and hydrology.
Working to thorough (depending on level in series) knowledge of:
- Environmental research and statistical methods.
- Field tests and analytical procedures within hazardous material program areas.
- Interagency relationships.
- Investigative techniques.
- Sample collection.
Some to Working ability to:
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and staff of other agencies.
- Perform inspections at various facilities and properties.
- Solve problems at increasingly complex levels.
- Speak and write clearly and concisely.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret data.
- Formulate recommendations.
- Prepare technical reports.
- Provide information and coordinate environmental health efforts.
- Coordinate projects and programs.
- Train staff.
Application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 5:00 pm.
A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Magali Rodriguez by e-mail at Magali.Rodriguez@venturacounty.gov or by telephone at (805) 654-3805.
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