Environmental Health Specialist IV - Solid Waste and Body Art Programs

County of San Mateo; California (MO); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Mateo is seeking an Environmental Health Specialist IV to lead and coordinate the Solid Waste and Body Art Programs within the Environmental Health Division. This role requires overseeing inspections, training staff, and serving as a technical expert on regulatory compliance across facilities.

Ideal candidates will have California REHS certification, strong leadership abilities, and the capacity to travel across San Mateo County to perform inspections and investigations.

Qualifications

• Requires California Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) in good standing.
• Ability to lead staff, coordinate complex projects, and conduct inspections.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and knowledge of environmental health codes.

Responsibilities

• Provide lead direction, training, and work review to assigned staff.
• Serve as technical expert in Solid Waste and Body Art programs.
• Review and approve solid waste facility permitting documents; approve body art facility construction.
• Conduct routine inspections of solid waste facilities and body art establishments.
• Develop inspection procedures and respond to public complaints; liaise with community groups and agencies.

Skills

Regulatory enforcement

Public health inspections

Team leadership

Program coordination

Travel to sites

Education

California REHS certification

Job description

Important

On October 11, 2026, this classification will receive a cost-of-living (COLA) increase of up to 4.5%.

Position Overview

San Mateo County Health is seeking a well-qualified individual for the position of Environmental Health Specialist IV for the Solid Waste and Body Art Programs. This Environmental Health Specialist will receive general supervision and provide lead direction in performing the responsibilities of the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA).

The current vacancy is in the Environmental Health Division, located in San Mateo, CA. The position will include travel/driving throughout the county to perform the duties of the job; this is essential to the position.

Environmental Health Services ensures a safe and healthful environment in the County's 20 cities and unincorporated areas through education, monitoring, and enforcement of a variety of regulatory programs, as well as ongoing services to the community.

San Mateo County is designated by CalRecycle as the LEA to ensure the correct operation and closure of solid waste facilities in our jurisdiction and has responsibilities for regulatory oversight of proper storage and transportation of solid wastes. Also, San Mateo County has authority to implement the California Safe Body Art Act and County Ordinance for Body Art and Piercing.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants must be a California Department of Public Health, Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) in good standing. A copy of a current California certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) is to be submitted with the application.

Primary Duties

• Provide lead direction, training, and work review to assigned staff; organize and assign work, coordinate complex projects, and follow up to ensure completion of assigned work.
• Serve as technical expert and staff consultant in Solid Waste and Body Art programs.
• Review and approve solid waste facility permitting documents.
• Approve construction of new body art establishments.
• Conduct routine inspections of solid waste facilities such as Landfills, Transfer Station/Materials Recovery Facilities, Closed Landfills, Compost Facilities, and body art facilities and practitioners.
• Conduct specialized studies, program audits, investigations and inspections and make recommendations; maintain a program of code compliance and implementation in the area of specialization.
• Develop, standardize, and update staff inspection procedures.
• Investigate and resolve public complaints, acting as a liaison with community groups, government agencies, and private businesses.
• Compile data, evaluate procedures and draft proposed legislation and guidelines; may review and make recommendations on environmental impact reports.
• Plan and conduct in-service and public education training programs.
• Interpret applicable laws, regulations, and codes and provide advice relating to area of specialization to city officials, citizen groups, business owners and others.
• Maintain records and prepare reports and correspondence.
• May act as expert witness in court proceedings.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Ideal Candidate

• Forward-thinking; use of innovation for program improvement goals and implementation.
• Exceptional organizational, leadership, communication, and technical skills in all programs served.
• Experience leading and motivating a team.
• Experience conducting inspections of solid waste facilities and approving permitting documentation under the LEA oversight.
• Experience reviewing applications for new body art facilities and practitioners and conducting routine inspections and implementing enforcement provisions.
• Working knowledge of the California Code of Regulations, Title 14 and 27, and California Health and Safety Code Division 104, Part 15, Chapter 17.
• At least three years of experience related to performing inspections, investigations, and research for an environmental health program in a regulatory agency.
• Ability to travel to different sites in San Mateo County to conduct inspections and investigations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Note

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Qualifications

Knowledge of

• The area of specialty, including its scientific background, technology, principles, methods, investigative techniques and problems.
• Laws, regulations and codes governing the assigned area of specialization.
• Sanitation provisions in the Health and Safety Code.
• Government agencies, community organizations and business establishments as they relate to environmental health.

Skill/Ability to

• Plan, direct and coordinate a program of research, study, investigation and enforcement in the specialized area of responsibility.
• Interpret laws, regulations and data.
• Define difficult problem areas, analyze complex data and make valid recommendations.
• Advise and instruct others on compliance requirements in specialized area.
• Enforce local ordinances and state law.
• Work independently.
• Keep complex and accurate records.
• Speak effectively and make public presentations.
• Prepare clear, concise reports and correspondence.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.

Education and Experience

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Three years of journey level experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, including one year of experience in a regulatory agency in the designated option: Option 2 - Vector Control and Solid/Infectious Waste.

Licensure/Certification

• Possession of a California certificate as Registered Environmental Health Specialist.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Class C California driver license or equivalent.

Application / Examination

Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

Recruitment Schedule

Final Filing Date: October 26, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST

Application Screening: October 27-29, 2026

Civil Service Panel Interviews: Week of November 9, 2026