REGISTERED SANITARIAN

Cameron County; San Benito (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Life Insurance

Sick and Annual Leave

Retirement System

Paid Holidays

Direct deposit payroll

Job summary

C Cameron County Public Health seeks a Registered Sanitarian to conduct routine and complex health and environmental inspections, document findings, and prepare necessary reports. You will work under the Environmental Health Director, coordinate with staff, and ensure compliance with state laws and Cameron County orders.

The role requires current TDLR RS certification (or qualified degree and experience), licensing within one year, and ongoing maintenance of credentials.

Qualifications

• Must hold TDLR Registered Sanitarian certification or possess a Bachelor's degree with science coursework plus two years in the field.
• Must obtain OSSF Designated Representative License and Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator License within one year.
• Maintain all required licenses and certifications during employment.

Responsibilities

• Document time worked accurately and promptly.
• Conduct complex inspections for compliance with Texas rules and Cameron County orders.
• Review retail food establishments, nuisances, and on-site sewage systems.
• Inspect various facilities to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Investigate consumer complaints and ensure corrective actions.
• Perform investigations of foodborne, waterborne, vectorborne, and zoonotic illnesses.
• Prepare written reports and outline violations with recommendations.
• Collaborate on HACCP systems and environmental health training.
• Provide training and guidance on regulations to owners and staff.
• Assist in vector control and plan development with the team.

Skills

Communication

Spanish language

Public health knowledge

Training/supervision

Regulatory interpretation

Education

TDLR Registered Sanitarian certification

Bachelor's degree with science coursework

Two years relevant experience

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Internet

Job description

REGISTERED SANITARIAN

PAY PLAN: 118 - $ 50,492.00 minimum salary

SECTION I-JOB DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Environmental Health Director or designee, the Registered Sanitarian (RS) will be responsible for conducting routine and complex public health food and environmental health management inspection and investigations, providing disease investigations and conducting food borne, water borne, and surveillance monitoring in the environmental health field in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Registered Sanitarian prepares accurate and complete reports of inspection findings. Teams with department staff for environmental health prevention and disease control.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Employee will accurately document all time worked.
2. Conducts highly technical and complex inspections of facilities and food establishments to ensure compliance with applicable public health and safety rules and regulations including, but not limited to, the Texas Food Establishment Rules, Texas Health and Safety Codes, and Cameron County orders.
3. Monitors and conducts reviews of retail food establishments, public health nuisances and onsite sewage system facilities.
4. Inspects a variety of facilities to ensure compliance with regulatory and accepted sanitary requirements including, but not limited to, foster homes, day care centers, tourist and trailer camps, public schools, parks, and buildings, and public swimming pools and water fountains/features.
5. Investigates consumer complaints on retail food establishments and obtains corrective action as needed to ensure safety.
6. Performs detailed investigations of food borne illnesses, waterborne illnesses, vector borne illnesses, zoonotic illnesses, and food product contamination or adulteration.
7. Evaluates, documents and prepares written reports on inspection findings, outlines violations of regulations and makes compliance recommendations.
8. Works with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems or processes.
9. Participates in retail food service training and other environmental training as deemed necessary to fulfill job duties.
10. Develops and provides technical training and assistance on applicable public health and safety rules and regulations to owners, operators and employees within the regulated industry.
11. Ensures all applicable components of an inspection report are included, such as photographic exhibits, food and filth samples, and other required regulatory forms within required time frames.
12. Addresses the legal aspect of enforcement to achieve compliance of the regulated entities which may include testifying in enforcement cases during court trials and administrative hearings.
13. Reviews plans and specifications for on-site sewage system facilities and provides permitting approval in compliance with regulatory rules.
14. Reviews installer/engineer designs and planning material submitted for approval of On-site Sewage Facility systems (OSSF) and Subdivision Plat determination approvals.
15. Issues On-site Sewage Facility (OSSF) authorization to construct OSSF Operating Permits.
16. Coordinates and conducts on-site sewage facilities inspections and investigates complaints.
17. Inspects existing OSSF systems and determines issuance of OSSF Compliance, Non-Compliance and Exception Letter based on inspection findings.
18. Reviews documents pertaining to residential/commercial water wells.
19. Conducts inspections on public health nuisance complaints, secures corrections and implements abatement processes as needed.
20. Conducts environmental assessments and code enforcement activities of consumer, governmental agency or industry complaints, and animal bites.
21. Coordinates with local municipalities in the efforts to mitigate vector-borne diseases and the development of their vector-borne disease plans.
22. Conducts adulticide and larvicide activities targeting mosquitoes and larvae as needed.
23. Serves on the team that develops, maintains and executes the Cameron County Vector Control Response Plan.
24. Assists in the development and maintenance of vector control mapping activities.
25. Provides mentorship to the work of Registered Sanitarian-in-Training positions in accordance with Registered Sanitarian requirements.
26. Documentation should be accurate, concise, and suitable for legal purposes, if necessary.
27. Conducts detailed tasks concerned with rodent, fly, mosquito, and other vector control projects and applies techniques effective in controlling the same.
28. Collects mosquito larvae and adult mosquitoes for submission for testing to the Department of State Health Services lab as needed.
29. Acts as first responder to hazardous material spills and incidents, and natural and man-made disasters.
30. Conducts assessments and evaluations of health-related situations in a tactful and effective manner and exercises good judgment.
31. Participates and assists in the planning of public health response initiatives or assignments involving preparedness, disaster response and/or recovery when the department is operating emergency operations.
32. Other duties as assigned.

SECTION II-JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Must currently possess the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Registered Sanitarian certification. - OR -

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester hours in basic science or natural science or any combination thereof plus a minimum of at least two years of full-time experience in the fields of consumer health, environmental health, or sanitation. Regularly assigned duties must have included consumer health, environmental health, or sanitation. Educational and work experience requirements are determined and verified by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Sanitarian Registration Program. Registration as a Sanitarian-in-Training must be secured within three (3) months of employment and Registered Sanitarian certification must be attained within twelve (12) months of employment.

Must currently possess or obtain within one year of employment the On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) Designated Representative License and the Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator License.

Must maintain all required licenses and certifications required above while employed with Cameron County Public Health.

An applicant who successfully and timely completes all Cameron County training and education requirements and receives the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Registered Sanitarian certification, the (OSSF) Designated Representative License and the Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator License shall begin a six-month period of probation as of the date the last required license/certification is issued. An employee who does not meet said requirements within the allotted timeframes shall be terminated unless the Health Administrator, in his/her discretion, determines that the license certification training was not made available to the employee. The employee shall be given a specific extension of time not to exceed six months to complete said requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of planning and programming methodologies. Ability to communicate effectively (oral, written and Spanish speaking ability). Ability to interpret public health laws and regulations. Ability to analyze and evaluate public health needs. Ability to train and supervise others. Knowledge of computer programs software and database (MSWord, Excel, PowerPoint, internet). Ability to follow oral and written instructions. Ability to work with public. Ability to work with confidential client information.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must have a valid Texas Driver's License, comply with State of Texas Driving Laws, and maintain an acceptable driving record. Must have reliable transportation. Employees of Cameron County may be required to work during any natural disaster or emergency, extended hours and non-traditional work schedules (i.e., Saturdays and Sundays). Criminal background check is required for employment or continued employment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Good health and physical condition sufficient to permit full performance of the duties of the position. If additional assistance is required, employee must request assistance prior to performing the assignment.

SECTION III-JOB DIMENSIONS

CONTACTS

EXTERNAL CONTACTS: Occasional contact with other health, social and educational care agencies, outside organizations. Frequent contact with clinic clientele. Communication is via telephone, written communication and face to face.

INTERNAL CONTACTS: Utilizes tact when dealing with County employees, health, social and educational care providers, and clientele regarding operations issues. Constant contact with County personnel. Communicating is primarily face-to-face, via telephone and through written communication.

RESPONSIBILITY

Comply with Cameron County and Department of State Health Services rules/regulations and display a positive public image. As a Cameron County employee, the identity of every client shall be kept confidential except to the extent necessary to carry out the purpose of an investigation, hearing, or judicial proceeding.

DIFFICULTY

Judgement is required to ensure completion of job activities as assigned by the Immediate Supervisor or designee. Uses discretion to achieve work goals. Initiative is constantly required to achieve work goals.

GUIDANCE

As assigned by Immediate Supervisor or designee. It is the responsibility of the employee to know and maintain contact with their Immediate Supervisor or designee.

WORKING CONDITION

Working conditions are primarily in a clinic, office, or community center.

This is a Civil Service covered position. Testing requirements will follow section 2.32 of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations Handbook. Probationary period will follow section 2.35 of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations Handbook.

Benefits

Cameron County Offers Excellent Fringe Benefits, Including: Health and Life Insurance Protection, Sick and Annual Leave, Retirement System, and Paid Holidays. Cameron County has a mandatory direct deposit payroll program.

AA/EEO/MFD EMPLOYER