Senior Environmental Health Specialist

County of Siskiyou; Yreka (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Siskiyou seeks an experienced Environmental Health Specialist to perform complex inspections and investigations across environmental health programs. The role requires strong knowledge of sanitation laws, plan review, and enforcement actions.

You will collaborate with local officials and agencies, and may serve as a program resource for designated areas. The position emphasizes independence, on-site and field work, and potential stand-by duties for hazardous materials responses.

Qualifications

• Five years of experience performing environmental investigations and inspections.
• A minimum of two years in a designated environmental health program with related training.
• Graduation from a four-year college or university in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or related field.
• For consumer protection and land use, possession of a valid REHS card is required.
• For hazardous materials division, five years of relevant experience is required but REHS is not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex inspections to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local health laws.
• Provide guidance and instruction to staff on deficiency corrections and enforcement actions.
• Assist with plan reviews for subdivisions and on-site evaluations of sewage and water facilities.
• Prepare technical reports and testify as an expert witness when needed.
• Serve as liaison with industry bodies and government agencies; respond to public health concerns.

Skills

Environmental investigations

Inspections

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Public health knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology/chemistry/physics/environmental science

Tools

Computers and environmental inspection software

Job description

The County of Siskiyou is an Affi We welcome applicants of any race, religion, or ancestry.

Under general direction, provides support to the Director of Environmental Health and/or designee to perform complex inspections and investigations in the enforcement of federal, state, county, and local environmental health, safety, and hazardous materials laws, rules, regulations, and standards; serves as a specialist in a designated area of environmental health; attends training in a designated area of environmental health; acts as a program liaison with federal, state, and other agencies as appropriate; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the fully experienced journey level in the Environmental Health Specialist class series. Incumbents in this class are Registered Environmental Health Specialists and conduct complex inspections and investigations in a broad range of Environmental Health areas on an independent basis. This class is distinguished from Environmental Health Specialist II by requiring that incumbents must demonstrate a sound knowledge of at least one designated program and act as the departmental resource for that designated program. range of duties. Incumbents in this class are expected to serve in a stand-by capacity for dealing with hazardous materials emergencies.

REPORTS TO

Director of Environmental Health, Land Use Manager, Waste Management Unit Manager, Consumer Protection Unit Manager.

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED

This is not a supervisory class. However, incumbents may provide some guidance to Environmental Health Specialists I and II.

Essential Functions:

Conducts complex inspections to secure compliance with federal, state and local sanitation laws and regulations governing food handling establishments, sewage disposal systems, substandard housing, land use, swimming pools, recreational health facilities, water supply systems, solid waste management, public nuisances, toxic/hazardous waste materials, zoning, underground storage tanks, and other areas; acts as a liaison with related industry professional organizations and interested general public; recommends changes and provides instruction for deficiency and violation corrections; advises food handlers and restaurant operators on correct sanitation methods; conducts special investigations in response to public complaints; conducts sanitation surveys and confers with local officials on sanitation problems; conducts investigations of insect nuisances or infestations; works with solid waste issues and problems, including illegal garbage dumping; makes inspections of public and private recreational facilities and swimming pools; makes housing inspections to determine health and safety compliance with appropriate laws and
standards; inspects facilities to minimize future health threats; takes water, sewage, soil, and waste samples, interpreting data; interprets environmental health laws and regulations for the public; reviews plans for new subdivisions, conducting on-site inspections to ensure suitable water and sewage facilities; reviews and recommends changes in building plans to comply with Environmental Health regulations and standards; conducts on-site evaluations of sewage disposal systems; conducts studies and evaluates information regarding underground storage tanks and other hazardous materials storage, treatment, disposal, reduction, and reuse; completes reports of findings; initiates non-compliance legal actions, filing criminal complaints in court, or scheduling an administrative hearing, as appropriate; assists with the development of Division rules and ordinances; develops abatement recommendations for environmental health problems; issues permits for wells, food handing establishments, septic systems, and hazardous and medical waste facilities; develops and writes technical reports; prepares correspondence regarding a variety of issues; testifies in court as an expert witness.

Knowledge of:

• Policies and procedures of the Environmental Health Division and the Public Health Department.
• Laws, rules, regulations, requirements and procedures governing environmental health inspection and enforcement.
• Chemical, biological, physical, and environmental sciences.
• Principles and practices of environmental health, including inspection, review, compliance, and consultation methods and practices.
• Functions and operations of state and federal environmental health agencies.
• Sampling techniques and standards.
• Computers and software used in environmental inspections and investigations.

Desired Skills:

• Perform a variety of environmental health and hazardous waste investigations, inspections, and enforcement.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data, reaching valid conclusions.
• Read and interpret and apply policies, regulations, and procedures regarding environmental health inspections and compliance.
• Prepare a variety of technical reports.
• Perform research and analytical work.
• Operate a variety of office and technical equipment and computers in the performance of environmental health inspections and investigations.
• Provide instruction, guidance, and consultation on environmental problems.
• Effectively represent the Environmental Health Division of the Public Health Department in contacts with the public, other county staff, and other government agencies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Training and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the listed duties is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be:

Five years of experience performing a variety of environmental investigations and inspections equivalent to an Environmental Health Specialist II with Siskiyou County.

A minimum of two years experience in a designated environmental health program, attending related training, acting as program resource assuming increasing level of program responsibility as determined by the Director of Environmental Health.

Education equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university with a major in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or a closely related field. The Environmental Health Department is comprised of three divisions, consumer protection, landuse, and hazardous materials. The consumer protection and landuse divisions require possession of a valid Registered Environmental Health Speacalist (REHS) card issued by the Californina Department of Public Health (CDPH). Applicants that seek to work within the hazardous materials division are not required to be an REHS, however a minimum of five years of work experience with hazardous materials/waste is required.

Special Requirements:

-Possession of a valid and appropriate driver's license.

-Possession of a valid Environmental Health registration issued by the State Department of Health Services.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; crawl through various areas on hands and knees; stand, walk or crouch on narrow and slippery surfaces; climb ladders, stairs, and scaffolding; ability to lift and move objects weighing up to 25 pounds; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, and FAX; use of combustible gas meter, chlorine and PH spectrophotometer, and other applicable environmental monitoring and sampling devices.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is usually performed in office, outdoor, and driving environments; some work is performed in varying temperatures and humidity; exposure to high levels of noise; some exposure to dust; exposure to hazardous waste and materials; continuous contact with other staff and the public.