Environmental Health Specialist- Food Lodging & Institutions

About the role

The Richmond County Health Department is recruiting for an Environmental Health Specialist. Responsibilities will involve a variety of Environmental Health programs including daily enforcement of State laws and rules pertaining primarily to food, lodging, institutions, childhood lead poisoning, childcare centers, tattoo establishments and swimming pools.

Responsibilities

• Enforce State laws and rules related to food, lodging, institutions, childhood lead poisoning, childcare centers, tattoo establishments and swimming pools
• Conduct inspections and investigations using established environmental health methods and techniques
• Educate business and property owners and the public on protecting and promoting public health
• Develop and deliver formal environmental health training programs

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of environmental health procedures, policies, statutes, and rules, as well as job-specific program areas
• Considerable knowledge of public health law, microbiology, biology, chemistry, food science, epidemiology, soil science, and basic engineering technology as applied to environmental health practices
• Working knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies involved in environmental health work
• Working knowledge of the interrelationship between socio-economic factors and environmental health concerns
• Working knowledge of inspection methods and investigation techniques as applied in environmental health
• Ability to analyze and comprehend a wide variety of technical and administrative regulations, records, and reports
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and deal tactfully with a wide range of public contacts while enforcing public health laws and regulations
• Ability to develop and express ideas and opinions concisely, comprehensively, and clearly in oral and written form
• Ability to independently plan and schedule work activities
• Ability to apply environmental health standards, guidelines, statutes, rules, knowledge, and techniques in the investigation of environmental health problems

Educational Requirements

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with 30 semester hours of course work in the physical or biological sciences and two years of experience in environmental health, or
• A four-year or Master’s degree in environmental health from a program accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Curricula of the National Environmental Health Association and one year of experience in environmental health

Physical Requirements

• Frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force
• Regularly standing and walking
• Frequently speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and repetitive motions
• Occasionally sitting, climbing or balancing, tasting or smelling and lifting
• Close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision
• Vocal communication for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions
• Hearing to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications
• Preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities
• Regular exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Frequent exposure to fumes or airborne particles, extreme cold (non-weather) and extreme heat (non-weather)
• Occasional wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to the risk of electrical shock, wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus, exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment and snakes and ticks
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g., business office, light traffic)

Supplemental Information

• Must be registered or eligible to be registered as an Environmental Health Specialist with the N.C. State Board of Registered Environmental Health Examiners
• All interns must obtain NC Environmental Health Specialist certification within three years of hire
• Must possess a valid license in the State of North Carolina