Environmental Health Specialist I

About the role

The Position The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions throughout the County, should they occur.

Responsibilities

• Meets with and/or advises the public, contractors, business representatives, etc., concerning public health and environmental issues, including: explaining applicable laws, regulations and fees; responding via letter, telephone and personal inquiry; assisting in completing business plans.
• Investigates routine complaints, including: collecting evidence, taking samples of food, soil and water for laboratory analysis; reviewing analytical lab reports to determine if further investigation is needed; preparing reports; making referrals; and forwarding information to law enforcement or legal officials.
• Prepares complex, routine and non-routine reports as requested utilizing a variety of software; receives, sorts, and summarizes material for the preparation of reports; prepares work reports; and relays and interprets administrative decisions, policies and instructions.
• Reviews and approves annual underground storage tank operations certificate submissions and other public health and environmental documents, certificates, reports, etc.
• Investigates complaints of illegal handling, storage, disposal or release of hazardous materials.
• Maintains and calibrates equipment and meters, including: scheduling maintenance; and taking inventory of supplies and equipment.
• Updates and maintains computer database information and related documents, records and files.
• Maintains and upgrades knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars, meetings and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
• Reports administrative and/or operational problems to supervisor.
• Disseminates a variety of information and/or reports to various agencies, divisions, or departments via telephone, mail, email or fax.
• May serve as backup for other positions within the department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree, including 30 semester units of basic sciences, or equivalent from a four-year college in Biology, Environmental Health, or related; and notification from the California Department of Health Services that candidate has met minimum standards as an environmental health specialist trainee; or, when possessing notification from CA DHS of trainee eligibility, a combination of higher education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Licenses And Certifications: Valid driver's license.
• Knowledge Of: Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, codes, laws, rules and regulations and legislative issues; Basic principles of physical, biological and social science as related to public health and environmental quality control; Methods and techniques of inspecting and making investigations of hazardous material handlers, facilities and criminal violations; Microbiology, chemistry, mathematics, statistical analysis, hydraulics, hydrology, science soil morphology and physics; Vector control measures; Proper food handling procedures; Proper design and operation of pumps, piping, valves, filter and other equipment associated with pools and spas; Nature, generation, use, treatment, storage, disposal, release and clean up of hazardous materials and waste; Design and operation of fuel delivery stations; Basic hydraulics; Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary; Internal departmental policies and procedures; External governmental bodies and agencies related to area of assignment; All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job; Standard business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals; Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques; General office procedures, policies and practices, as well as knowledge of computer and other general office equipment.
• Skill In: Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines; Using a computer to accurately and rapidly enter and retrieve data and information; Communicating orally with internal staff, citizens, and other departmental staff in order to give and receive information in a courteous manner; Operating and routine maintenance of general office machines such as copiers, facsimile machines, telephone systems, and two-way radio base stations.

Qualifications

• Compiles and evaluates data and makes recommendations.
• Interprets lab results and prepares clear reports.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with others.
• Adds, subtracts, multiplies and divides whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
• Deals with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.
• Performs the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to: sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, speak and hear, and push, pull, move, or lift above and below the neck objects weighing up to 25 pounds.