Environmental Health Specialist III

About the role

This is a Regular, Full-Time (1.0 FTE) position. This position is the fifth level in the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) series and works under the direction of an EHS Supervisor or Program Manager. An employee assigned to this classification works independently as a subject matter expert (SME) and technical lead, mentoring and training technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service to the public and industry professionals on environmental health topics, applications, permits, applicable fees, and related codes in person, over the phone, and through written communication.
• Conduct and oversee complex inspections and regulatory compliance assessments of permitted facilities, field sites, and regulatory applications (e.g., food establishments, schools, solid waste facilities, land development, plan review) to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Perform comprehensive investigations of various facilities and environmental incidents (e.g., foodborne or waterborne illnesses), including hazardous spills or disease outbreaks.
• Prepare detailed reports and communication, maintain accurate records of inspections, incidents, and data; potentially provide expert testimony in court related to documentation.
• Accurately input information and documentation into database systems and maintain detailed records.
• Provide educational outreach, consultation, and training to communities, businesses, and individuals on environmental health issues, best practices, regulatory requirements, and safe procedures.
• Cookordination the activities of an assigned environmental health program, which includes planning, organizing, and coordinating work with the department and with external partners such as federal, state, and local agencies.
• Provide operational guidance, technical oversight, comprehensive training, mentorship, and review the work of a team of environmental health specialists, pool inspectors, and permit technicians, to include office work, field work, and other aspects of the regulatory process.
• Document performance to share with the direct supervisor, provide feedback, and often provide input on performance evaluations.
• Contribute subject matter expertise in policy development and program planning.

Requirements

• Intermediate knowledge of standard Microsoft Office programs and databases.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws applicable to the body of work.
• Advanced and technical knowledge of environmental health principles, practices, and techniques.
• Skilled in planning, organizing, and leading work activities to meet established objectives.
• Skilled in coaching, mentoring, training, and educational outreach.
• Intermediate knowledge of math and science and their application to environmental health principles.
• Skilled in collecting, organizing, analyzing, compiling, recording, and assessing data.
• Skilled in maintaining sensitive and confidential data and using discretion when sharing information.
• Skilled in communication: Listens to others and communicates in an effective manner. Asks questions in ways that enhance the clarity, quality, and reliability of information. Understands and learns from what others say, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Grasps the meaning of written information and applies it to work situations. Conveys ideas and facts using language the audience will best understand, taking into consideration the audience and nature of the information. Writes in a clear, concise, and organized manner for the intended audience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in environmental science, public health, or other related science field.
• 4 years of experience in an environmental health specialist role.
• Registered Sanitarian (RS)/Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) Certification or two additional years of experience in an EHS role.