Tobacco Control Specialist - Time Limited - Health Department

Salt Lake County invites you to explore our exciting career opportunities. We seek highly enthusiastic individuals to enrich our County with your experience and talent. If you enjoy working in a team environment that is committed to changing the lives of its community, please keep reading.

About the role

Coordinates and implements Tobacco Control program activities such as permitting, inspections, education, enforcement, underage tobacco sales, and Utah Indoor Clean Air Act (UICAA) complaints in accordance with federal, state, county, and health department laws, policies, rules, ordinances, and regulations. This position resides in the Salt Lake County Health Department, Environmental Health Division.

This job conducts activities pertaining to tobacco control including permitting, education, inspections and enforcement of tobacco retail businesses, coordinates underage sale audits with law enforcement, investigates Utah Indoor Clean Air Act (UICAA) complaints and acts as subject matter expert and liaison to State and local agencies for tobacco control initiatives including development and implementation of ordinances, regulations, rules and laws.

Responsibilities

• Conducts inspections and complaint investigations, surveys, monitors, and investigates places and individuals for UICAA, tobacco retailer, e-cigarette and other tobacco violations and determines compliance with State and Local Health Department rules, ordinances, regulations, and laws.
• Develops and delivers warning letters, notices, and orders to businesses in non-compliance with tobacco laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations.
• Processes, reviews, approves, and denies permit plans and applications for compliance with tobacco retailer laws, rules, and health regulations.
• Works with State and local agencies, businesses, organizations, and the public on enforcement actions and verifies tobacco retailers meet the planning and zoning requirements in applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• Works with Environmental Health and Community Health Divisions to educate business owners, employees, and the public concerning tobacco retailer, e-cigarette, and Utah Indoor Clean Air Act laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations.
• Assists with hiring, training, on-boarding, and supervising temporary employees and/or interns for tobacco control initiatives.
• Acts as a consultant and provides technical advice pertaining to tobacco control, UICAA, and tobacco retailers.
• Researches and maintains knowledge of current and proposed tobacco legislation, laws, policies, regulations, and guidelines.
• Assists in developing, planning, implementing, and evaluating health education, behavior risk reduction, and outreach programs.
• Prepares, presents, maintains, and evaluates reports, documents and data in a timely manner.
• Works with legal counsel and testifies as a witness in court or administrative hearings.
• Works with the tobacco team and plans, implements, and evaluates tobacco control programs.
• Serves on committees at the Department, State, and local level pertaining to tobacco education and enforcement.
• Collects, analyzes, enters, and retrieves data.
• Collects and maintains samples and evidence.
• Maintains filing systems and performs accurate records management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Health Education, Health Science, Environmental Health, Public Health, or related degree; OR an equivalent combination of related education and experience.
• Due to the nature of this position, the successful applicant must pass a required background check through fingerprinting and enrollment in the continuous RAP Back (Record of Arrest and Prosecution Back) program in accordance with current County Human Resources policy requirements.
• A valid Driver’s License accepted by the State of Utah is required at the time of hire. A valid Driver’s License issued by the State of Utah must be obtained within six (6) months of hire to operate a County vehicle.

Skills

• Knowledge of Public Health Principles
• Federal, state, local, and health department laws, policies, rules, and regulations related to tobacco control and environmental health
• Legal, regulatory, and enforcement procedures and practices
• Principles, methods, and techniques for conducting field and other special investigations in scientific research and sample collection
• County, department and division policies and procedures, programs, goals, mission, and services
• Report writing and preparation
• Conflict resolution
• Business and Tax Licensing
• Effectively apply general principles to specific conditions and situations
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, private groups and individuals
• Work effectively with people from a variety of social, ethnic, economic, educational, and professional backgrounds
• Defend and follow oral and written instructions, laws, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations
• Work with minimum supervision and act independently when appropriate
• Train and motivate others, and appropriately effect change in ideas and attitudes
• Plan and conduct research
• Operate computer and other program related equipment
• Deal professionally and tactfully with upset individuals and diffuse conflicting situations
• Respond adequately to problems and utilize problem solving techniques
• Work with computer software and other program-related tools

Benefits

• 12 Holidays, up to 24 vacation days, 12 sick days and one personal day every year
• Retirement options for hybrid pension/401(k) or 401(k) only with a 10% contribution
• Medical coverage including a 100% county paid premium option
• Dental and Vision coverage including coverage for adult designees
• Health Savings account with a county contribution up to $1200/year
• Flexible Spending Account
• 100% county-paid Long-Term Disability and Short-Term Disability option
• Professional Development including professional membership fees paid
• Onsite medical clinic, childcare and gym
• Hospital insurance, pet insurance, auto and home insurance, and discounts at County facilities

Schedule

This position works Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with periodic weekends and after-hours required.

Working Conditions

• Requires work in tobacco retail establishments and other community settings, including regulated entities.
• Some bending and kneeling may be required.
• Riding in cars for extended periods during compliance checks while recording data.