ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST I (TEMPORARY)

The Los Angeles County Department of Human Resources is hiring a temporary Environmental Health Specialist I. This trainee position involves extensive training in environmental health inspections and investigations, ensuring compliance with public health laws. Responsibilities include inspecting food establishments, investigating complaints about sanitation issues, and engaging with community groups. The role requires close supervision and offers hands-on experience in environmental health practices.
Position/Program Information

Exam Number

PH5670G

First Day Of Filing

Beginning Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at 8:30 a.m., Pacific Time (PT)

Until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

Type Of Recruitment

Open Competitive Job Opportunity

Position Information

As a trainee, learns techniques for conducting environmental health inspections and investigations.

Classification Standards

Under close administrative and technical supervision, positions allocable to this class receive a maximum of two years of extensive formal and on-the-job training in techniques and procedures for conducting environmental health inspections, investigations, and enforcement, as well as application of these techniques and procedures in the field, in compliance with Federal, State, and County public health laws, and with policies and procedures governing the environmental health program.

Essential Job Functions

Attends formal training sessions to receive instruction in environmental management principles, methods, and techniques and orientation to the organization, departmental policies, and procedures of the Environmental Health Program.

Learns to conduct periodic inspections of food establishments and restaurants for proper sanitary conditions by reviewing and observing to ensure that food is unspoiled, properly labeled, stored, handled, and protected from contaminants.

Reviews and observes utensil washing and sanitizing procedures by testing water temperatures and cleaning agents and facilities to ensure that these meet Federal, State, and local legal requirements.

Ensures that food equipment, such as stoves, and refrigerators, and other cooking equipment and appliances are clean and in good repair.

Learns to conduct investigations of complaints concerning the infestation of rodents, and inspects by examining premises for evidence of infestation such as telltale signs and avenues of entry and placing poisons.

Learns to conduct investigations of complaints regarding improper disposal of garbage, rubbish and sewage, and other unsanitary conditions in buildings, dwellings and retail food or other establishments by conducting inspections of premises for adequate disposal facilities.

Learns to conduct investigations concerning the disposal of garbage, rubbish and sewage under public health laws by inspecting the collection trucks, sanitary landfills, recycle sites, and refuse transfer stations used by private residential refuse collectors operating in unincorporated areas and contract cities to ensure that collection trucks are in good repair, properly covered and no spillage, and that landfills, recycle sites, and refuse transfer stations do not provide insect or rodent harborage or emit excessive odors or dust.

Meets with community groups within an assigned area and attempts to establish rapport for the purpose of solving problems related to environmental health.

Learns to participate in prosecution of environmental sanitation cases of non-compliance with public health laws and regulations by preparing evidence such as meat samples and the findings of laboratory technicians who conducted the tests, completing inspection forms, attending office hearings, conferring with city or the district attorney, and testifying in court as a representative of the Department of Public Health.

Maintains records of work performed.

Requirements

Selection Requirements:

Meet the following requirements at the time of filing in order to move forward in the exam process.
• A Bachelor's degree* from an accredited college, university, or educational institution approved by the California State Department of Public Health (CSDPH)or an educational institution of collegiate grade approved by the American Council on Education
• A letter** from the California State Department of Public Health verifying eligibility to work as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee, dated no earlier than 30 months from the date of application.
• A valid California Class C Driver License.***

Physical Class

3 - Moderate. Includes standing or walking most of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching; includes working on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

Special Requirement Information
• *In order to receive credit for any type of college or university degree, such as a Bachelor's Degree or higher, you must attach a legible copyof the Official Diploma, Official Transcript(s), or Official Letter from the accredited institution, which shows the area of specialization and the date the degree was awarded, with Registrar's signature and school seal, to the application.
• Foreign degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to United States accredited institutions standards by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). (see Employment Information under Accreditation Information)
• **A legible photocopy of the required letter from the CSDPH, dated no earlier than 30 months from the date of the application, verifying eligibility to work as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee must be attached to the application at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach the photocopy of the letter to the application you may e-mail the document to HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov within 15 calendar days of filing. If submitted after the time frame your application will be considered incomplete and not accepted.
• For information on how to obtain the letter from the California State Department of Public Health (CSDPH) verifying eligibility to work as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee, you may call (916) 449-5662 or click on the link below: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/REHS/REHS.aspx
• ***A legible photocopy of the required valid California Class C Driver License must be attached to the application at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach the photocopy of the license to the application you may e-mail it to HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov within 15 calendar days of filing. If submitted after the time frame your application will be considered incomplete and not accepted.
• Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain and present a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant's driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. Driver license must not be currently suspended, restricted, or revoked.

Desirable Qualifications

Credit will be given to applicants who possess the following desirable qualifications.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Access, or PowerPoint.
• Experience preparing or assisting in gathering and preparing information for various reports, correspondence or presentations.
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.

Additional Information

Examination Content:

Our examination will consist of an evaluation of the requirements and evaluation of experience based on desirable qualifications and supplemental questionnaire at the time of filing weighted 100%.

Applicants must meet the requirements listed above and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination content in order to be added to the hiring list (Eligible Register) for consideration of employment.

Passing this examination and being added to the Eligible Register does not guarantee an offer of employment.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS.

Vacancy Information

The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill temporary vacancies in the Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services as they occur.

What To Expect Next
• We ask that you submit an application through the "Apply" link at the top of the opportunity posting using your own user ID and password (using a family member or friend's user ID may erase a candidate's original application record). Applications must be filed online only. You can also track the status of your application using this website.
• The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the requirements stated above.
• Complete applications will be processed on an "as-received" basis and those qualified candidates with a passing score on the assessment will be promulgated to the eligible register accordingly.
• The names of the qualified candidates with a passing score in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of promulgation.

Fair Chance Employer: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction

history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individual

assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

Have any questions about anything? Please contact us using the following information:

Available Shift: Any

California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077

Exam Number: PH5670G

Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst

Department Contact Phone: (213) 684-8726

Department Contact Email: HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit: https://employee.hr.lacounty.gov/eeo-programs/ .

Testing Accommodations For Applicants

The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit: https://hr.lacounty.gov/accessibility/ .

Fair Chance

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Employment Eligibility

Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.

Career PathFinder

Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at http://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov .

Revised January 2025