Environmental Health Specialist - Pools, Tattoos, and Environmental Health Services

The County of Mecklenburg, NC is seeking an Environmental Health Specialist to enforce health regulations for pools and tattoos. This on-site position in Charlotte, NC involves conducting inspections, investigations, and assessments to ensure compliance with public health laws. Responsibilities include collaborating with operators, reviewing reports, and addressing community health complaints. The salary ranges from $57,346 to $75,266 annually, based on qualifications.
Environmental
Health Specialist - Pools, Tattoos, and Environmental Health Services

“Follow Your Calling, Find Your Career”

Salary Range: $57,346.00 - $75,266.73/year

This is an exempt (salary) position
Pay
rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity.
Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary
history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements
for the job

This role is on-site 5 days a week.

About Us
At Mecklenburg County, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as
you are with support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best
version of you. We’re counting on YOUR unique voice and perspective and help
Mecklenburg County Public Health become even better, too. Join us
and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a healthier world for
all.


As
a member of the Mecklenburg County Public Health team, you will become a
subject matter expert in the public health field. The CDC foundation
explains that “Public health is the science of protecting and improving the
health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by
promoting health lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention,
detecting, preventing, and responding to infectious disease”.

Come be a part of Mecklenburg County’s Public Health department’s vision to
“assure the health and safety of our diverse and changing community today and
for future generations.”

Position
Summary
Performs technical, investigative, and regulatory work to protect and promote
the public’s health by the enforcement of multiple codes and regulations. This
position, under minimal supervision, conducts vector control activities and
evaluates public swimming pools and tattoo establishments to determine the
degree of compliance with state and county laws, rules, and regulations. This
position works to identify public health risk factors and determine what level
of immediate and/or legal remediation is appropriate for the situation.

Essential
Functions
• Work cooperatively with operators of systems and establishments to improve
operational
processes to reduce risk of illness and diagnose problems related to operations
impacting public health and safety.
• Conduct field test, sampling and investigations to assess potential
biological, physical and/or chemical contamination of food, groundwater and the
physical environment to determine sources of and methods for control of
hazards.
• Review inspection reports and monitor follow-up corrective and enforcement
actions and plan to achieve long-term as well as short-term resolutions to
violations that are critical due to lack of compliance with state and local
regulations.
• Investigate complaints from the public, medical referrals and community
illness reports
concerning suspected violations of environmental laws, rules and regulations.
• Coordinate and participate in enforcement actions with external agencies such
as Fire and Police.
•
Prepare reports, correspondence, and other documents concerning complaints and
enforcement activities.
• Consult with management, other state and local governmental agencies and
industry
representatives on food and water safety and environmental concerns.
• Utilize data processing applications involving databases and spreadsheets to
compile, inventory, and manage field testing, sampling and investigations data.
• Provide field training for new employees and other public health personnel.
• Serve as an educational resource to the public, property owners,
establishment operators and their staff about environmental water and food
safety practices designed to prevent the spread of disease.
• Review and approve/disapprove plans for construction, repair, and/or safe
abandonment of onsite wastewater systems and wells; construction or remodeling
of food service establishments, public swimming pools and institutions.
• Issue or modify operational permits when work is completed and in compliance
with local and state requirements.

Minimum
Qualifications
Experience:
Two years of experience or equivalent education and experience in the field of
environmental health practice.

Education:
Educational requirements are mandated by NC General Statute 90A 53(3): graduate
from a
baccalaureate or postgraduate degree program that is accredited by the National
Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC); or
graduate from a baccalaureate or postgraduate degree program that is accredited
by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of
Education, Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) having earned a
minimum of 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the physical or biological
sciences.
Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted?: Yes

Licenses
and Certifications
• Chapter 90A of the NC General Statutes requires that an Environmental Health
Specialist be registered with the NC State Board of Environmental Health
Specialists Examiners as a
“Registered Environmental Health Specialist”
• All requirements for registration, including successfully passing a
comprehensive exam must be met within three years from date of registration or
the incumbent cannot practice in this field.• Requirements to be completed
above the educational standard include: Successful completion of Centralized
Intern Training provided by the NCDHHS (NC Department of Health and Human
Services); Completion of 15 contact hours of Board approved continuing
education annually; Completion of Environmental Health Law course within five
years or initial registration.
• State authorization or licensure in one or more of the following fields:
Food, Lodging and
Institutions (FLI), Child-Care and School Sanitation (CCSS); Childhood Lead
Poisoning
Prevention (CLPP); Public Swimming Pools (PSP); On-Site Wastewater (OSWW);
Tattoo
Sanitation (TATT); Private Wells (Wells); Public Pest Control Operator from NC
Department of Agriculture
• Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License
• Requires County Driving Privileges
• Annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check required

Knowledge,
Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of
• State laws and regulations, county ordinances, administrative rulings, and
judicial decisions that pertain to the area of environmental health and
sanitation
• Communicable diseases, transmission methods and prevention
• Proper sampling techniques and operation of necessary equipment
Skills
• Proper application of rules, interpretations, policies, and procedures; using
effective field
evaluation techniques
• Applying statistical analysis to food, water, and vector-borne illness
outbreaks and other related environmental health issues.
• Utilizing effective written and oral communications, providing exceptional
customer service• Recognizing and respecting diverse ethnic and cultural
backgrounds and the ability to effectively communicate with non- or minimal
English speaking clients
• Using a computer and related database and software applications

Abilities
• Applied Learning: Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a
timely manner• Business Acumen: Using scientific, economic, financial, market
and industry data to understand and improve business results; using one’s
understanding of major business functions, industry trends and own
organization’s position to contribute to effective business strategies and
tactics• Collaboration: Working effectively and cooperatively with others;
establishing and maintaining good working relationships
• Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of
media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps
them understand and retain the information required
• Planning and Organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others
to ensure that work is completed efficiently

Computer
Skills
• Proficient in various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite

Reasonable
Accommodations Statement
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform,
with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function
satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer
Statement
This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related
responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other
duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request.
Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description