Sanitarian I/Environmental Health Specialist I

Coos Health & Wellness is hiring an Environmental Health Specialist I in Coos Bay, OR. This role involves inspecting and educating on public health regulations, conducting epidemiological investigations, and performing sanitation inspections. Candidates must be eligible for licensing in Oregon. Benefits include vacation, sick leave, health insurance, and professional development support. The position requires in-person work with a typical schedule of Monday to Friday, including occasional weekends and evenings.
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The Public Health Division of Coos Health & Wellness is seeking candidates for the position of Environmental Health Specialist. The EHS I (trainee) must be eligible to be licensed in the State of Oregon under ORS 700 as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee.

Benefits: Annual leave benefit includes 12 days vacation, 12 days sick, 2 personal days and 10 paid holidays. Employer paid PERS. Health Insurance for Employee and Family. Professional development, EHS licensing reimbursement.

Job Overview
This position promotes and protects public health by inspecting, educating, enforcing public health laws and conducting epidemiological investigations where related to environmental health.

The EHS I seeks competence to effectively and independently interpret regulations and perform risk analysis in a broad range of scenarios in the protection of public health and to have discretion in taking regulatory action and in scheduling day to day activities.

Duties &* Essential functions of position. *
• Perform sanitation inspections of food service establishments, schools, day cares, public pools, RV parks, travelers’ accommodations, etc. and assess compliance with regulations.
• Conduct water system surveys. Evaluate public water systems and other regulated water systems. For purposes of mortgage lending institutions evaluate residential water systems; collect water samples and evaluate results.
• Provide surveillance and investigation for reportable disease. Assess rabies risk relevant to animal bites. Conduct epidemiological and/or surveillance investigations for communicable illness. Investigate cases of elevated blood lead levels. Collect and submit specimens for laboratory analysis.
• Communicate findings orally and in writing to subject owners/operators, to other in-house environmental health staff and to other agencies with regulatory interests.
• Prepare and maintain accurate reports, draft warnings of violation, post notices of violation, embargo suspect foods, initiate license revocation process or other regulatory actions according to agency protocol.
• Serve as a community resource. Provide education regarding community environmental risks as assigned. Consult with parties interested in licensing a business for environmental health purposes. Conduct food service plan reviews. Teach food handler certification and/or food service manager certification courses. Respond to or refer community complaints according to agency protocol.
• Participate in emergency planning exercises as relevant to environmental health. Act within the incident command system when necessary.

Working Conditions:

Usual schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with time flexed for frequent weekend and evening inspections or meetings and out-of-town workshops requiring an overnight stay. Requires some lifting, bending, standing or sitting for lengths of time. Must be able to lift and carry 30 lbs and be able to occasionally walk over rough and uneven terrain.

Requirements
• The EHS I (trainee) must be licensed in the state of Oregon under ORS 700 as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
• Ability to infer and deduct cause-effect relationships in a variety of settings and apply scientific principles to promote sanitation and protect public health.
• Ability to interpret and explain complex rules and regulations orally and in writing.
• Skill to effectively respond to an antagonistic person or persons.
• Skill to use a mobile phone, e-mail, text, personal computer functions and internet.
• Knowledge of public health principles and practices.
• Knowledge of communicable disease transmission.

Education and/or experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental sanitation or other training as allowed under ORS 700 to be licensed as an Environmental Health Specialist.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $4,240.00 - $4,965.00 per month

Benefits:
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:
• 10 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:
• Coos Bay, OR 97420 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:
• Coos Bay, OR 97420: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person