Environmental Health Specialist I

Kings County is hiring an Environmental Health Specialist I for the Public Health Department in Hanford, CA. The role involves inspecting and enforcing environmental health regulations, including consumer protection and sanitation. This entry-level position requires close supervision initially, with duties such as inspecting food establishments, conducting inspections, and providing educational information. Candidates will work towards obtaining state registration as an Environmental Health Specialist.
The Kings County Public Health Department is currently seeking qualified individuals for the position of:

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST I

There are multiple vacancies for Environmental Health Specialist I in the Public Health Department. The successful candidates will perform professional work involved in the inspection and enforcement of various environmental health program areas including, but not limited to: consumer protection, hazardous materials, environmental quality, emergency response, drinking water sanitation, solid waste disposal, wastewater disposal, land use, and vector control.

Future vacancies for this position may be filled from the eligible list to be established. The typical life of this eligible list is six months.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Environment Health Specialist I: This is the entry-level, non-registered classification in the professional Environmental Health Specialist series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents learn and perform routine environmental inspection and enforcement duties. While working toward a State of California Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist, and as experience is gained, assignments become more varied, complex, and difficult; close supervision and frequent review of work lessen as an incumbent demonstrates skill to perform the work independently. Incumbents at this level usually perform most of the duties required at the II-level but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise.

DUTY SAMPLE

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Some duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities may be performed in a learning capacity for entry-level (I Level) positions.
• Performs regulation and enforcement of environmental health safety laws, rules, and regulations; interprets the more specialized environmental health regulations, rules, and policies related to environmental health program areas.
• Inspects retail food establishments, public swimming pools and spas, water systems and medical waste facilities for compliance with applicable health codes; visually inspects for conformance with applicable codes and regulations; collects required food and water samples; follows up on complaints; writes and issues violation notices.
• Conducts housing, detention facilities, and school inspections and issues corrective action and violation notices.
• Provides educational information to property and business owners, employees, and the public on environmental health regulations and safety; instructs food service workers on the proper handling of food.
• Performs plan review and approval of food facilities, body art facilities, commercial swimming pool facilities, septic systems, and water wells.
• Compiles data for and prepares comprehensive reports related to inspections, investigations, and studies completed.
• Provides general information to the regulated community and public regarding department policies, procedures, and regulations; receives and responds to inquiries, requests for assistance, concerns, and complaints from the public regarding division activities and programs.
• Confers with officials of other public agencies and persons with private business.
• Participates in community education and public information efforts.
• Maintains files, databases, and records related to citations and violations; prepares a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Provides training to less experienced staff and volunteers as assigned.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

A detailed job specification is available by clicking the link below:

Environmental Health Specialist I

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Minimum requirements must be met by the closing date

Please note: Work experience for the last 15 years must be included in the work history portion of your application. It is also important that your application show all the relevant education and experience that you possess, even if it extends beyond the required past 15 years. A resume may be attached, but it is not a substitute for completing the application and supplemental questions. Failure to submit a completed application may eliminate you from the recruitment.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education:
• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in biological or physical sciences, environmental health science, or a closely related field, including 30 semester units, or equivalent, of basic science.

Experience:
• None required.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Licenses:
• Possession of a valid California driver's license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.

Certifications:
• Possession of a letter of acceptance as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee from the California Department of Health Services.

NOTE: Applicants must attach a copy of their letter of acceptance as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee from the California Department of Health Services. If a letter is not attached, your application will be considered incomplete. For more information on how to add attachments to your application, click here.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualify for security clearance through a background investigation and fingerprint check. Ability to work irregular hours including evenings, weekends and holidays, work on-call and overtime as necessary, and travel within and outside the County. Ability to become medically certified to use personal protective equipment including respirators.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

When assigned to an office environment:

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various County and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds.

When assigned to a field environment:

Must possess mobility to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; to reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, stoop, squat, crouch, and grasp; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light to medium physical work, to work in confining spaces and around machines; vision to visually inspect, read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone or radio. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above-mentioned tools and equipment. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Employees predominately work in the field and occasionally be exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous chemical substances and fumes. Employees may work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with members of the public or with staff under emotionally stressful conditions while interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
• To contact the California Department of Public Health for information regarding the above education/experience standards and how to become a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), please click here.

For information regarding the application process to generate the Letter of Eligibility and transcript evaluation, please click here (Download PDF reader).

For information regarding educational requirements, please click here (Download PDF reader).

For additional information, please click here. (Download PDF reader)

You will be required to e-mail the State of California to request the REHS application package. If you do not qualify to be certified as an REHS, but qualify as an EHS Trainee, you will be sent the evaluation letter from the California Department of Public Health which states that the applicant is eligible to begin training in an approved environmental health program. This process can take a minimum of 4-6 weeks; if you are interested in this position, BEGIN THIS PROCESS NOW.

SELECTION PROCESS: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed. Depending upon the number of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, the examination process may include a screening committee (pass/fail) and/or a written examination (pass/fail) and/or an oral examination (100%), which may include a written practical component to determine placement on the eligible list.