Environmental Health Specialist - Food & Lodging

Nash County•Nashville, NC

30d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role involves surveillance, consultation, inspection, and enforcement of state, local, and federal environmental health laws and regulations. Employees may work as generalists across various environmental health programs or specialize in a single program area with additional responsibilities in others. The work may include coordinating technicians and assisting in training new Environmental Health Program Specialists. Complex issues are typically discussed with Environmental Health Program Specialists, Coordinators, or supervisors. The position requires independent planning of short-term work schedules with general instructions, except for complex or controversial issues. Work receives limited technical review after completion and regular administrative review. Decisions made have a direct impact on public health and can affect businesses financially. Improper actions could lead to unhealthy environmental conditions, poisoning, or the spread of communicable diseases, and could cause financial losses to businesses or developers.

Requirements

Working knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures.
Complete understanding of the concepts of public health law.
Practical knowledge of microbiology, biology, chemistry, food science, epidemiology, soil science, entomology, and basic engineering technology as applied to environmental health practices.
General knowledge of community resources.
Working knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies involved in environmental health work.
Working knowledge of the interrelationship between socio-economic factors and environmental health concerns.
Working knowledge of the design of on-site waste water treatment systems, food sanitation, food borne diseases, communicable diseases, vector control, protection of water supplies, solid waste management, and institutional sanitation.
Working knowledge of inspection methods and investigation techniques as applied in environmental health.
Ability to analyze and comprehend a wide variety of technical and administrative regulations, records, and reports.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal tactfully with a wide range of public contacts while enforcing public health laws and regulations.
Ability to motivate and educate business and property owners and the consuming public in matters related to protecting and promoting public health.
Ability to present formal environmental health training programs.
Ability to develop and express ideas and opinions concisely, comprehensively, and clearly in oral and written form.
Ability to independently plan and schedule work activities.
Graduation from a four-year college or university with 30 semester hours of coursework in the physical or biological sciences and two years of experience in environmental health; OR a four-year or Master’s degree in environmental health from an accredited program and one year of experience in environmental health.
Approval for registration as a Sanitarian or registration as a Sanitarian by the North Carolina Board of Sanitarian Examiners prior to employment.
Appointees must be eligible for registration and apply for registration as a Sanitarian Intern within 60 days of employment.

Nice To Haves

Specialization in a single environmental health program area with some additional responsibility in other programs.

Responsibilities

Surveillance, consultation, inspection, and enforcement of environmental health laws and regulations.
Educating the general public on environmental matters.
Providing advice on the correction of environmental problems.
Enforcing state, local, and federal laws relating to the environment.
Coordinating the work and training of technicians.
Assisting in the training of new Environmental Health Program Specialists.
Consulting with Environmental Health Program Specialists, Environmental Health Program Coordinator, or supervisors on complex issues.
Explaining, interpreting, justifying, and obtaining compliance with various laws and rules.
Educating, persuading, and defending controversial or unpopular decisions.
Applying environmental health knowledge and techniques in the investigation of environmental health problems.