Environmental Health Specialist I/II

Kings County • Hanford, CA

6d

About The Position

The Kings County Department of Public Health is hiring Environmental Health Specialists I/II to help protect community health through environmental health programs. Incumbents inspect facilities, enforce health and safety regulations, respond to environmental concerns, and provide guidance in areas including consumer protection, hazardous materials, drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and land use. Some duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities may be performed in a learning capacity at Level I. Level II incumbents work as registered specialists.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education in biological or physical sciences, environmental health science, or a closely related field, including 30 semester units or equivalent of basic science. Level I requires no experience; Level II requires one year of increasingly responsible experience performing duties equivalent to Environmental Health Specialist I with Kings County. California driver’s license and level-specific California Department of Health Services credentials are required.

Employees must qualify for security clearance through a background investigation and fingerprint check. They must be able to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays; work on-call and overtime as necessary; travel within and outside the County; and become medically certified to use personal protective equipment, including respirators. The recruitment may include application screening, a written examination, and an oral examination, potentially with a written practical component.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent 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.
• Environmental Health Specialist I: No experience required.
• Environmental Health Specialist II: One year of increasingly responsible experience performing duties at a level equivalent to Environmental Health Specialist I with Kings County.
• Valid California driver’s license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.
• Environmental Health Specialist I: Letter of acceptance as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee from the California Department of Health Services.
• Environmental Health Specialist II: Valid California Department of Health Services certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist, maintained throughout employment.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Enforce environmental health and safety laws, rules, and regulations, and interpret specialized environmental health regulations, rules, and policies.
• Inspect retail food establishments, public swimming pools and spas, water systems, and medical waste facilities for compliance; visually assess facilities, collect food and water samples, follow up on complaints, and issue violation notices.
• Conduct housing, detention facility, and school inspections and issue corrective action and violation notices.
• Educate property and business owners, employees, and the public about environmental health regulations and safety, including instructing food service workers in proper food handling.
• Review and approve plans for food facilities, body art facilities, commercial swimming pool facilities, septic systems, and water wells.
• Compile data and prepare comprehensive reports on inspections, investigations, and studies.
• Provide the regulated community and public with information about department policies, procedures, and regulations; respond to inquiries, assistance requests, concerns, and complaints.
• Confer with officials of other public agencies and people in private business.
• Participate in community education and public information efforts.
• Maintain files, databases, and records related to citations and violations; prepare reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Provide training to less experienced staff and volunteers as assigned.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level