Environmental Health Specialist I

County of Mendocino•Ukiah, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The list developed from this recruitment will be used for a limited period to fill open and promotional, regular full-time, and part-time positions throughout the County, should they occur. Pursuant to current bargaining unit agreements, employees regularly assigned to the coastal region or in Covelo are eligible to receive a 5% assignment premium. The current vacancy is in Ukiah. Under general supervision performs a variety of basic technical functions to assure compliance with local, state and federal public health and environmental laws and regulations, including: advising the public regarding related matters; investigating complaints; preparing various reports; inspecting facilities; reviewing plans and applications; and issuing permits. Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged to apply. Se buscan personas bilingües en inglés y español. Para recibir una solicitud en español, llame a Recursos Humanos al 234-6600.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, including 30 semester units of basic sciences, or equivalent from a four-year college in Biology, Environmental Health, or related; and notification from the California Department of Health Services that candidate has met minimum standards as an environmental health specialist trainee; or, when possessing notification from CA DHS of trainee eligibility, a combination of higher education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Valid driver's license
Knowledge of: Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, codes, laws, rules and regulations and legislative issues.
Basic principles of physical, biological and social science as related to public health and environmental quality control.
Methods and techniques of inspecting and making investigations of hazardous material handlers, facilities and criminal violations.
Microbiology, chemistry, mathematics, statistical analysis, hydraulics, hydrology, science soil morphology and physics.
Vector control measures.
Proper food handling procedures.
Proper design and operation of pumps, piping, valves, filter and other equipment associated with pools and spas.
Nature, generation, use, treatment, storage, disposal, release and clean up of hazardous materials and waste.
Design and operation of fuel delivery stations.
Basic hydraulics.
Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Internal departmental policies and procedures.
External governmental bodies and agencies related to area of assignment.
All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.
Standard business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.
Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.
General office procedures, policies and practices, as well as knowledge of computer and other general office equipment.
Skill in: Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
Using a computer to accurately and rapidly enter and retrieve data and information.
Communicating orally with internal staff, citizens, and other departmental staff in order to give and receive information in a courteous manner.
Operating and routine maintenance of general office machines such as copiers, facsimile machines, telephone systems, and two-way radio base stations.
Mental and Physical Abilities: Compile and evaluate data and make recommendations.
Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, etc.
Interpret lab results and prepare clear reports.
Understand and carry out written and oral instructions, giving close attention to detail and accuracy.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
Deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.
Perform the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit.
While performing the essential functions of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to: stand, walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; speak and hear; and push, pull, move, or lift above and below the neck objects weighing up to 25 pounds

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Meets with and/or advises the public, contractors, business representatives, etc., concerning public health and environmental issues, including: explaining applicable laws, regulations and fees; responding via letter, telephone and personal inquiry; assisting in completing business plans.
Investigates routine complaints, including: collecting evidence, taking samples of food, soil and water for laboratory analysis; reviewing analytical lab reports to determine if further investigation is needed; preparing reports; making referrals; and forwarding information to law enforcement or legal officials.
Prepares complex, routine and non-routine reports as requested utilizing a variety of software; receives, sorts, and summarizes material for the preparation of reports; prepares work reports; and relays and interprets administrative decisions, policies and instructions.
Reviews and approves annual underground storage tank operations certificate submissions and other public health and environmental documents, certificates, reports, etc.
Investigates complaints of illegal handling, storage, disposal or release of hazardous materials.
Monitors safety procedures and practices at underground storage tank removal and closures.
Inspects businesses storing or handling hazardous materials and businesses generating or treating hazardous waste.
Reviews applications, issues permits and conducts field inspections related to handling and treatment of hazardous materials; underground storage tanks, well construction, destruction and repair; and other projects under the divisions jurisdiction.
Reviews applications and building plans and conducts construction inspections of new or remodeled food facilities and public pools and spas.
Inspects public food facilities, small public water systems and public pools and spas for compliance with state health laws and regulations; issues written reports identifying violations and compliance requirements.
Reviews quarterly monitoring reports of small public water systems for compliance with state regulations.
Reviews and approves plans for new small public water systems, septic systems, new and remodeled food facilities, and new and remodeled public pools and spas for compliance with state regulations.
Conducts inspections of housing units to locate vermin, vectors, refuse, poor water quality and other health and safety concerns; follows up to assure compliance and/or refer cases to law enforcement agencies or legal entities.
Approves, processes and comments on various coastal permits, making sure coastal projects meet County requirements for water and septic services.
Reviews applications and recommends conditions that must be met; reviews reports that satisfy conditions and notifies senior staff.
Reviews building permits and applications and collects information pertaining to application from other agencies.
Reviews applications, issues permits and conducts inspections of water wells.
With the assistance of senior staff, develops designs for on-site sewage disposal systems in repair situations; reviews mathematical calculations and performs field checks of soil reports and on-site sewage system designs for compliance with state and local laws and regulations; issues permits for construction; inspects construction for compliance with approved design.
Collects shellfish samples and sends to state lab for detection of paralytic toxins.
Inspects organized camps and special events to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Reviews hazardous materials business plans for completeness and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Conducts routine inspections of solid waste facilities.
Inspects and issues permits for septic tank cleaning and refuse disposal trucks.
Drafts guidelines and procedures for underground storage tank permit compliance per state and federal laws.
Reviews and implements new laws and regulations.
Maintains and calibrates equipment and meters, including: scheduling maintenance; and taking inventory of supplies and equipment.
Updates and maintains computer database information and related documents, records and files.
Maintains and upgrades knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars, meetings and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
Reports administrative and/or operational problems to supervisor.
Disseminates a variety of information and/or reports to various agencies, divisions, or departments via telephone, mail, email or fax.
May serve as backup for other positions within the department.
Performs other related duties as assigned.