Environmental Health Specialist II

Howard County•Howard, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This Environmental Health Specialist II position functions as a plan reviewer and field inspector for Howard County Health Department, Bureau of Environmental Health. This regulatory agency is charged with the responsibility for the prevention of disease transmission through environmental factors. Various inspections and complaint follow-ups are conducted at licensed Retail Food Service Facilities in Howard County in accordance with applicable regulatory standards intended to protect the public’s health. This position is assigned to the Food Protection Program and is not eligible for telework.

Requirements

One year of experience performing inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with environmental health laws and regulations.
Possess and maintain a current license as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist from the Maryland Board of Environmental Health Specialists.
Possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Nice To Haves

Experience performing inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with environmental health laws and regulations.
Experience conducting mandated food service facility inspections.
Experience reviewing architectural plans for food services facilities.
Experience reviewing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans.

Responsibilities

Conducts retail food service facility inspections on a regular schedule to verify compliance with current regulations, by comparing observations to applicable standards.
Conducts graduated enforcement actions in conjunction with inspections.
Performs plan reviews for new food service facilities, facilities undergoing expansion, re-modeling and change of ownership.
Conducts plan review inspections relating to plan review requirements.
Reviews HACCP plans for high and moderate priority facilities to assess the safety of proposed cooking processes by comparing the various planned food preparations to established protocols and standards.
Investigates food borne illness outbreaks, plus applicable facility complaints to determine if a causal agent exists or improper procedures and/or standards are followed to satisfy certain health and safety requirements.
Confers with supervisor in Program to assess appropriate follow-up actions.
Maintains record of inspections, plan review information and program data to quantify program elements and track the required facility, thereby ensuring that the applicable required inspections are being completed and all related inspection activity reporting is conducted.
Possesses a broad understanding of HCHD services and can refer to other programs.
Participates in necessary drills and exercises, responds to emergencies as appropriate, keeps abreast of policies and procedures in the program, bureau and department.
Completes all required trainings.
Participates in quality improvement efforts within the program.
Participation in after-hours on-call emergency response with a personal vehicle available to respond if necessary, maintenance of LEHS registration.