ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST - 64085123

State of Florida

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent, an Environmental Health Specialist, is an employee of the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County (DOH – Highlands). The Environmental Health Specialist is expected to work relatively independently but under the supervisor of the Environmental supervisor I-SES, in accordance with inspection standards and timeframes mandated by the agency.  

The incumbent conducts inspections, investigations, and enforcement of Environmental Health programs assigned, to ensure that minimum requirements of the Florida Administrative Codes are maintained. The incumbent in this position will be required to confer with and /or educate both the public and private sector with respect to long range public health matters and disease control for the good of the community. This position will be required to confer with engineers, public officials, and community leaders. When violations of Administrative Codes or threats to public health are identified, this position initiates and then uses progressive legal enforcement to seek corrective action.  

Appropriate documentation of investigative and case work is essential and the use of the various databases. The incumbent is responsible for, but not limited to: The Migrant Farm Worker Housing Program: The incumbent is expected to process annual permits, conduct pre-licensure inspections, routine inspections, re-inspections, complaint investigations, environmental assessments, and required enforcement actions in a times manner to ensure compliance with Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-14 and Florida Statutes Chapters 381 and 386. 

 The Limited Use Public Water System: The incumbent is expected to process annual permits, conduct initial sanitary surveys, routine inspections, re-inspections, investigations, environmental assessments, water sample collection, and required enforcement action in a timely manner to ensure compliance with Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-8 and Florida Statutes Chapters 381 and 386.  

Assist with the process of annual permits and routine inspections, complaint investigations, and required enforcement of other Environmental Health Programs, such as Public Swimming Pools and Bathing Places, Biomedical Waste, Mobile Home & RV Parks, Food, Tanning, Tattoos, Body Art, and Group Care in a timely manner, to ensure they are in compliance with applicable Florida Administrative Codes and Florida Statutes 381 and 386. Incumbent will act as EPH Lead and Coordinator for both the Body Art and Tattoo Programs. This position is able to confer with engineers, public officials, and community leaders. When a violation of Administrative Code or threats to public health is identified, this position initiates and then uses progressive legal enforcement to seek corrections. Appropriate documentation of the investigations and case work performed is essential.

Requirements

• Knowledge of:  Environmental Health Programs and standards, Florida Administrative Codes and Florida Statues related to the duties of this position.
• Skills: use of equipment and supplies related to the position.  Incumbent must be able to lift 40 or more pounds.  Incumbents must be able to work outdoors for most of the day.
• Ability to make observations, take measurements, and relate same to standards in order to identify deviations.
• Ability to perform mathematical functions.
• Ability to reach duty sites as scheduled, perform field work, write reports, and prepare legal notices when necessary.
• Ability to coordinate work activities, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with multi-cultural clients, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to perform computer skills as required by the position held.
• Ability to prepare and present information to clients, the general public, and community partners.
• Ability to lift items up to 40 pounds or use tools to move those items. May be required to work outside in all types of weather extremes, both hot and cold, or in wet conditions caused by rains or other water-related events.
• Lead People: motivate, provide constructive feedback, positive recognition, and organize activities to improve team skills and performance.
• Manage Processes: integrate and effectively utilize all components of the strategic planning process to help DOH Highlands achieve its vision.  Appropriately assesses and allocates resources (financial, human, equipment, and supplies) develop, implement, and evaluate business plans.
• Human relations: working with others in a professional, considerate, and helpful manner, projects a positive image of DOH Highlands staff.
• Initiative: be self-confident, motivated, and enthusiastic drive to perform current job duties and undertake duties of greater responsibility.
• Responsive to Direction: take and give direction; accept and deliver constructive criticism and respond and implement suggestions for improvement.
• Flexibility: accommodating changing situations or plans for satisfactory performance of the job.  Able to change easily from one task to another.
• Technology: navigate the Internet, use office suite and assorted software, and use of technology equipment.
• Communication (Oral &Written): takes the initiative to communicate accurate, up-to-date plans and information to subordinates, peers, and management.  Expresses thoughts clearly, both verbally and in writing.  Listens and understands the views of others.
• Creative Thinking: develop new insights into situations and apply innovative solutions to make organizational improvements; design and implement new or cutting-edge programs/processes.
• Team Building: inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishments.  Consistently develops and sustains cooperative working relationships.  Encourages and facilitates cooperation within the organization and with customer groups, fosters commitment, team spirit, pride, trust.
• Interpersonal Skills: show understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others, relate well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
• Customer Service:  works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work produces including the public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provides information or assistance, resolve their problems or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing excellence in products and services.
• Time Management: manages a variety of responsibilities in a timely, efficient manner and can prioritize tasks, and input of data into data base in a timely manner.
• Emergency Duty: Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal wok hours or days in the event of an emergency. Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelter, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.
• Incumbent must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License, or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.
• High School Diploma or Equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Process annual permits for Migrant Farm Worker Housing Program
• Conduct pre-licensure inspections, routine inspections, re-inspections, complaint investigations, environmental assessments, and required enforcement actions for Migrant Farm Worker Housing Program
• Ensure compliance with Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-14 and Florida Statutes Chapters 381 and 386 for Migrant Farm Worker Housing Program
• Process annual permits for Limited Use Public Water System
• Conduct initial sanitary surveys, routine inspections, re-inspections, investigations, environmental assessments, water sample collection, and required enforcement action for Limited Use Public Water System
• Ensure compliance with Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-8 and Florida Statutes Chapters 381 and 386 for Limited Use Public Water System
• Assist with the process of annual permits and routine inspections, complaint investigations, and required enforcement of other Environmental Health Programs, such as Public Swimming Pools and Bathing Places, Biomedical Waste, Mobile Home & RV Parks, Food, Tanning, Tattoos, Body Art, and Group Care
• Act as EPH Lead and Coordinator for both the Body Art and Tattoo Programs
• Confer with engineers, public officials, and community leaders
• Initiate and use progressive legal enforcement to seek corrections for violations of Administrative Code or threats to public health
• Appropriate documentation of the investigations and case work performed

Benefits

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED