ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 64005919

State of Florida • West Vero Corridor, FL

7d • $42,000 - $44,000 • Onsite

About The Position

This position involves professional environmental health work under the general supervision of an Environmental Supervisor. Responsibilities include conducting application/project reviews, site inspections or surveys, reviewing/preparing reports, correspondence, legal notices, sample collection, data entry and analysis, or other comparable environmental health work. The role also includes investigating reported communicable diseases of environmental origin. The position utilizes knowledge of quality improvement (QI) methods and processes to identify opportunities for improvement and foster a culture of quality within the Department of Health (DOH)-Indian River, assisting in improvement projects as assigned. The specialist performs site inspections of various regulated facilities such as food service establishments, group care establishments, public swimming pools, mobile home parks, biomedical waste generators, and tanning salons to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. Additionally, inspections are conducted for private and limited use wells, small quantity generators, and onsite sewage disposal systems. The role involves completing inspection reports, daily activity reports with documentation, preparing reports, legal notices, and correspondence. Sample collection includes water (drinking, beach, lake, lagoon, well), food, soil, sewage, and paint. The specialist investigates complaints of sanitary nuisances, determines conditions to be corrected, explains the chemical and biological basis for requirements, and directs citizens toward abatement and code compliance. Meetings with property owners, engineers, attorneys, and developers are part of resolving environmental concerns. Investigations of communicable diseases aim to locate and isolate the source, alert contacts, prevent secondary cases, and foster communication for epidemiological information exchange. Other duties include administrative tasks like timesheets, annual training, EARS reporting, assisting in community presentations and educational classes, coordinating inspections to meet prescribed time periods, and assisting in training new field staff, with the potential to assign and review the work of peers.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Health, Public Health, or a physical or biological science.
• Good working knowledge of principles and objectives of environmental and public health programs.
• Good working knowledge of environmental and public health regulations.
• Good working knowledge of biological, bateriological, and chemical functions and the ability to explain need for compliance with environmental health regulations.
• Some knowledge fo communicable diseases and understanding of epidemological investigations.
• Some knowledge of soil types and characteristics.
• Ability to operate surveying equipment.
• Ability to establish effective positive working relationships with all customers.
• Ability to read plats, maps, blueprints and to follow directions.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use personal computers and various software programs.
• Ability to drive a motor vehicle, valid Florida Operator's license.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to use good judgement when problem solving.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to make educational and informational presentations.
• Ability to drive a minimum of 2 hours per day.
• Must be able to pull, push, and lift 30 pounds.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, walk up to 2 miles per day.
• Must have use of fine motor skills to utilize tools and obtain samples.
• Must be able to read and interrupt color charts.
• State of Florida Driver’s License.
• Current authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.
• Ability to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English.

Nice To Haves

• Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environmental Health Specialist or Certified Environmental Health Professional certification (CEHP) in On-Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal System (OSTDS) or the ability to obtain certification within 1 year.
• Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal (OSTDS) Certification required. Exemption for Registered Sanitarians.
• Ability to train and advise other environmental health personnel.
• Ability to work outside in extreme weather conditions.
• Ability to work in and around water.
• Ability to instruct the public at all levels in a tactful and courteous manner.

Responsibilities

• Conduct application/project reviews, site inspections or surveys, reviewing/preparing reports, correspondence, legal notices, sample collection, data entry and analysis, or other comparable environmental health work.
• Investigate reported communicable diseases of environmental origin.
• Uses knowledge of quality improvement (QI) methods and processes to work with other staff to help identify opportunities for improvement and develop a culture of quality within DOH-Indian River; assists in improvement projects, as assigned.
• Performs site inspections of regulated facilities such as food service and group care establishments, public swimming pools, mobile home parks, biomedical waste generators, and tanning salons to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
• Performs site inspections of private and limited use wells, small quantity generators, onsite sewage disposal systems and others, to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
• Performs site inspections of onsite sewage installations by doing onsite evaluation for soil characteristic, system size and elevation, determines permit conditions, issues construction and repair permits, inspects and approves final installation for code compliance.
• Completes inspection reports and leaves a copy at the inspection site. Completes daily activity reports each day and attaches documentation for each stop to the report.
• Prepares reports, legal notices, correspondence and other documents.
• Takes water (drinking, beach, lake, lagoon, well), food, soil, sewage, paint, and other samples for laboratory analysis.
• Investigates complaints of sanitary nuisances. Determines conditions to be corrected and explains chemical and biological basis for requirements. Directs citizens toward abatement of the nuisance and compliance with codes.
• Meets with property owners, engineers, attorneys and developers to assist in the resolution/correction of environmental concerns.
• Investigates reports of communicable diseases to locate and isolate the source, alerts contacts to seek medical care and to prevent secondary cases, and fosters communication to exchange epidemilogical information.
• Assists in community presentations and educational classes.
• Assists supervisor in coordination and ensuring that the number of inspections required are performed within the prescribed time periods.
• Assists in training new field staff.
• May assign and review work of peers.

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