ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST II - 64043581

State of Florida•Delray Beach, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an Environmental Specialist II position in the Environmental Public Health program, responsible for conducting a variety of investigations and enforcement tasks. Conducting a variety of regulatory environmental health and safety inspections to ensure compliance with state and local laws, and makes recommendations on the issuance of permits, licenses, or approvals. Work is performed under the supervision of the Environmental Manager - SES. This position requires independent judgment, initiative, applying general knowledge of business practices and skill in applying instructions to accomplish various job functions. This position is designated as a sensitive position and is required to maintain confidential information in accordance with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Palm Beach County Health Department (CHD) Information Security Policy, Protocols and Procedures. Confidential information sets: Social Security Data, and Clinical Information Data. This position has access to the Environmental Health Data Set for food borne illness investigations. Has access to Health Management System (HMS) to Daily Activity Record (DARs). Enters and updates data in Environmental Health Database (EHD) as needed, including data relating to inspections, complaints and complaint investigations, operating permits, and billing information. May view, update, and release information as needed. Performs regulatory inspections of Public Schools, Private Schools, Assisted Living Facilities, Residential Facilities, Migrant Labor Camps, Residential Migrant Housing, and Mobile Home Parks/Recreational Vehicle Parks. Performs inspections of food service operations located at FDOH regulated facilities and other food service operations as required by Florida Statues and local laws or ordinances. Conducts follow-up inspections. Investigates complaints of foodborne illnesses, completes related documentation, makes appropriate referrals, and conducts required follow-up activities in accordance with Department policies and procedures. Investigates sanitary nuisance complaints in accordance with Chapter 386, Florida Statutes, recommends and enforces appropriate corrective actions, and makes appropriate referrals to relevant agencies. Investigates complaints of non-compliance regarding FDOH-regulated facilities, enforces or recommends appropriate corrective actions, or makes appropriate referrals to relevant agencies. Investigates allegations of unlicensed or unapproved facility operations, monitors the facility status following initial investigation, and initiates appropriate enforcement actions, or referrals to relevant agencies. Document all findings from inspections or investigations clearly and concisely, and in sufficient detail to fully support all conclusions, recommendations, required corrective actions, and enforcement actions. Provide oral or written information to responsible parties regarding the results of investigations or inspections. Accurately document and update data, and generate inspection reports, notices, and other documents in field settings. Collects data electronically in the field, and ensures timely updates to the main databases, as needed. Collects water and food samples as required. Meets with property owners, facility operators, engineers, architects, planners, and prospective applicants or their representatives to provide consultation on the design and operation of facilities and resolution of environmental health and safety issues. Coordinates activities with federal, State, and local agencies. Reviews license applications. Reviews and approves plans for food service establishments, schools, mobile home parks, residential migrant housing, migrant labor camps and other facilities. Reads, evaluates, and interprets blueprints, diagrams, sketches, maps and aerial photos involving regulated facilities or properties under investigation. Verifies the availability of approved water and sewer services for regulated facilities. Recommends issuance or denial of licenses, permits, or approvals of regulated facilities based on review of the facility's level of compliance with all applicable standards or requirements. Organizes and maintains files, reports, and other related documents. Documents possible causes and remedies. Schedules and conducts follow-up inspections. Initiates and conducts enforcement actions and special investigations in a timely manner in keeping with applicable Department or Program standards. Organizes and maintains records and other documents for enforcement activities. Drafts appropriate correspondence. reports and other documents regarding environmental health problems to facilitate compliance with applicable rules and regulations. Participates at conferences, hearings, and court appearances. Testifies at administrative hearings or court appearances as expert witness related to enforcement actions initiated. Organizes, develops, promotes, and conducts workshops and in-depth consultations to educate owners, managers, operators, or consumers of licensing requirements and issues involved in operating a safe and healthy environment. Provide information to the public, builders, owners and public officials and civic groups concerning disease prevention and environmental health regulations. Interprets and explains the significance and application of public health laws and regulations. Participate in the standard activities, Outreach, Suggestions, and/or Teamwork. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge of the terminology, principles and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
Knowledge of data collection and analysis principles and procedures.
Ability to collect, evaluate, analyze and interpret scientific or technical data.
Ability to prepare technical reports.
Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to environmental programs.
Ability to understand and follow legislative policy direction as established in Florida Statues.
Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
Ability to work independently
Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to communicate effectively
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
Ability to use personal computers.
The position requires certification as an environmental health professional (CEHP) in the area of Food Hygiene. The certification requirements are in accordance with Chapter 381.0101 F.S. requires environmental health professional certification to perform work in the food protection program within six (6) months after employment and thereafter, maintain this certification while employed in the food protection program.
Position is required to obtain certification in child care, large family child care, and family child care programs.
The educational requirements as per Florida Statutes state "applicants for certification shall have graduated from an accredited 4-year college or university with a degree or major coursework in public health, environmental health, environmental science, or a physical or biological science". The educational requirements as per the Florida Administrative Code states "applicants beginning work in a primary area of environmental health on or after September 21, 1994 must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental health, environmental science, or a physical or a biological science. Major course work is no less than 30 semester hours or 40 quarter hours of class work".
Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency. Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs shelters, 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.
Valid Divers License.
Steel toe safety footwear, use of hard hat and tight-fitting respirator required for this position.
Position requires extensive walking, bending and working in hot weather.
Required to carry equipment with a total combined weight of up to 30 pounds.

Responsibilities

Conducting a variety of regulatory environmental health and safety inspections to ensure compliance with state and local laws
Making recommendations on the issuance of permits, licenses, or approvals
Maintaining confidential information in accordance with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Palm Beach County Health Department (CHD) Information Security Policy, Protocols and Procedures
Performing regulatory inspections of Public Schools, Private Schools, Assisted Living Facilities, Residential Facilities, Migrant Labor Camps, Residential Migrant Housing, and Mobile Home Parks/Recreational Vehicle Parks
Performing inspections of food service operations located at FDOH regulated facilities and other food service operations as required by Florida Statues and local laws or ordinances
Conducting follow-up inspections
Investigating complaints of foodborne illnesses, completes related documentation, makes appropriate referrals, and conducts required follow-up activities in accordance with Department policies and procedures
Investigating sanitary nuisance complaints in accordance with Chapter 386, Florida Statutes, recommends and enforces appropriate corrective actions, and makes appropriate referrals to relevant agencies
Investigating complaints of non-compliance regarding FDOH-regulated facilities, enforces or recommends appropriate corrective actions, or makes appropriate referrals to relevant agencies
Investigating allegations of unlicensed or unapproved facility operations, monitors the facility status following initial investigation, and initiates appropriate enforcement actions, or referrals to relevant agencies
Documenting all findings from inspections or investigations clearly and concisely, and in sufficient detail to fully support all conclusions, recommendations, required corrective actions, and enforcement actions
Providing oral or written information to responsible parties regarding the results of investigations or inspections
Accurately documenting and updating data, and generate inspection reports, notices, and other documents in field settings
Collecting data electronically in the field, and ensures timely updates to the main databases, as needed
Collecting water and food samples as required
Meeting with property owners, facility operators, engineers, architects, planners, and prospective applicants or their representatives to provide consultation on the design and operation of facilities and resolution of environmental health and safety issues
Coordinating activities with federal, State, and local agencies
Reviewing license applications
Reviewing and approving plans for food service establishments, schools, mobile home parks, residential migrant housing, migrant labor camps and other facilities
Reading, evaluating, and interpreting blueprints, diagrams, sketches, maps and aerial photos involving regulated facilities or properties under investigation
Verifying the availability of approved water and sewer services for regulated facilities
Recommending issuance or denial of licenses, permits, or approvals of regulated facilities based on review of the facility's level of compliance with all applicable standards or requirements
Organizing and maintaining files, reports, and other related documents
Documenting possible causes and remedies
Scheduling and conducting follow-up inspections
Initiating and conducting enforcement actions and special investigations in a timely manner in keeping with applicable Department or Program standards
Organizing and maintaining records and other documents for enforcement activities
Drafting appropriate correspondence. reports and other documents regarding environmental health problems to facilitate compliance with applicable rules and regulations
Participating at conferences, hearings, and court appearances
Testifying at administrative hearings or court appearances as expert witness related to enforcement actions initiated
Organizing, developing, promoting, and conducts workshops and in-depth consultations to educate owners, managers, operators, or consumers of licensing requirements and issues involved in operating a safe and healthy environment
Providing information to the public, builders, owners and public officials and civic groups concerning disease prevention and environmental health regulations
Interpreting and explaining the significance and application of public health laws and regulations
Participating in the standard activities, Outreach, Suggestions, and/or Teamwork
Performing other duties as assigned

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

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