Public Health Inspector, Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation

City of New York • New York City, NY

3d

About The Position

The Public Health Inspector works in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Division of Environmental Health, within the Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation. The Division seeks to prevent and control illness and injury associated with environmental and occupational health risks through outreach, education, surveillance, and enforcement. The Bureau protects the public from hazards that may threaten health or safety and carries out inspections of restaurants and a variety of other facilities, including school cafeterias, mobile food vending units, adult day care centers, senior centers, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters.

The role involves inspecting commercial and social service establishments, enforcing applicable laws and regulations, documenting findings, and taking enforcement action when violations are identified. The inspector travels throughout New York City’s five boroughs using mass transit. The position requires the ability to carry and repeatedly use approximately 20 pounds of inspection equipment. Candidates are examined to determine whether they can perform the position’s essential functions; reasonable accommodation may be provided where appropriate.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following education and experience pathways: a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in physical and/or biological sciences, with no more than 12 credits in applied sciences; or an associate degree from an accredited college, including 15 semester credits in physical and/or biological sciences, with no more than 6 credits in applied sciences, and five years of experience as a public health technician assisting sanitarians and engineers in public health prevention and control programs.
• Be able to perform the essential functions of the Public Health Sanitarian position, subject to the position’s medical examination requirements.
• Be able to carry and constantly use approximately 20 pounds of inspection equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Technical and scientific skills.
• Effective communication skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct periodic inspections of commercial and social service establishments.
• Enforce provisions of the Smoke-Free Air Act and Tobacco Product Regulation Act.
• Review menus and menu boards for compliance with nutritional requirements intended to reduce chronic diseases and obesity.
• Prepare inspection reports using handheld computers.
• Prepare and serve court summonses when violations of applicable City or State laws and regulations are found.
• Enforce anti-corruption control policies.
• Testify at the Office of Trials and Hearings and other courts when required.
• Travel throughout the five boroughs using mass transit.

Benefits

• Premium-free health insurance plan.
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
• Public sector defined benefit pension plan.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Worksite Wellness Program.
• Depending on the position, the option to work from home up to two days during the week.
• Job security compared with private-sector employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level