Public Health Sanitarian

FDLC•Fond du Lac, WI

3d•$28 - $35•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Environmental Health Supervisor, this position provides professional public health services and coordination of the day-to-day operations of programs within the Environmental Health Program. This includes managing contracts for Food Safety and Recreational Licensing, Body Art, and implementing/maintaining contracts with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) programs in the Radiation Protection Unit and Lead Poisoning Prevention Unit, as well as the Radon Information Center (RIC). Key functions involve identifying and solving community environmental health problems, implementing and using policies, ordinances, and standards, enforcing ordinances and codes, and conducting public health nuisance and environmental hazard investigations.

Requirements

A Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in environmental health, biology, microbiology or related field is required.
Experience consisting of at least one year as a sanitarian or in a public health agency; or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Education and work experience that allows for the Registered Sanitarian examination as stated in SPS 175.02 and successful exam completion within 1 year of employment.
Requires Wisconsin driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Wisconsin Registered Sanitarian or National Environmental Health Association Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian preferred.
Certified Pool Operator (CPO)
Certified Radon Mitigator and Measurement Professional
Certified Lead Inspector/Assessor/Investigator
Pass and maintain State Certification of Standardization in the Wisconsin Food Code; which includes exercises in risk-based inspections based on the application of HACCP principles.
If not a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian, (REHS/RS) must obtain the credentials within 2 years of employment or termination may occur.

Responsibilities

Maintains knowledge of public health provisions in Wisconsin statutes and administrative codes, as well as local ordinances; implements and interprets state and local public health policies.
Collaborates in community health assessment and health improvement planning and intervention activities as needed. Collects samples, conducts field tests, collects and analyzes environmental public health data; interprets results and makes recommendations for corrective action(s).
Assists with review of policies and procedures for the department.
Coordinates environmental public health activities with professionals and investigators from other agencies and jurisdictions, which enforce laws and regulations to protect the public’s health.
Communicates effectively both verbally and written with the general public, licensed operators, service technicians, and others verbally and in writing.
Works effectively in a team environment and reviews the work of others.
Prepares, maintains clear and accurate records, documentation and reports as may be necessary to meet all requirements of identified programs.
Delivers targeted, culturally-appropriate information to help individuals and groups understand local environmental public health policies, regulations and code, utilizing appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with persons of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles and physical abilities.
Educates the public on environmental health issues and the public health rationale for environmental health regulations.
Provides environmental health information, interpretation, technical assistance and regulatory compliance advice to individuals, industry organizations, the general public and other agencies regarding local public health and environmental codes, regulations, policies, and identified environmental health problems.
Performs inspections and/or provides consultation on a variety of environmental health issues including asbestos, radon, mold, lead, and pest control.
Performs operations of the water lab.
Conducts routine inspections of various retail food establishment and lodging facilities, pools/spas/water attractions, campgrounds, recreational educational camps, and tattoo and body piercing facilities to ensure compliance of existing state and local public health and environmental codes, regulations and policies.
Investigates outbreaks of foodborne and water-related communicable diseases.
Responds to public complaints and inquiries on environmental or public health matters.
Collects water samples for laboratory analysis for the DNR as part of the Transient Non-Community well water program.
Investigates complaints regarding public health and environmental health hazards and initiates enforcement or corrective actions as required.
Collaborates in the development and delivery of programs and activities that promote health and prevent disease, in settings including, but not limited to the Health Department, homes, community organizations and businesses, schools, and the community in general.
Attends meetings, conferences and trainings to keep abreast of recent research, concepts, equipment, educational techniques, code changes, and to meet federal, State and local requirements or recommendations.
Maintains a general knowledge of the National Incident Management System (ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800) and higher-level courses as assigned by Public Health Officer or Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.
Tracks hours worked and reports.
Works under the general direction of the Environmental Health Supervisor.
Works with minimal supervision and exercises considerable judgment and discretion in performance of duties pursuant to established policies and procedure.
Responsible for using quality improvement (QI) and performance management (PM) processes and/or techniques to improve the effectiveness of the respective public health program. This includes, but is not limited to: creating, implementing, and evaluating performance standards and identifying, implementing, and assessing program quality improvement processes.
Works during normal business hours, off-hours, on weekends and holiday, as needed.
Available to be on-call for the Environmental Health program after hours.
Is available as a first responder, seven days a week, 24/7 coverage for public health and/or emergency government public health outbreak, or disaster.
Performs public health emergency response duties as assigned and consistent with training provided, in response to threats to the public’s health consistent with job classification.
Participates in Department and community emergency response training and drills in support of public health emergency and disaster preparedness consistent with job classification.
Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to responding to public health emergencies, based on community needs.