Sanitarian I

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Lubbock, TX

44d•Onsite

About The Position

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us. Employee Benefits: DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page. Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs. Functional Title: Sanitarian I Performs moderately complex (journey-level) food service and environmental sanitation inspection work under the supervision of the Retail Food Safety Supervisor. Conducts sanitation surveys of non-permitted food service facilities, including public school cafeterias. Conducts inspections of permitted food service facilities, retail food stores, mobile food units and vendors at temporary events. Performs environmental sanitation inspections for compliance with regulations for youth camps. Conducts COVID-19 risk assessments at inspected establishments and provides educational materials to improve social distancing based on current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Conducts investigations in response to consumer complaints, food-borne disease outbreaks, and environmental health complaints involving recreational sanitation, institutional sanitation, field sanitation and public health nuisances. Provides technical assistance and consultative services to schools, retail food establishment owners, managers and operators, local health departments and to the general public. Presents food sanitation programs and training courses to civic groups and regulatory officials on request. Promotes practices that will help prevent and reduce exposure to environmental health hazards by initiating outreach to consumer groups, civic clubs, targeted industry, and governmental agencies. Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Required to respond to public health emergencies and events.

Requirements

Knowledge of: principles and practices of public health, and the structure and functions of public health organizations; state and federal laws and regulations as they pertain to food service sanitation, environmental sanitation, and public health; environmental sanitation principles and practices to include all environmental health aspects within the Public Sanitation Program; the technical aspects of inspections for regulated entities; HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles and how they apply to food service establishments; Knowledge of computer operation including Microsoft Word, Windows applications, and electronic mail.
Skill in: effective verbal and written communications; interpreting and effectively administering food program regulations; working cooperatively with colleagues and other agencies; appraising environmental health situations and making appropriate decisions; sample and evidence collection; using swimming pool test kits, specifically DPD and pH meter.
Ability to: communicate technical information effectively at all levels; organize and express thoughts clearly and concisely; be tactful and decisive in enforcing regulations; meet deadlines; learn new software applications; prepare complex, detailed reports containing intelligent conclusions and/or recommendations; establish and maintain sound interpersonal relationships with staff members and the public; conduct food service, recreational sanitation, institutional sanitation, mass gatherings, and public health nuisance inspections and complaint investigations.
Possess a valid Texas driver's license, or equivalent from another state.
Possess a Professional Registered Sanitarian license (RS) State of Texas is preferred. This license is required to be considered for the Sanitarian I position.
Bachelor's degree from a US accredited college/university (or foreign education that has been determined to be equivalent) with at least 30 semester hours in basic science or natural science or any combination thereof and acquires two (2) years of experience in the field of sanitation.

Responsibilities

Inspect permitted and non-permitted food service establishments, including retail food service establishments, retail food stores, mobile food establishments, public school cafeterias, and other required establishments and locations to ensure conformance with regulatory and accepted sanitary requirements.
Conducts COVID-19 risk assessments and provides educational materials to improve social distancing based on current recommendations from the CDC.
Prepare and submit all required electronic and any other necessary inspection and survey reports to the central office.
Performs environmental/community sanitation inspections for compliance with regulations for youth camps and other locations as identified.
Perform inspections of playgrounds, public swimming pools and pool yard enclosures, and public lodging upon receipt of a complaint.
Evaluates the sanitation conditions at facilities, and recommends corrective steps.
Conducts COVID-19 risk assessments and provides educational materials to improve social distancing based on current recommendations from the CDC.
Prepare and submit all required electronic and any other necessary inspection and survey reports to central office.
Investigate consumer complaints concerning retail food service and food store facilities; assist with investigation of food-borne illness outbreaks and prepare related reports and evaluations; investigate complaints involving public health nuisances involving an imminent health risk, recreational sanitation, institutional sanitation, field sanitation, mass gatherings, and public lodging in areas not covered by a local health jurisdiction.
Conducts COVID-19 risk assessments and provides educational materials to improve social distancing based on current recommendations from the CDC.
May assist local health departments in food sanitation and environmental sanitation areas as requested.
Complete required numbers of inspection reports on a timely basis, including letters, forms, and communications, using appropriate inspection software package(s) and other software as necessary, and/or e-mail in a timely manner and in accordance with service level agreement and performance standards.
Submit all inspection reports within agency protocols and on time.
Prepare required weekly documents such as time and leave entry, travel claims, and weekly activity reports as directed by regional administration, following agency procedures and accepted formats.
Provide technical assistance and conduct presentations related to food programs, environmental practices, COVID-19, and social distancing in public facilities and related industries, to local health department personnel, concerned civic groups, and public officials as requested.
Actively pursue business relationships with public officials by providing educational materials and contact information.
Attend worker safety training, program staff training, and other professional training to maintain and increase expertise.
Perform related duties as assigned including but not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
Responds specifically to COVID-19 related duties and/or activation as assigned.
Safe operation of either a state owned or personal vehicle is required to conduct state business and an acceptable driving record must be maintained in accordance with DSHS Policy OS-3901, Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures and standards developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Must comply with DSHS Immunization policy.

Benefits

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

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