Sanitarian

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS

7d

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 Job Title: Sanitarian I Agency: Dept of State Health Services Department: Region 9/10 Posting Number: 12174 Closing Date: 06/17/2026 Posting Audience: Internal and External Occupational Category: Life, Physical, and Social Science Salary Group: TEXAS-B-18 Salary Range: $4,793.41 - $4,857.33 Pay Frequency: MonthlyShift: Day Additional Shift:  Telework:  Travel: Up to 60% Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt Facility Location:  Job Location City: SAN ANGELO Job Location Address: 622 S OAKES ST Other Locations: Midland; El Paso; San Angelo MOS Codes: 8056,43HX,4E0X1,68S,740A,74A,74D,92W,MSSR,MST      Brief Job Description: Sanitarian I Position performs moderately complex (journey-level) food service and environmental sanitation inspection work under the supervision and technical review of the Sanitarian III, Public Health Region 9/10. Work involves conducting inspections for permitted programs, public facilities, buildings, or plants upon request to include institutional and field sanitation and other related environmental activities. Position conducts complaint investigations and provides consultative services to local jurisdictions and the general public. Provides assistance during emergency situations or during natural disasters or when the agency is conducting emergency operations. Works under general supervision with moderate latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment. Essential Job Functions (EJFs): Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. EJF 1 (60%) Regulatory inspections. the Division for Regulatory Services, Regional and Local Health Services 9/10 to include the permitted programs of retail food establishment, mobile food units, youth camps, school cafeterias. Upon request, inspect institutional establishments such as county jails and State prisons, school buildings, recreational areas; fairgrounds, public parks, amusement centers, public lodging; R.V. parks, motels, hotels, inns, and public buildings for sanitary conditions upon request. Conducts special regulatory environmental assessments and inspections upon request by county or state official. Participates and assists in the planning of special regional initiatives or assignments. Pursues legal avenues of enforcement to achieve compliance of the regulated entities which may include court trials and administrative hearings. Prepares all required inspection documentation and special reports as needed by program or for use by counsel during legal situations. EJF 2 (15%) Complaints and consultative activities. Investigates consumer complaints, complaints against regulated entities according to program priority protocol. Makes recommendations for proper environmental sanitation improvements and promotes good environmental sanitation practices by assessing existing field conditions. Provides consultative services and provides education on sanitary practices for local health departments, county governments, local municipalities, business organizations and the general public. May provide technical training or consultation on environmental sanitation issues related to institutional safety, food safety, and recreational sanitation. Assists with special investigations, disease outbreaks or projects, and public health preparedness initiatives. EJF 3 (10%) Legal actions and enforcement. Prepares for legal and enforcement actions with supervisor and central office program for administrative penalty hearings, permit revocation, and formal settlement conference hearings. Provides technical assistance and support to other regional regulatory programs and special regional public health initiatives related to public health preparedness. EJF 4 (10%) Technical Assistance. Provides technical assistance to retail food establishments, public facilities related to environmental sanitation, owners/operators, public officials, and the general public on food safety on the interpretation and compliance with State food codes and regulations. Assist in providing the public and regulated industry with food safety training programs. Assist local health department inspectors to obtain federal standardization. EJF 5 (5%) Other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are 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 activation. Such participating may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. Safe operation of either a state-owned vehicle 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. Complies with the Department of State Health Services Immunizations Policy.

Requirements

• Knowledge of State and Federal statutes/regulations regarding food safety and environmental sanitation.
• Knowledge of inspection techniques used for retail food establishments and types of equipment used in those establishments.
• Knowledge of food safety systems such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles and how they apply to retail food establishments.
• Skill in the use of computer word processors, spreadsheet applications, databases and web-based browsers to document inspections.
• Skill in the use photographic equipment, laboratory and field testing equipment to conduct health and safety inspections.
• Skill in verbal communications to work effectively with diverse groups of people.
• Skill in meeting critical deadlines.
• Skill in tracking multiple program activities and compliance activities at different stages of development
• Ability to prepare concise technical reports to accurately document inspection findings.
• Ability to recognize, assimilate and correlate scientific data with documented field conditions to determine public health risks.
• Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with the regulated industry, general public, co-workers, and managers.
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Ability to climb, bend and/or stand for extended periods of time during investigations/inspections.
• Ability to obtain samples related to food, insect or filth.
• Ability to read and interpret food labels with small print during inspections and investigations.
• Ability to move up to 50 lbs., inspections and investigations.
• Ability to travel.
• Must be a Registered Sanitarian in the State of Texas
• 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

• Regulatory inspections of retail food establishments, mobile food units, youth camps, and school cafeterias.
• Inspect institutional establishments such as county jails, state prisons, school buildings, recreational areas, fairgrounds, public parks, amusement centers, public lodging, R.V. parks, motels, hotels, inns, and public buildings for sanitary conditions.
• Conduct special regulatory environmental assessments and inspections upon request by county or state official.
• Participate and assist in the planning of special regional initiatives or assignments.
• Pursue legal avenues of enforcement to achieve compliance of the regulated entities which may include court trials and administrative hearings.
• Prepare all required inspection documentation and special reports as needed by program or for use by counsel during legal situations.
• Investigate consumer complaints, complaints against regulated entities according to program priority protocol.
• Make recommendations for proper environmental sanitation improvements and promotes good environmental sanitation practices by assessing existing field conditions.
• Provide consultative services and provides education on sanitary practices for local health departments, county governments, local municipalities, business organizations and the general public.
• May provide technical training or consultation on environmental sanitation issues related to institutional safety, food safety, and recreational sanitation.
• Assist with special investigations, disease outbreaks or projects, and public health preparedness initiatives.
• Prepare for legal and enforcement actions with supervisor and central office program for administrative penalty hearings, permit revocation, and formal settlement conference hearings.
• Provide technical assistance and support to other regional regulatory programs and special regional public health initiatives related to public health preparedness.
• Provide technical assistance to retail food establishments, public facilities related to environmental sanitation, owners/operators, public officials, and the general public on food safety on the interpretation and compliance with State food codes and regulations.
• Assist in providing the public and regulated industry with food safety training programs.
• Assist local health department inspectors to obtain federal standardization.
• 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 activation.
• Safe operation of either a state-owned vehicle 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.
• Complies with the Department of State Health Services Immunizations 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).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees