Senior Registered Environmental Health Specialist

County of Alameda•Alameda, CA

About The Position

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION . The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended. Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online. Qualified bilingual persons who speak English and are also fluent in: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Korean, Mien, Tagalog, Amharic, Farsi, Dari, Tigrigna, Russian, Romanian or Sign Languages are especially encouraged to apply. There is an additional biweekly compensation for persons in positions designated bilingual. Qualified candidates may be tested to demonstrate language proficiency. DESCRIPTION THE COUNTY Alameda County, located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, is California's seventh-largest county. The County employs 9,700 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $3.4 billion. Oakland, the County seat, is California's eighth-largest city. One and a half million people call Alameda County home and live in a variety of incorporated cities, unincorporated communities, and rural areas. As a major urban county, Alameda provides a full range of services to its citizens. The County is a blend of culturally and ethnically diverse communities, and its mixture of cosmopolitan and suburban areas provides the perfect environment for families and their active lifestyles. The County offers extensive cultural resources, countless recreational opportunities, and an array of fine public and private colleges and universities. ALAMEDA COUNTY HEALTH Alameda County Health is the local government agency that promotes and protects the health and well-being of all who live, work, learn, and play in Alameda County. We coordinate services and cultivate partnerships with community organizations and providers to help ensure access, organize, and deliver health care and services to people with Medi-Cal and without insurance, support resilient communities, and improve health for all. We focus on health equity by developing programs and systemic solutions that reduce disparities for the people and communities we serve. Alameda County Health’s departments and programs focus on services and support that provide care for the whole person. The Behavioral Health Department provides mental health and substance use services for people with Medi-Cal and without insurance and supports people along their path to wellness, recovery, and resilience. The Environmental Health Department works to keep our air, water, and food safe; it regulates, protects, and promotes the health of everyone in Alameda County by enforcing environmental health codes to reduce exposure to toxins and diseases. The Public Health Department focuses on community and population-level health, preventing and addressing root causes of health inequity across a range of communicable and chronic diseases. Alameda County Health also provides services through Housing and Homelessness Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, HealthPAC, and Healthy Schools and Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Environmental Protection Division (EP) : As part of Alameda County Health, the Environmental Health Department protects and enhances people’s health and quality of life by ensuring food and recreational safety, reducing exposure to toxins and diseases, and protecting the quality of our water, air, and environment. We are environmental protection specialists, food and recreation facilities inspectors, certified hazardous materials and waste specialists, recreational water quality technicians, land and water protection regulators, and vector control biologists. For more information about the Department of Environmental Health, please visit www.acgov.org/aceh Hazardous Materials Division/Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA): Hazardous Materials Division/Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA): Incumbents assigned to the Hazardous Materials Division/CUPA are responsible for conducting inspections, permitting, training/outreach and enforcement; investigating incidents related to hazardous materials, waste tire or pollution of the waters of Alameda County; lending technical assistance during emergency response; providing regulatory oversight; and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations Local Oversight Program (LOP): Incumbents assigned to the LOP Division are responsible for providing regulatory and technical oversight for the routine or frequently seen leaking Underground Storage Tanks and other contamination sites; Providing review and analysis of technical data and evaluates the effectiveness of corrective actions at contaminated sites; Conducting environmental oversight surveys; investigating potential community health hazards; evaluating sites based on current and future use; ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations and local ordinances. Household Hazardous Waste Program (HHW): Incumbents assigned to the HHW Division will be responsible for employee safety, efficiency and compliance with applicable requirements during operations and service to the public and businesses, including during handling, accumulation, transport and disposal of hazardous waste and materials collected at a Permanent HHW Facilities and for oversight of all activities at temporary events. Duties include: train and supervise Senior Hazardous Materials (HM) Specialists, HM Specialists, Environmental Health (EH) Technicians, EH Maintenance Workers, Clerks and administrative staff and contractor employees to provide good communication and service to the public; material handling, packing and shipping, recordkeeping and reporting compliant with all relevant requirements; arrange for purchase of all needed equipment, supplies, services; determine and implement preventative measures to reduce risk of incident, injury or disruption of service to the public; coordinate on-call response to monitoring system activation and; take a leading role in response to any incident or emergency. Food & Recreational Health Program : Incumbents within the Food and Recreational Health Program are responsible for conducting complex inspections of retail food facilities, temporary food events, swimming pools, spas, recreational water facilities, and other regulated establishments; reviewing and processing plan review submittals for food and recreational facilities; evaluating compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances; providing guidance and technical assistance to operators regarding safe food handling, sanitation, and recreational water safety requirements; investigating foodborne illness complaints and suspected outbreaks; responding to public health emergencies related to food and recreational water; preparing detailed inspection and enforcement reports; issuing permits and notices of violation; coordinating enforcement actions when necessary; mentoring and training assigned staff; and serving as a program resource to ensure protection of public health and safety. Solid Waste Program – Body Art and Medical Waste : Incumbents within the Solid Waste Program are responsible for oversight of body art facilities and medical waste generators, with duties such as conducting complex inspections of solid waste handling and disposal facilities, transfer stations, landfills, body art establishments, and medical waste generation, storage, treatment, and disposal sites; reviewing and processing plan review submittals, permits, and registrations; evaluating compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances; investigating complaints related to solid waste, body art practices, and medical waste management; responding to illegal dumping and improper disposal incidents; providing technical assistance and regulatory guidance to facility operators and practitioners; preparing detailed inspection and enforcement documentation; issuing notices of violation and coordinating corrective actions; assisting with emergency response related to solid or medical waste incidents; mentoring and training assigned staff; and serving as a program resource to ensure protection of public health, worker safety, and environmental quality. THE VACANCY The vacancies are located in the above program areas however, the eligible list resulting from this recruitment and selection process will be used to fill vacant positions with or without program specific requirements and/or specialty designations in this classification. Position designation will result in the selective certification of eligibles who possess the program specific requirements as determined by the supplemental questionnaire screening. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification for the classification are encouraged to apply with a complete application and supplemental questionnaire. THE POSITION Under general direction, performs high level work associated with a specialty program (e.g., compliance, plan review, consumer protection, mobile food vending, solid waste, medical waste, hazardous material, land use, recreation, vector control, and other related programs) and may have a solid waste generalized environmental health district; and to perform related duties as assigned. The Senior Environmental Health Specialist typically has specialized program responsibility that may require certification training and/or experience over and above that expected of the entry-level class of Registered Environmental Health Specialist. The position differs from the Supervising Environmental Health Specialist in that the Senior Environmental Health Specialist does not have supervisory responsibility over other Environmental Health Specialists. The Senior Environmental Health Specialist may function as a lead person in a technical area, providing training and guidance to Environmental Health Specialists or other environmental health classifications. In addition to the specialized program responsibility, the Senior Environmental Health Specialist may be assigned to a generalized environmental health program district (i.e., food, water, waste, housing, recreation, institutions, hazardous material, vector control).

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with major work in Environmental Health Sciences or a related field
The equivalent of two years of full-time experience performing a full range of environmental health activities.
Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist issued by the California State Department of Public Health. Additional certification for specific program responsibility may also be required.
Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
Knowledge of: Basic principles of physical, biological and social science applied in environmental control.
Knowledge of: Functions and operations of related agencies and County organizations.
Knowledge of: State and local regulations governing environmental health.
Knowledge of: Standardized methods and techniques of investigation, inspection, and resolution of unsanitary conditions.
Knowledge of: Research and statistical methods.
Knowledge of: Computer software applications.
Ability to: Provide guidance and instruction regarding environmental health matters to other environmental health personnel, State and local agencies and the general public.
Ability to: Interpret State and local rules, regulations and laws, consistent with departmental policy within assigned program areas.
Ability to: Establish effective working relationships with others.
Ability to: Write factual, concise technical reports.
Ability to: Read and interpret construction plans and blueprints.
Ability to: Write and communicate effectively.
Ability to: Operate a personal computer.

Nice To Haves

A track record of making sound, analytical decisions.
Strong effective communication (verbal/written) and interpersonal skills.
Strong customer service skills.
A history of exercising personal integrity.
Ability to solve problems.
Strong leadership in technical areas.
Planning, organizing, and time/work management skills.
Ability to establish effective working relationships.
Knowledge of provisions of State and local ordinances and regulations relating to environmental health and sanitation.
Ability to explain and interpret rules, regulations, and laws and policies.

Responsibilities

Performs high level work associated with a specialty program (e.g., compliance, plan review, consumer protection, mobile food vending, solid waste, medical waste, hazardous material, land use, recreation, vector control, and other related programs) and may have a solid waste generalized environmental health district
Function as a lead person in a technical area, providing training and guidance to Environmental Health Specialists or other environmental health classifications.
Assigned to a generalized environmental health program district (i.e., food, water, waste, housing, recreation, institutions, hazardous material, vector control).

Benefits

Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
Vision or Vision Reimbursement
Share the Savings
Basic Life Insurance
Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
County Allowance Credit
Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
Short-Term Disability Insurance
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
Employee Assistance Program
Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
12 paid holidays
Floating Holidays
Vacation and sick leave accrual
Vacation purchase program
Catastrophic Sick Leave
Pet Insurance
Commuter Benefits Program
Guaranteed Ride Home
Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
Child Care Resources
1st United Services Credit Union