Description:

Environmental Health Specialists are responsible for protecting the health of citizens by assuring compliance with environmental public health rules and regulations, educating stakeholders, preventing exposure to environmental hazards and promoting healthy natural and built environments within Clark County.

This position will be assigned basic job duties in the Recreational Water Safety program. This position will conduct routine public health inspections, plan reviews on new construction and remodel designs for recreational water facilities, coordinate with related inter-governmental offices, initiate enforcement activities as required; issue facility permits, review and make recommendations concerning variance requests; provide public education; investigate public health threats; ensure consistent application of regulations and, work under the supervision of the program manager to resolve technical problems and complaints.

The Recreational Water Safety program duties also include conducting recreational swim beach monitoring, water sampling and/or evaluating laboratory results, providing technical assistance, and communicating health advisories to the public.

Organizational responsibilities include understanding and promoting the public health mission of the department; providing courteous, respectful, efficient customer service to all Public Health clients; honoring diversity of all department employees and constituents; participating in emergency preparedness activities and other public health roles as assigned.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Permitted Pools, Spas and Float tanks:
Conduct inspections of permitted recreation water facilities to ensure safe operation. 
Consults with the general public to provide advice or explain conditions regarding all permitted rec. water facilities.
Consults with professionals regarding site characteristics and proper pool system and club bouse design and installation.
Reviews plans and specifications of new RWF construction and remodels for compliance with WAC 246-260.
Inspects annual and seasonal pools, spas and float tanks during construction and upon completion to determine if construction meets standards. 
Investigates complaints received from the public concerning RWF.
Swim Beach:
Respond to public notifications of harmful algal blooms or other recreational water quality concerns. 
Conduct routine on-site water sample collection for E.coli during swim beach season. 
Conducts on-site inspections to verify/confirm the presence of algae or other hazard.
Collects water samples and submits to laboratory for analysis.
Evaluate designated swim beaches for compliance with health & safety standards.
Miscellaneous:
Follows up on nuisance complaints.
Conducts field inspections, writes reports and obtains compliance with regulations.
Provide education to the public during community outreach events.
Support the work of a college student intern.
Provides information and direction to the general public in the event of a natural disaster, bioterrorism event, or other public health emergency.
 

Skills/Eligibility:

Education and Experience: 

Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health or a closely related area.  Two years successful experience in obtaining compliance with environmental health standards.  Registration as a Sanitarian preferred.  Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may be substituted.

Knowledge of:

Standard methods and techniques of inspectional work in environmental sanitation and public health.

Water quality; environmental sampling; microbiology.

Applicable rules and regulations for the specialized areas assigned.

Public relations techniques.

Effective communication techniques, verbally or in writing.

The impact social determinants have on health including socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, mental or physical ability, religion, gender, gender expression, gender identity on behavior, attitudes and values related to health; the role of cultural, social and behavioral factors in determining the delivery of public health services.
Key components of cultural competency; awareness of differences, attitude to examine beliefs and values, knowledge of differences and skills to work across cultures effectively and appropriately.

Ability to:

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, supervisors, co-workers and business establishments.

Work independently with limited supervision.

Work outdoors for extended periods under a wide variety of weather conditions.

Interpret and apply applicable rule and regulations in the specialty area assigned.   

Effectively recommend, coordinate, plan, and delegate program components.
Perform work duties that require lifting of at least 50lbs, stooping, bending, walking over sloped and/or uneven ground and other varied environments and conditions including entering outdoor water bodies to a depth of 3 feet.
Conducts research requiring specialized knowledge of the program and an ability to plan and coordinate using independent judgment and limited supervision.

Carry out policy directives of the governing authority in an effective and timely manner.
Write clear and concise reports, procedures, memoranda, and letters.
Project consequences of proposed actions, and formulate recommendations.
Work with varied stakeholders, including County agencies and County vendors and public stakeholder groups.

Obtain a valid driver’s license.