Careers

Description:

Performs and monitors all duties of environmental health programs in county or special area of assignment to ensure compliance with federal, State, and local standards and regulations regarding sanitation and disease control.  Meets with and educates the public and responds to inquiries and complaints.  Conducts and interprets appropriate surveillance, inspections, and investigations.  Implements Skagit County’s Environmental Health Division activities including food safety, on-site sewage, solid waste, drinking water quality and chemical/physical hazards, rules and regulations as field inspector.  

This position may work in any aspect of the Environmental Health division. Areas of concentration may include food safety, solid and hazardous waste, on-site sewage, drinking water quality, vectors, swimming pools and other areas within Environmental Health.  Each program area promotes health and safety through education, permitting, inspections, investigations, and enforcement.  

Duties may include:

• Inspection of retail food establishments for conformance to applicable regulations, implementation of control measures to correct violations, providing education and technical assistance to members of the food industry and the public; and responding to complaints.  Evaluate plans for retail food establishment operation.   Works collaboratively with the communicable disease team as directed in outbreak situations. May analyze the outbreak data utilizing epidemiological and statistical methods established by the Epidemiologist, under the direction of the division manager.
• Inspect solid waste facilities for conformance with applicable regulations. Investigate solid waste handling and illegal dumping complaints; provide education and technical assistance to the public on proper solid waste handling and chemical/physical hazards and ensure compliance with applicable regulations through education and enforcement. Evaluate plans for construction and operation of permitted solid waste facilities with respect to provisions of state and local code. Review and evaluate hydrogeological reports. 
• Evaluates plans for construction of residential and commercial on-site sewage systems with respect to provisions of state and local regulations. Inspects on-site sewage systems for conformance with applicable regulations.  Complaint response for the on-site sewage system program and enforcement of operations and maintenance program.  Works collaboratively with other county departments, including Public Works Pollution Control and Identification program to investigate and monitor areas of pollution related to malfunctioning septic systems. Educate homeowners on proper septic system maintenance. Works directly with design engineers, installers, general contractors, private individuals, and other public agencies.
• Evaluates plans of drinking water systems for conformance to applicable regulations.  Ensures compliance with applicable regulations through education and enforcement.   Inspects drinking water systems for conformance with applicable regulations.   Provides education and technical assistance to the public on drinking water quality.
• Assisting with investigation of water contamination or waterborne illness complaints and outbreaks.  Inspecting camps, swimming pools and beaches on a scheduled basis.  May collect and submit shellfish, algae and vector samples for routine testing.  Assist with investigation of vector complaints.  Participate in emergency response activities and other duties as assigned.
• Collects water or other environmental monitoring samples to assess the sanitary condition of surface water, ground water or other medium, analyzes test data and reports results to supervisor.
• Provide technical assistance and consultation to the general public conveying technical and regulatory information to a variety of audiences in response to environmental health and hazard inquiries. Follows-up on complaints relative to those situations that have an adverse effect on public health.
• Ensures the delivery of excellent customer service in support of Environmental Health (EH) and Public Health programs and services. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing professional and timely assistance via phone, email, and front desk coverage; representing Environmental Health and Public Health at presentations, outreach activities, and community events; and supporting a broad range of Environmental Health and Public Health functions as needed to advance program goals, regulatory compliance, and community engagement.
• Maintains accurate field records, writes reports, and makes recommendations for follow-up actions based upon findings of investigations. 
• Writes grant proposals, implements, and monitors grant activities and provides reports and deliverables for compliance.
• Issues and renews permits as related to area of assignment. 
• Reviews and approves plans and architectural drawings as related to area of assignment.

• Participates in updating program related codes, ordinance, policies, protocols.

• Implement other environmental health and infectious disease control responsibilities, as assigned.
• Updates and uses computerized data management systems.

Skills/Eligibility:

Environmental Health Specialist I:
This is the entry level classification for Environmental Health Specialists.  The incumbent works under the direction of an EHS III performing routine inspections and investigations. Advancement to the EHS II level generally occurs after two years of experience as an Environmental Health Specialist and is based upon demonstrated proficiency in performing assigned functions, supervisor, and director recommendation, and adequate budget.   Final approval of promotion to EHS II remains with the County Administrator or designee and will become effective on the date determined by Human Resources.

Environmental Health Specialist II: 
Employees within this range are distinguished from the EHS I by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned. Requires Registration with the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians as a Registered Sanitarian or the National Environmental Health Association as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, as stipulated by Skagit County Public Health, generally within the first year of employment. The EHS II has a minimum of two years of experience in the field of assignment, with a full working knowledge of environmental health principles and can apply them with considerable independent judgment and action. The EHS II should be able to respond in complex and sometimes difficult and/or emergent situations according to recommended guidelines. The EHS II may be assigned program coordination or other leadership roles. Working independently, the EHS II is fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit and needs only occasional instruction or assistance.  

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.  A typical path to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Bachelor of Science degree in biology, microbiology, environmental health, public health, environmental science or a related field. 
• Two years of related experience preferred.

REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Field of assignment and physical ability sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full scope of responsibility.
• Federal, state, and local health programs and relationships as they impact environmental health.
• Environmental Health programs, policies, and procedures.   Program planning, preparation of public health information and education programs and development of codes, ordinances, policies and procedures and record keeping. 
• Principles of inspection and investigation 
• Principles of disease prevention and control measures in a community setting.
• Principles of HIPAA and maintenance of confidential medical information.
• Design and function of water systems and on-site sewage disposal systems.

REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO:

• Apply disease intervention techniques such as interviewing, investigation, screening, and surveillance.
• Gain confidence of persons and groups requiring services and ask questions to elicit required information.
• Collect and analyze data.
• Navigate geographical locations, including, but not limited to, the ability to read maps accurately and to use locator information appropriately for investigations. Read and understand architectural plans for food service, schools, camps, and other similar establishments.
• Read and understand architectural plans, technical drawings, legal descriptions, and maps.
• Listen attentively and communicate effectively both orally and in writing, in clear, concise language appropriate for the purpose and parties addressed,