San Mateo County Health is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III. Current vacancies include two positions in the Land Use Program and one position in the Solid Waste, Medical Waste, and Body Art Programs within Environmental Health Services. All positions are based in San Mateo, CA, with travel throughout the County’s 20 cities and unincorporated areas.
The Environmental Health Services Division ensures a safe and healthful environment through education, monitoring, enforcement, and community services. This recruitment offers the opportunity to apply technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and community engagement skills across diverse program areas that directly protect the health and safety of County residents.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMS
Land Use Program
- Inspects and oversees water wells, septic systems, and related construction.
- Reviews soil percolation testing, hydrogeology, and system design.
- Conducts inspections of confined and exotic animal facilities.
- Advises builders, engineers, and contractors on compliance with environmental health laws.
Solid Waste, Medical Waste, and Body Art Programs
- Serves as the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) designated by CalRecycle for permitting, inspection, and enforcement of landfills, recycling facilities, and waste transporters.
- Enforces the California Medical Waste Management Act to ensure safe generation, storage, transport, and disposal of medical waste.
- Implements the Safe Body Art Act to ensure safe and sanitary operation of body art facilities and practitioners.
Responsibilities will vary depending on program assignment and may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Perform inspections, investigations, and enforcement activities in assigned program areas.
- Review and apply relevant laws, regulations, and ordinances.
- Provide instructions for correction of violations.
- Investigate and resolve citizen complaints.
- Advise and instruct individuals, businesses, and contractors on environmental health requirements.
- Maintain records, prepare reports and correspondence.
- Work independently and collaboratively within a team to achieve program objectives.
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Experience conducting regulatory, health-based inspections.
- Ability to clearly communicate complex technical issues in understandable terms.
- Skilled in preparing concise, well-organized reports and correspondence.
- Effective at balancing independent work with teamwork.
- Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Land Use candidates: Knowledge of water well siting, construction, water treatment, soil science, hydrogeology, septic system design, and construction drawings.
- Solid Waste/Medical Waste/Body Art candidates: Knowledge of the California Health & Safety, California Code of Regulations, Public Resources Codes and County ordinances pertaining to these programs; experience using CalRecycle’s Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) portal is a plus.
APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Environmental Health Specialist I - Possession of a current "Trainee Certification Letter" from the California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Specialist Registration Program. (NOTE: An Environmental Health Specialist Trainee may be employed to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist, until he or she is qualified by examination as provided under Section 106670, for a period which shall not exceed three years.)
Environmental Health Specialist II and III - Possession of a California Certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS).
For more information on the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program, please visit the California Department of Public Health website at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/REHS/REHS.aspx
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Applicants must attach a copy of current "Trainee Certification Letter" from the California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Specialist Registration Program OR a copy of current California certificate as Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) when submitting online application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
I level ($43.73- $48.90/hour): A bachelor's degree which has included a minimum of 30 semester units of basic sciences.
II level ($51.25- $64.04/hour): One year of experience in general inspections and investigations in the environmental health field.
III level ($54.38- $67.95/hour): Two years of journey level experience in environmental health inspections and investigations.
Licensure/Certification:
- EHS I - possession of a Letter of Approval as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee from the State of California Department of Health Services. A copy of the letter to be submitted with the application.
- EHS II and EHS III - possession of a California Certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist. A copy of the certificate to be submitted with the application.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the 'Apply' button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE
Final Filing Date: Friday, October 24, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST
First Round Application Screening: Week of November 3, 2025
Panel Interviews: Week of November 17, 2025
Talent Acquisition Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (100325) (Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III - J048/J046/J049)
Work Location: In person
