POSITION: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST
Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) is seeking two Environmental Health Specialists to join our Environmental Health Division While each position has a primary focus area, both teams share responsibilities and provide cross-coverage as needed.
- Community Services Team – Primarily responsible for food safety and restaurant inspections, public swimming pool inspections, and campground inspections (based in Charlotte, MI)
- Water Protection Team – Primarily responsible for well and septic permitting with additional responsibilities that include pool and campground inspections when assigned (based in Charlotte or Hastings, MI)
Environmental Health Specialists work to enforce environmental health, food safety, and water protection regulations and provide education and consultative services. Environmental Health Specialists perform a mix of fieldwork, inspections, permit reviews, and public education. You will work independently, make regulatory decisions, and serve as a resource for residents, businesses, and community partners.
This position receives health insurance first of the month after your hire date, 100% employer paid dental & vision, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement opportunities, professional development opportunities, and more! BEDHD is also a Federal Public Loan Forgiveness Program eligible employer.
BEDHD is a nationally accredited public health service agency for Barry and Eaton counties. We protect and improve the health of Barry and Eaton counties through education; promotion of healthy lifestyles; and implementation of effective policies and programs for individuals, families, businesses, and communities. Our vision is a community where everyone has the opportunity to live a long, healthy, and active life.
In this Environmental Health Specialist role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Inspect and evaluate locations which have a public health significance such as food service establishments, schools, public swimming pools, body art facilities, bathing beaches, dwellings, workplaces, childcare facilities, campgrounds, waste disposal facilities, private and public water supplies, sewage systems, and sites of alleged public health nuisances.
- Approve licenses and issue permits for facilities and sites that are required to follow applicable regulations as determined through an on-site inspection or evaluation.
- Interpret and enforce regulations, and recommends changes to help assure compliance with standards, codes, ordinances, and statutes.
- Author well and sewage system permits and prepare reports of well and sewage system inspections.
- Investigate illness complaints, prepare report findings and corrective action directives, and provide appropriate follow-up assessments.
- Conduct illness investigations using accepted epidemiological methods.
- Respond to food service establishments in the event of fires, water damage, catastrophic events, or other emergencies.
- Use established policies and procedures to provide education and guidance on environmental health matters.
- Review plans and standard operating procedures for all new food service facility construction to ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations.
· ·Assist the public with questions and inquiries of sanitation, waste and handling disposal, and other environmental health matters. Educate and provide consultation on the prevention and resolution, based on approved policies and procedures.
- Partner with various local and state regulatory agencies to resolve environmental and public health concerns.
- Prepare reports and correspondences pertaining to environmental activities, review documentation for quality assurance.
- Conduct training classes for food workers and sewage system installers.
Ideal Candidates will possess:
1. Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Environmental Health, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Sciences, or related field of study (must have at least 30 credits of science courses)
2. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact in a positive and professional manner
3. Ability to use tools such as test kits thermometers, probes thermometers, probes, soil augers, tape measurer, laboratory sampling, navigational units, etc.
4. Registered Sanitarian in Michigan or Registered Environmental Health Specialist through the National Environmental Health Association, a plus
5. Intermediate knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, preferred
6. Ability to travel for business throughout the district
7. Ability to lift 25 pounds regularly
Experience in field inspections, environmental health, food service, construction/soil evaluation, regulatory compliance, or other public-facing roles is helpful.Barry-Eaton District Health Department is an equal opportunity employer.
