An Environmental Health Specialist, under limited supervision, protects the public's health by performing work within the Environmental Health Division of the Public Health Department. Responsibilities include conducting daily regulatory, inspection, evaluation, education and prevention activities in the Children’s Environmental Health, Food Lodging and Institutions or On-Site Water Protection Programs within the Environmental Health Division. Regulatory and enforcement responsibilities are associated with all or a portion of the following: food establishments, lodging, public swimming pools, tattoo parlors, assisted living and nursing homes, residential care facilities, child care facilities, adult day service facilities, schools, camps, child lead poisoning prevention, local confinement facilities, migrant housing, on-site wastewater disposal systems, individual water supplies, communicable disease outbreak investigations, complaint investigations and facility plan review. Other duties may include enforcement of local ordinances and programs related to mass gathering events, vector control, solid waste management and indoor air quality. Employee must utilize excellent written and verbal communication skills. Employee must exercise considerable initiative, tact and courtesy in frequent contact with associated government officials, coworkers and to the general public. Reports to Environmental Health Supervisor.
Performs duties as an Environmental Health Specialist in the Children's Environmental Health Program, Food, Lodging and Institutions Program and/or the On-site Water Protection Program.
May conduct compliance visits, plan review and mandated inspections of food establishments, public swimming pools, child care facilities, schools, camps, institutions and other regulated establishments and issue enforcement actions for critical violations.
May conduct investigations related to child lead poisoning cases.
Maintains knowledge of current policies, laws, rules and developments in the field and applies pertinent knowledge to performance of job duties.
Prepares and maintains records of inspections conducted.
May respond to any report of a foodborne illness.
Investigates environmental health complaints, documents results using software management system and provides follow-up.
Participates in ongoing Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement programs.
Suspends and revokes permits due to imminent public health hazards or as requested by the state.
May conduct site evaluations to determine suitability for the permitting and installation of on-site wastewater disposal systems and private water supply wells in accordance with North Carolina Laws and Rules. Prepares engineering designs of on-site wastewater disposal systems for the issuance of improvement and construction authorization permits. Conducts installation inspections of new and repaired on-site wastewater disposal and well water systems.
Maintains accurate documentation for possible legal action.
Conducts water quality sampling or wells and reports results verbally and in writing to interested individuals.
Drives a county vehicle to perform job duties and is responsible for ensuring that maintenance schedule for vehicle is performed as required.
Assists in the training of Environmental Health Specialist-Interns or other staff as requested by the Supervisor or Division Manager.
Participates in emergency preparedness and response activities in the event of a natural disaster, disease outbreak and other threats to the health of the public. These activities may require supplemental safety and readiness training and after-hours and weekend work.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
POSITION-SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS:
On-Site Water Protection Program
Evaluates engineering reports, soil scientist design proposals, real property assessments, maps, deeds and surveys.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours or its equivalent 45 quarter hours in physical, biological, natural, life or health science or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Licenses or Certifications:
Maintain Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist with the North Carolina Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners. Individuals hired as an Environmental Health Specialist Intern or eligible Intern must meet the requirements for Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist with the North Carolina Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners within two (2) years of date of registration as an Intern.
Must have a valid driver's license and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.
Special Requirements:
Must have environmental health experience working in diverse indoor and outdoor environments.
After-hours and/or weekend work may be required.
In order to perform work in this role, within (30) thirty days of employment you must provide immunization records, provide proof of immunity, or receive/start the required vaccination series, as applicable, along with complying with any necessary screenings, as required by the Union County Public Health Department and its Healthcare Personnel Immunization and Tuberculosis Screening Policy, in accordance with applicable law.
Please provide college transcripts.
This position may be subject to a fingerprint background check. Per NC General Statute 153A-94.2(b (Download PDF reader)), applicants for a position of employment required to work with children in any capacity will be required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Registered as an Environmental Health Specialist with the North Carolina Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners.
Licenses or Certifications:
State authorizations or be eligible for authorizations as applicable by program area. Program authorizations may include: Food, Lodging and Institutions, Tattoos, Public Swimming Pools, Migrant Housing, Child Care and School Sanitation, Child Lead Poisoning Prevention, and/or Wells and On-Site Wastewater.
Must have a valid driver's license and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.
Special Requirements:
Must have environmental health experience working in diverse indoor and outdoor environments.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be physically able to operate a vehicle, able to exert up to 30 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Significant degree of walking, standing, and bending required. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the need to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Approximately 70% of work is performed in the field conducting required activities as identified by program.
Environmental Health staff in the On-Site Water Protection Program work outdoors and are exposed to extreme weather conditions and varying conditions in the environment including construction sites. Employees evaluate properties for on-site wastewater disposal system suitability using soil hand augers or by examining back hoe pits.
Environmental Health staff working in the Children’s Environmental Health and Food Lodging and Institutions Programs are exposed to food establishment, institutional, residential, child care, school, local confinement, public swimming pool, lodging and health care facility environments and facility construction sites.
