Under general supervision, to conduct specialized studies, inspections, and investigations involved with the enforcement of complex environmental health laws and regulations and the solution of technical environmental health problems; and to perform other work as required.
This is the journey level of the Environmental Health Specialist class series. This class differs from the lower level class of Environmental Health Specialist II in that the former performs more detailed and complex inspection and investigation work. The Environmental Health Specialist III class is distinguished from the Environmental Health Specialist IV in that the latter serves in a lead capacity over Environmental Health Specialists in environmental health programs or develops, implements and coordinates programs of training, recruitment and selection for Environmental Health Specialists.
REPRESENTATION UNIT:
Professional
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
(Depending on the area of assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following)
• Conducts specialized, technical field inspections and investigations to determine compliance with relevant environmental health laws and regulations; meets with concerned parties from industry and governmental agencies to provide current information on requirements of applicable environmental health laws and to discuss correction of deficiencies to obtain compliance.
• Analyzes proposed or existing legislation to determine impact on environmental health operations; prepares drafts of new environmental health related ordinances and reviews existing ordinances for revision.
• May review and approve plans for development and construction projects related to food facilities, public swimming pools, on-site sewage disposal systems, and water wells for conformity to environmental health regulations;, determines conditions for approval as necessary.
• Provides technical assistance to other Environmental Health Specialists.
• Participates in the development and implementation of staff development and training programs; conducts or participates in special investigations for the resolution of the more difficult problems within the various environmental health programs.
• Gathers or leads in the gathering of evidence of violations and non-compliance with environmental health laws and regulations.
• Prepares reports and evidence for presentation at Permit Suspension/Revocation hearings; issues warnings and citations for infraction violations; prepares reports and evidence to present cases to the court on behalf of the County.
• Provides technical information to the public concerning safe food handling practices, vector control, drinking water standards, recycling, medical waste, sewage disposal, pool chemistry, etc. and assists other agencies in the evaluation of these issues; makes presentations to the public, business groups and students/administrators of educational institutions and non-profit professional organizations; may collect recyclable waste from the public.
RECRUITING GUIDELINES:
Education: A bachelor's degree with courses from an accredited college that enables the applicant to meet the minimum educational standards prescribed by the State of California, Department of Health Services.
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to a Registered Environment Health Specialist II or a Hazardous Materials Management Specialist II with the County of Riverside.
Knowledge of: The principles of physical, biological, and social sciences used in environmental health and safety; functions and operations of related governmental agencies and community organizations; State and local laws and regulations governing environmental health and public health; penal code provisions relating to public health nuisances; methods and techniques of investigating, inspecting, and obtaining compliance where corrections are necessary; environmental research and statistical methods; principles and practices of environmental health and safety; principles of environmental planning and management.
Ability to: Analyze situations accurately and take effective action; establish and maintain cooperative relationships; communicate clearly both orally and in writing; prepare clear and concise reports; plan, organize and carry out research, analyze and evaluate data, and make recommendations based on findings; detect public health hazards and conditions which violate public health and safety laws, ordinances and regulations and secure their correction through education, voluntary compliance or legal enforcement; instruct in the methods and procedures of environmental health and safety inspections and correction of violative conditions; interpret public health needs and goals to others; use a personal computer and software programs.
