Environmental Health Specialist III - County of Orange

HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the direction of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) services areas - Administrative Services, , Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Public Health Services, Specialized Medical Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
The Environmental Health Division is comprised of various programs aimed toward protecting the health and safety of Orange County residents and visitors from harmful conditions in the environment. Staff enforce laws and regulations and emphasize education to assist businesses with providing healthy and safe communities. Services include retail and wholesale food protection, foodborne illness investigations, public pool inspections, childhood lead exposure prevention, water quality, ocean water protection, solid waste facility oversight, hazardous materials surveillance and mitigation oversight, underground and aboveground storage tank oversight, body art facility and practitioner oversight, medical waste management inspections and a used oil recycling education program.



THE PROGRAMS
Food and Pool Safety: Conducts inspections at retail food facilities, temporary food facilities, mobile food facilities, wholesale food facilities, public swimming pools, and at hotel/motels to promote safe and sanitary conditions and protect the public while enforcing public health regulations.
 
 Plan Check: Conduct plan review and construction inspection for all retail food facilities and public swimming pools undergoing new construction or remodels throughout the county. These programs work directly with members of the public including owners, architects, contractors, and consultants.
 
Water Quality: The responsibilities for this position include activities related to well constructions and destructions, liquid waste hauler, ocean water protection and cross connection programs.  Each of these water quality programs are related to monitoring/regulating/preventing potentially hazardous conditions in the environment that may impact public health.  Examples of duties in this position include conducting inspections, investigating complaints, pursuing enforcement action, educating and assisting businesses and industries, water purveyors, and the general public as to the laws and regulations related to water quality.


THE OPPORTUNITY
The Environmental Health Specialist III will assume specialized tasks within the Food and Pool Safety, Plan Check, and Water Quality Sections.  Additionally, the Environmental Health Specialist III will:
 

• Conduct specialized studies, investigations, regular routine field inspections and makes recommendations as to findings; compile information, evaluate present procedures and assist with drafting proposed ordinances, division policies, regulations and guidelines in the area of specialization; may review and make recommendations involving environmental impact reports, and new legislation
• Assist staff in resolving complex field investigation problems; assist with training new district staff; consult with Supervising Environmental Health Specialists and/or the Program Manager regarding key or emergency situations
• Plan and conduct in-service and public education training programs; recommend program goals and assist in the implementation of County-wide sanitation programs; attend and address public meetings, educational conferences and symposium
• Provide statistical data, including proper procedures of research methods, such as statistical sampling and analysis, data sources, and collection methods to obtain information on various public health and sanitation programs and problems
• Investigate complaints, research, and respond to citizen inquiries
• Provide environmental health database management issue identification, tracking, analysis, and independent resolution development
• Participate in outreach activities as well as providing educational material
• Prepare various reports and maintain manuals, forms, pamphlets, files and other material for division and other governmental agencies
• Coordinate work efforts with other Divisions or outside agencies
• Assist supervisor or carry out certain duties in the event of their absence

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess extensive background within the environmental health field.
 
Under Food and Pool Safety and Plan Check programs, possession of a Food Safety Manager Certificate from an approved organization is highly desirable, but not required.
 
Under Water Quality program, Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Certification and Cross Connection Control Specialist Certification from American Water Works Association (AWWA) are highly desirable, but not required.
 
Additionally, the ideal candidates will possess extensive knowledge, skills, and abilities that demonstrates the following competencies:

Professional & Technical Expertise | Legal & Regulatory Navigation

• Understanding and applying new food safety training concepts, such as Oral Culture Learning, Active Managerial Control, and the Food Drug Administration Voluntary Program Standards as well as with the Model Food Code
• Performing difficult field inspections, including compliance and program enforcement work    
• Coordinating investigations with internal and external departments, divisions, or organizations
• Managing a district route that consist of Food, Pool and Housing Inspections, and Citizen Complaints
• Knowledge of laws and regulations related to retail food and public swimming pools and spas
• Knowledge and familiarity of digital plan submission and plan review applications
• Knowledge of principals, regulations, research methods and interactions with other agencies related to Ocean Water Monitoring, Liquid Waste Haulers, California Well Standards, and Water Supply (including State Small Water Systems, Recycled Water and Cross-Connection)

Leadership | Teamwork 

• Leading, directing, and efficiently managing correspondences
• Applying knowledge from leadership courses, such as Masters of Public Health program 
• Exemplifying a role as an approachable "educator" as opposed to a traditional "regulator"
• Collaborating and working well with others, specifically working with private industries in a team-like setting

Innovative Problem Solving | Attention to Detail | Self-Management 

• Staying apprised of new opportunities, techniques, and approaches related to inspections or environmental health
• Showing a high level of care and thoroughness for consistency and accuracy purposes
• Multi-tasking numerous assignments, following through and meeting deadlines 
• Thinking logically, organizing thoughts, and establishing work priorities to accomplish work efficiently and independently

 Oral & Written Communication| Presentation | Listening Skills

• Strong oral communication skills for public speaking, group discussions, and individual interviews
• Listening attentively and understanding what is being communicated by staff, the public, and supervisors and management
• Strong written communication skills that effectively convey concepts or conclusions when preparing policies, ordinances, or guidelines and/or reports

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have possession of A valid certificate of registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the State of California.

Applicants must have possession of a valid California Class C Driver License. Employees in this class will be required to use their own personal vehicle.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 
Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications as well as the physical, mental, environmental and working conditions for the Environmental Health Specialist III classification.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all applications and supplemental responses for the minimum qualifications. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step of the selection process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here(Download PDF reader) to review the policy.
 
Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer) 
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.    

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedure listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List
HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.