Deputy Director of Environmental Health - Fiscal Officer (Open and Promotional)

San Mateo County Health is seeking a well-qualified individual to fill the vital role of Deputy Director of Environmental Health Services - Fiscal Officer. Reporting to the Director of Environmental Health Services, the Deputy Director will exercise direct and indirect supervision for professional, technical and clerical employees.
 
The current vacancy is in the Environmental Health Services Division located in San Mateo, CA, but may travel/drive to perform duties of the job.
 
The Deputy Director of Environmental Health will plan, organize, direct, and coordinate major functions of the Environmental Health Services Division; manage fiscal and administrative activities such as budget, contracts, grants, accounts receivable and payable, auditing, personnel, and technology; provide ongoing guidance to Program Supervisors; recommend, develop, implement, and evaluate goals, objectives, policies and procedures; coordinate services within Health, other County departments, and outside agencies; and provide highly complex assistance to the Director and serve as acting director, as needed.
 
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:  

• Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate major functions of the Environmental Health Services Division.
• Recommend, develop, implement, and evaluate goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Assist in program development and strategic planning.
• Plan for and respond to various programmatic and administrative initiatives; ensure timely and accurate reporting of data, both within and outside the county structure.
• Manage finance and fiscal activities such as budget, contracts, fees, grants, accounts receivable and payable, audits and inquiries, and serve as fiscal liaison for the division.
• Manage administrative operations such as personnel, coordination of training for designated staff, development of measurement tools and standards, project management, and emergency preparedness.
• Offer management support to the Director such as providing ongoing technical and administrative guidance to Program Supervisors, representing the division in executive meetings, responding to the media, and serving as division contact, as requested.
• Oversee IT activities including assessing IT needs, negotiating related contracts and determining staff training.
• Ensure that the division is in compliance with local, state, and federal requirements.
• Anticipate programmatic and workflow changes that impact staff and affect internal and external communications.
• Perform detailed program reviews and audits.
• Coordinate services within Health, other County departments, and outside governmental and non-governmental agencies.
• Provide highly complex assistance to the Director and serve as acting director, as needed.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Experience improving workflows and successfully implementing standard work processes across programs.
• Experience championing and utilizing technology to improve systems, monitor performance, and support programs.
• Experience with managing budgets, monitoring revenues and expenses, and making recommendations around budget strategies.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Experience interfacing with County Executive Leadership, city leadership, and elected officials to successfully implement objectives internal and external to the Division.

The position requires a current California certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), or National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) REHS credential. If you do not possess a California certificate as a REHS, you may provide a copy of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) "Letter of Eligibility" outlining your eligibility requirements to take the REHS exam. NOTE: The certification as a California REHS must be acquired within 24 months of hire. Information about California's REHS program may be found at:  https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/REHS/REHS.aspx.
 
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of organization, public administrations, budget, and personnel management.
• Principles and practices of environmental health and related services.
• Laws, codes, regulations and policies governing environmental health.
• Principles of financial administration including budgeting, reporting, fees, and contracting.
• Local, state and federal policies and initiatives.
• Trends and developments in legislation and funding.
• Principles of personnel training and supervision.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and evaluate environmental health functions and programs.
• Interpret and make decisions in accordance with appropriate laws, codes, regulations, and policies.
• Identify and solve complex administrative, fiscal, operational, and technical issues.
• Develop, implement and interpret objectives, goals, policies and procedures that meet required standards.
• Assist in program development and strategic planning.
• Serve as liaison with various internal and external departments, agencies and groups.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other departments, agencies, community groups and employees.
• Work with diverse staff and the public to develop and sustain cultural competence.
• Communicate orally in a variety of circumstances.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, policies, procedures, contracts and correspondence.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate subordinate staff.
• Work cooperatively with internal and external individuals and groups.

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 three years of increasingly responsible administrative management experience including one year of experience in the development of environmental health policy or delivery of environmental health programs and services.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply.  Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

 Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
 
Attach copy of a current California certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), or National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) REHS credential to the online application. If you do not possess a California certificate as a REHS, attach a copy of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) "Letter of Eligibility" outlining your eligibility requirements to take the REHS exam. The document must be submitted prior to the application filing deadline. Failure to do so may disqualify you from this recruitment.
 
The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) that involves the evaluation of relevant training and experience as demonstrated in candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Only those applicants whose education and experience most closely match the needs of the department will be invited to the oral interview. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
 
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 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 SCHEDULE 
Application Final Filing Deadline: Friday, August 21, 2026, 11:59PM PST
Application Screening: Week of August 24, 2026
Combined Civil Service and Departmental Panel Interviews: Week of August 31, 2026

San Mateo County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. 

The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Debbie Kong (08072026) (Deputy Director of Environmental Health - D127)