Environmental Health Specialist

SALARY

$61,733.50 - $77,166.85

JOB SUMMARY

Under minimal supervision, performs environmental sanitation and consumer health protection work. Performs complex inspections of facilities and property to assure conditions are not detrimental to public health; orders actions to correct deficiencies and monitors compliance, promotes public education on sanitary practices and public health topics; issues permits; prepares and maintains reports, and performs related work as required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Conduct inspections of retail food establishments, childcare centers, public pools, lodging facilities, onsite sewerage facilities, and mobile and temporary food vending units to enforce health codes and issue permits. Prepare written reports on inspection findings and related corrective measures, issue citations, and testify in court.
• Examine detailed engineering and structural designs for new or remodeled construction projects related to retail food establishments, childcare centers, lodging facilities, and public pools to ensure compliance to health codes.  Perform field inspections to verify information on construction plans.
• Provide health education and technical assistance to individuals, groups, businesses and other city departments on topics of public health and general sanitation by verbal and written exchanges.  Provide cross-disciplinary and culturally competent communication to collaborate on projects, coordinate information, solve problems, and serve as a subject matter expert on public health topics and health regulations.
• Independently organize work and manage inspection territory by setting priorities and applying risk-based evaluation models.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Conduct food-borne, mosquito-borne, and water-borne illness outbreak investigations and participate in response to prevent, minimize, and contain adverse health events. Interpret results of inspection or laboratory findings and recommend corrective action.
• Inspect for insect and rodent infestation and apply integrated pest management practices. Convey prevention education to members of the public and conduct surveillance activities related to vector control; may prepare larvicides and pesticides.
• Work a rotating on-call shift to conduct after hours inspections and provide timely response on citizen complaints. Respond to afterhours emergencies such as water outages, fires, sewage spills, and food or waterborne illness outbreaks and other imminent health hazards.
• Advise and make recommendations regarding location and construction of waste disposal systems for structures without access to municipal systems.
• Instruct food handler applicants on hygiene and sanitation practices. Provide technical assistance to business owners and operators, and conduct public health outreach through civic organizations, health fairs, and other community engagement activities.
• Identify imminent health hazards and enforce corrective measures, up-to and including closure of establishments, supervising destruction of unsound food goods, issuing cease operation orders, and testifying in court.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of environmental sanitation, diseases and their transmission and control.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws pertaining to public health.
• Knowledge of current health code construction requirements and health regulations.
• Knowledge of emergency preparedness and incident command structure.
• Knowledge of conflict resolution techniques and its applications.
• Knowledge of regulatory and technical monitoring and investigation methods.
• Skill in conducting sanitation inspections and investigations.
• Skill in verbal and written communications, including conveying technical information to non-technical community members.
• Skill in knowledge and usage of field equipment and devices, operating a personal computer, and standard office equipment.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
• Ability to deliver targeted, culturally appropriate information pertaining to health codes, policies, regulations, and laws.
• Ability to provide high quality internal and external customer service that demonstrates cultural competency and professionalism.
• Ability to review material for detail and translate plans and designs into a working construct.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare reports.
• Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with the public and other city personnel.
• Ability to enforce regulations with fairness, firmness, and professionalism.
• Ability to analyze sanitation defects and prioritize based on risk to public health.
• Ability to perform a variety of physical movements such as walking, climbing, crawling, kneeling, seeing, squatting, stooping and twisting of the body.
• Ability to perform work in varying conditions including inclement weather, active construction sites, community settings, and field work where one may be subject to exposure to disease vectors.

Qualifying Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor's Degree in public health, biological or physical science, or related field with a minimum of 30 semester hours of science. A minimum of one-year related experience needed.
• If not already a Registered Sanitarian, must obtain a Registered Sanitarian-in-Training within six months of employment.
• Must obtain Certified Pool Operator License within one year of employment.
• Working knowledge of reviewing or reading plans/blueprints preferred. 
• Certified Food Manager (CFM), Certified Food Safety Professional (CP-FS), Certified Foodborne Outbreak Investigator (CFOI), Registered Food Safety Auditor (RFSA), Certified Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS), HACCP Certification, or other nationally recognized food safety credentialling preferred. 
• Valid Texas Driver's License, Class C.

Background Requirements:

• MVR
• Criminal Background Check
• Drug and Alcohol Screening
• Physical (HPE)

City of Arlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.