ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST III

Salary: $26.11 to $31.74 Hourly

This recruitment is being conducted to fill one full-time vacancy in the Food and Recreation Program of the Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Division. This list may also be used to fill future full-time and part-time vacancies as they occur during the active status of the list.

THE POSITION:

Under general supervision, an Environmental Health Specialist III (E.H.S. III) serves as a subject matter resource in a specific program area such as land use, water systems, solid wastes, liquid wastes (sewage), food, and/or hazardous materials, and as such, develops and implements procedures and policies relative to environmental health programs; conducts investigations, inspections, surveys and makes recommendations to enforce state and local laws pertaining to environmental health; advises the District Environmental Health Specialists on problem areas related to program operation; assists in training and supervising subordinate personnel; serves as the lead worker for a specific program or programs and is responsible for program evolution, policy and procedure development and program evaluation, and advises and instructs subordinate Environmental Health Specialist staff on matters related to the area of assignment; has program responsibility and exercises considerable independent judgment and discretion in the performance of assigned duties.

The Environmental Health Specialist III for the current vacancy will perform inspections, investigations, surveys and other related duties at food facilities such as restaurants, markets, mobile food preparation units, caterers, certified farmers’ markets, temporary food facilities, public pools, and camps. In addition, the incumbent will be responsible for coordinating and guiding a division-wide environmental health training and education program for registered environmental health specialists, environmental health trainees and retail food handlers; assessing training needs, maintaining a current list of training opportunities, planning and organizing workshops, developing program agendas and lesson plans; participating in the development of procedures, policies, ordinances and laws pertinent to environmental health; determining problem areas and developing programmatic solutions; evaluating the effectiveness of program operation.

Some weekend and evening hours work will be required.

IMPORTANT

In an effort to mitigate the impact of budget reductions on the County workforce, the County of Sonoma has implemented a program of mandatory time off for the current fiscal year. Most County offices, activities and services will be closed from December 24, 2003 through January 2, 2004. During that period, most County employees will be on a work furlough.

In order to minimize the impact of the unpaid furlough on employees hired after September 2, 2003, a deduction will be withheld each pay period from the date of hire through the pay period ending June 21, 2004. The amount of this deduction will be determined by the employee's regularly allocated work schedule and the number of pay periods remaining in the current fiscal year in order to accomplish a 44-hour (for full-time employees) contribution by June 21, 2004.

Those employees hired after the work furlough occurs, will be subject to a deduction of 2.1 hours per pay period for full-time employees or a pro-rated percentage of 2.1 hours per pay period for part-time employees. The hours accumulated as a result of this deduction shall be used as time off prior to the use of any accumulated vacation leave, by mutual agreement of the employee and their Department Head or designee.

ONLINE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE ANSWER MANDATORY SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR APPLICATION AND HIT THE SEND BUTTON.

PAPER APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE ANSWER MANDATORY SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THIS JOB BULLETIN.

Education: Educational course work that meets the minimum standards and qualifications for admission to examination as a registered Environmental Health Specialist under the applicable provisions of state law. Additional certificated course work in a specialty area is highly desirable.

Experience: Professional experience as an Environmental Health Specialist who has provided the knowledge and abilities listed above. Normally, two years of experience as a registered Environmental Health Specialist will meet this requirement.

License: Possession of a valid certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist issued by the State of California. Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Thorough knowledge of: the sanitation provisions of the California Health and Safety Code, California Administrative Code, and related legal provisions; principles and practices of environmental sanitation and sanitary science, and of the principles and practices of public health; the methods and procedures used in inspecting, investigating and correcting of unsanitary or hazardous conditions; hazardous materials management and emergency response protocols; current methods, means and technologies used in the educational field.

Ability to: plan, organize and carry out research, analyze and evaluate data, and make recommendations based on findings; detect unsanitary conditions and public health hazards and secure their correction through education, voluntary compliance or legal enforcement; prepare and maintain complex, comprehensive reports and records; communicate verbal and written ideas clearly and logically; establish and maintain effective relationships with other governmental officials, the public, and administrative and professional personnel; design and conduct effective workshops in a way that meets the participants' needs.

The selection procedure will consist of an application and supplemental questionnaire appraisal (weight 100%). Each application will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational course work, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

A background investigation is required prior to appointment to regular positions and some temporary jobs. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy.

Additionally, a medical examination, including a drug and/or alcohol screening, will be required prior to employment. Please see additional information as provided in the General Employment Information regarding the general employment process.

Please see the BENEFITS tab for additional information on the general employment process steps and vacation, holidays, sick leave, insurance, and other benefits information.

Applications are accepted on-line through the County of Sonoma website (www.sonoma-county.org) or the website of www.governmentjobs.com. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), or through the mail. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

HR Analyst: LV

HR Assistant: lw