ISSUE DATE: 07/14/10

FINAL FILING DATE: 08/06/10. If the Final Filing Date states "Continuous", the application filing period may close any time after ten business days from the issue date of this job announcement if sufficient qualified applications have been received. Postmarks are not acceptable, therefore it is important to submit your application as soon as possible.

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, to conduct inspections and to educate the public in the enforcement of environmental health regulations, laws, codes and standards along with policies and procedures aimed at the prevention, mitigation, and abatement of safety and environmental health hazards.

This recruitment requires the submission of an online application. No paper applications will be accepted. Applicants must apply online at www.sccjobs.org. Computers are available at the County Government Center, 70 West Hedding Street, 8th Floor, East Wing, San Jose, CA 95110, during normal business hours, for applicants to apply online.

All applicants are required to complete the supplemental questionnaire. A copy of your CURRENT registration as an Environmental Health Specialist must be scanned and attached to your application, or received via fax to (408) 295-3012. Applications received without the completion of the supplemental questionnaire will be rejected.

TYPICAL TASKS

• Maintains inventories and conducts inspections and investigations of environmental health conditions including but not limited to food facilities, public swimming pools, land development, water systems, solid/medical waste facilities, refuse collection and septage pumper vehicles, body art establishments, and the control of vectors;
   
• Establishes conditions, compliance expectations and time frames for correction of environmental health and safety hazards;
   
• Gathers evidence of violations of applicable laws and prepares statements of evidence for court actions; testifies as an expert witness in depositions and other judicial proceedings; issues citations and appears as issuing officer in court; may prepare cases for referral to County Counsel/District Attorney for prosecution; executes enforcement actions such as closures, impounds and embargoes;
   
• Interprets and applies laws and regulations related to all aspects of environmental health;
   
• Investigates complaints and suspected violations of state and local health and environmental laws and ensures in the abatement of such violations;
   
• Reviews and approves plans for new septic systems and for repair of failing systems; conducts advanced percolation and wet weather soils testing; determines site suitability for septic system installations;
   
• Conducts standardized food facility inspections; conducts specialized inspections such as epidemiological investigations and hazard assessments; and security assessments; develops risk control plans;
   
• Instructs food handlers in food safety principles during performance based inspections; conducts food safety certification classes for restaurant and food operation owners/managers;
   
• Confers with engineers, architects, builders, contractors and others on building and remodeling plans for land use projects; may review and approve plans for limited remodeling of food establishments and closed landfill sites;
   
• Issues ministerial permits; assists in issuing discretionary permits;
   
• Participates in joint investigations with Federal, State and local agencies including police, fire, zoning public health, code enforcement, building and other agencies; investigates consumer product tampering incidents;
   
• Participates in continuing education as required by departmental needs and assignments or state regulations;
   
• Conducts training on environmental health issues;
   
• Keeps abreast of new science, technologies and trends; develops an understanding of new environmental laws and regulations;
   
• Consults with and advises individuals on proper methods of improvement and implementation of corrective action for unsanitary conditions;
   
• Collects samples of water, food, beverages, potential hazardous substances, lead-containing items and other specimens for laboratory tests;
   
• Attends meetings and confers with governmental groups; communicates with culturally diverse local community groups;
   
• Trains and mentors new hires and trainees;
   
• Keeps records and prepares written and oral reports;
   
• Performs related work as required.

   

  EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS Possession of a valid California driver’s license upon appointment.
  
  Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college with a major in Environmental Health Sciences. If major is other than in Environmental Health Sciences, study must include a minimum of 30 semester units of basic science including at least one laboratory course of each of the following: chemistry, physics, microbiology, and biology, and a course in mathematics.
  
  Possession of a valid Registered Environmental Health Specialist certification issued by the State of California pursuant to the California’s Health and Safety Code.
  
  Some positions may require the possession of appropriate tests, training, and certifications, including Certified Lead Inspector/Assessor in accordance with Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, blood borne pathogen training and certification, and any others that may be necessary to perform duties assigned.
  
  Knowledge of:
  

• Environmental health provisions of the California Health and Safety Code and the California Code of Regulations, California State Public Resources Codes, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA processes), and provisions of the California Penal Code relating to public nuisances;
   
• The principles of environmental health and safety and environmental and sanitary science;
   
• The techniques used in conducting environmental and epidemiological investigations;
   
• The methods and procedures used in inspecting and correcting unsanitary conditions;
   
• Common office software including word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
  
  Ability to:
   
• Interpret laws and enforce laws, regulations, codes and ordinances pertaining to environmental health;
   
• Deal tactfully and effectively with members of policy boards, commissions, elected, appointed public officials, media and the general public;
   
• Keep accurate records and prepare clear, concise reports;
   
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing;
   
• Work well without close supervision;
   
• Operate computer systems and databases;
   
• Meet respiratory protection program requirements.
  
  Veterans Preference Information
  This recruitment has been identified as non-entry level by the Human Resources Director. Any veteran who has submitted a copy of their DD214 form, and received an honorable discharge within the last five years, will be given a preferential credit of five percent (ten percent for those identified as disabled veterans), after attaining a passing examination score for a numerically scored examination.

  THE EXAMINATION PROCESS: The examination process may include one or more of the following: application review, application appraisal, preliminary competitive rating, performance test, written test, and/or oral interview examination.

  This recruitment may require completion of Supplemental Questions in order to evaluate your education, training and experience relative to the required knowledge and abilities for the position you are applying for.

  Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun.

  DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS: Under California law, all County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers (DSW). In the event of a catastrophic event, County employees may be expected to fulfill emergency action assignments. As DSW's, they may be assigned to assist in any disaster service activity that promotes the protection of public health and safety and preservation of lives and property.

  INFORMATION ON PERS CONTRIBUTION: For salaries above a limitation imposed by federal law (that limit per IRS is $245,000 for 2010): (1) neither the County nor the employee makes contributions to PERS on the portion of salary that exceeds the limit, and (2) the portion of the salary that exceeds the limit is not used by PERS to calculate the retirement benefit.