Environmental Health Specialist I (Trainee)/Ii/Iii

Definition & Distinguishing Characteristics

The Colusa County Community Development Department seeks an Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III to join our amazing team. In this position, you will get an opportunity to perform a variety of professional-level environmental health duties in the investigation and evaluation of environmental health-related safety hazards and issues; to respond to community complaints regarding environmental health concerns, and to enforce applicable mandates and regulations to preserve a healthy environment.

• Competitive salary commensurate with education and experience (based on 37.5 hour workweek):
• Flex work schedules
• Work/life balance
• Fun and dedicated staff with a family atmosphere!

Env Health Specialist I $4,088 - $6,706
Env Health Specialist II $4,513 - $7,404
Env Health Specialist III $5,236 - $8,588

• Did we mention? No traffic! The only downside to this is that you will need to come up with a difference excuse if you are running late :-)
• Excellent benefit package, including fully PAID health insurance and a generous retirement benefit (3% @ 60 for Classic Members or 2% @ 62 for New Members); that means a lifetime paycheck upon retirement!
• Colusa County’s residents enjoy the best of both worlds: ready access to major metropolitan areas while taking advantage of affordable housing associated with the area’s friendly, small-town environment
• The region is blessed with sweeping mountain vistas, open space, and clear skies

• 80 minutes from Napa/Sonoma Wine Country
• 1 hour from downtown Sacramento
• 3 hours from the Fort Bragg-Mendocino coastline
• 2 hours from San Francisco
• 1.5 hours to Redding
• 2.5 hours from Lake Tahoe

This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies and establish an eligibility list to fill other openings without reposting.
Environmental Health Specialist I (Trainee)
This is the entry level class in the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) series. Employees may have no directly related work experience but may possess some related training and education as documented via a letter from the State Department of Health Services certifying them as a trainee as per Section 106615 (d) of the California Health & Safety Code. This class performs the more routine tasks and duties as assigned during the course of experience and training toward the attainment of an Environmental Health Specialist II promotion which includes the acquisition of a California Registered Environmental Health Specialist certificate from the State of California.

Environmental Health Specialist II

This is the full journey-level class within the Environmental Health Specialist series (followed by Environmental Health Specialist III) and is distinguished from the Environmental Health Specialist I by the performance of the full range of duties and responsibilities as assigned, and by the possession of a valid California Registered Environmental Health Specialist certificate. Employees at this level require only occasional instruction or assistance in the completion of routine duties or as new and unusual situations arise. They are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the Environmental Health unit. This class is further distinguished from the Environmental Health Specialist I level by possessing more hands-on work experience. Environmental Health Specialist II positions are typically staffed through external recruitment or by promotion from the Environmental Health Specialist I level after successful completion of the probationary period and acquisition of the California Registered Environmental Health Specialist Certificate.

Supervision & Examples of Duties

Qualifications

Environmental Health Specialist I (Trainee)

Knowledge of:

Basic principles of microbiology, chemistry, and soil genealogy.

Principles and procedures of record-keeping.

English language usages, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and report writing.

Basic mathematical principles.

Ability to:

Learn the principles and practices of environmental health management.

Learn pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Learn professional-level sanitation and environmental inspection work.

Learn to investigate and evaluate environmental health complaints.

Experience and Training Guidelines-Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

No experience is required.

Training:

Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in biology, chemistry or a related field.

License or Certificate

Possession of a valid California driver’s license.

Possession of a letter from the State Department of Health Services certifying the individual as a trainee per Section 106615 (d) of the California Health & Safety Code.

Possession or ability to obtain a valid California Registered Environmental Health Specialist Certificate at the completion of the one-year probationary period of an EHS I (Trainee) as a requirement for promotion to an Environmental Health Specialist II. Failure to possess a valid California Registered Environmental Health Specialist Certificate within three years of appointment will be cause for termination.

Environmental Health Specialist II

In addition to the qualifications for Environmental Health Specialist I:

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of environmental health management.

Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.

Principles of microbiology, chemistry, and soil genealogy.

Principles and procedures of record-keeping.

English language usages, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and report writing.

Mathematical principles.

Ability to:

Understand and apply the principles and practices of environmental health management.

Understand, interpret and apply pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Perform professional-level sanitation and environmental inspection work.

Investigate and evaluate environmental health complaints.

Experience and Training Guidelines-Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Equivalent to satisfactory completion of one year as an Environmental Health Specialist I (Trainee) in a California county environmental health program.

Training

Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in biology, chemistry, or a related field.

License or Certificate

Possession of a valid California driver’s license.

Possession of a valid California Registered Environmental Health Specialist Certificate.

Physical Requirements

Requires ability to perform on-site field appraisals including exertion of a moderate

amount of physical effort; requires sufficient hand/eye coordination to perform semi-skilled

repetitive movements, such as filing, use of calculators or other office equipment or

supplies; requires the ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Typical Working Conditions

Work is performed in both an office and outside environments. Ability to communicate verbally in a clear manner and volume required to converse on the telephone, mobile radio, and face to face.

Environmental Health Specialist III

In addition to the qualifications for Environmental Health Specialist II:

Knowledge of:

Environmental Health and sanitation provisions in federal, state and local laws, regulations and procedures.

Principles, methods, technology and equipment applied in inspection, analysis and enforcement of sanitary regulations.

Elements related to assigned position in land use, water and wastewater systems, solid waste, etc.

Ability to:

Detect unsanitary conditions and potential public health risks.

Analyze causal factors and recommend appropriate remedial actions.

Define problem areas, collect, analyze, and evaluate technical data to develop recommendations and policy proposals.

Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Speak effectively before groups.

Write effectively to produce complex reports, correspondence and memoranda.

Record inspection/investigation findings.

Experience and Training Guidelines-Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Four years increasingly responsible experience in the environmental health field.

Training:

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in biology, chemistry or a related field.

License or Certificate

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist issued by the California State Department of Health Services.

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver’s license.

Physical Requirements

Requires ability to perform on-site field appraisals including exertion of a moderate amount

of physical effort; requires sufficient hand/eye coordination to perform semi-skilled repetitive

movements, such as filing, use of calculators or other office equipment or supplies; requires

the ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Typical Working Conditions

Work is performed in both an office and outside environments. Ability to communicate verbally in a clear manner and volume required to converse on the telephone, mobile radio, and face to face.

This class specification lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Incumbent(s) may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills.

NOT ALL DUTIES ARE NECESSARILY PERFORMED BY EACH INCUMBENT.

SALARY INFORMATION: (based on a 37.5 hour work week)
Env Hlth Specialist I $4,088 - $6,706
Env Hlth Specialist II $4,513 - $7,404
Env Hlth Specialist III $5,236 - $8,588

Supplemental Information

• Colusa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• The information in this job bulletin is not a contract. Colusa County does not reimburse travel expenses for employment applications. The county participates in E-Verify. Retirees may be subject to hiring restrictions according to Government Code Section 21221 (h) and 21224 for California Public Sector Pension Plan Retirees.
• All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers and are required to complete related training and report for work during emergencies. Resumes are encouraged as attachments, but the online application must be completed in full. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee selection in the examination process.

Colusa County offers an excellent benefit package. For a summary of benefits, please click here: 2023 Benefit Summary