Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian

Vilas County requires that all applicants fill out our job description. It can be found at www.workforvilascounty.com

Job Summary:

The Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian promotes individual and population public health by providing the essential services of public health within a variety of settings. Responsibilities include: inspecting properties, businesses or homes; collecting and analyzing water samples; identifying health and environmental hazards including indoor and outdoor air quality; assists in food-borne and water-borne illness outbreak investigations; providing community health education and health promotion activities; ensuring compliance with a broad range of current local health and environmental codes, regulations and policies; participating in multi-faceted health or environmental projects; and providing technical assistance and information to individuals, families and groups regarding public health and environmental issues. This position requires knowledge of public health and environmental science.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Public Health Sciences

1. Conducts required inspections and/or audits to ensure compliance of existing local and state public health and environmental codes, regulations and policies.

2. Provides health education and technical assistance to individuals and/or groups regarding compliance with current local public health and environmental codes, regulations and policies.

3. Investigates complaints regarding environmental health problems and environmental health hazards and initiates enforcement or corrective actions as required.

4. Collaborates in the development and design of programs and activities that promote health and prevent disease, in settings including, but not limited to the Health Department, homes, community organizations and businesses, schools, and the community in general.

5. Collects water samples for laboratory analysis to ensure compliance of existing local and state public health and environmental codes, regulations and policies.

6. Participates in response teams to prevent, minimize, and contain adverse health events and conditions resulting from communicable diseases; food-, water-, and vector-borne outbreaks; chronic diseases; environmental hazards; injuries; and health disparities.

7. Responds to public complaints and inquiries on environmental or public health matters.

8. Collaborates in the development of and contributes to individual, team, and Departmental quality improvement, performance management and evaluation activities.

9. Performs bacteriological testing of drinking water samples submitted to the Health Department. Creates and maintains lab records and performs quality control and quality assurance steps to ensure the accuracy and integrity of each analysis. Reports test results to the well owner and WI Department of Natural Resources when applicable. Prepares nitrate/nitrite samples for shipping to alternate lab.

Community Dimensions of Practice

10. Educates the public on environmental health issues and the rationale for environmental health regulations.

11. Provides timely environmental health information, interpretation, technical assistance and regulatory compliance advice to individuals, groups, industry organizations, the general public and other agencies.

12. Contributes and participates to a work environment that fosters ongoing educational experiences regarding public health for colleagues, students, healthcare professionals and members of the community.

13. Provides orientation to staff, students, and other health department professionals in the community regarding environmental public health practices.

Analysis and Assessment

14. Collects samples, conducts field tests, collects and analyzes environmental public health data; interprets results and makes recommendations for corrective action(s).

Leadership and Systems Thinking

15. Demonstrates knowledge of applicable professional guidelines for Registered Sanitarians/Specialist and licensed Environmental Health Practitioners and other Federal and State laws and regulations applicable to practice as an environmental public health professional in the state of Wisconsin.

16. Adheres to applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, such as those concerning exposure to blood borne pathogens, toxic substances, airborne pathogens or exposure to other hazards during routine assignments or assignments during public health emergencies.

17. Contributes to a work environment where performance management, continuous quality improvements in service and professional practice are pursued.

18. Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by pursuing education participating in professional committees and work groups

Policy Development and Program Planning

19. Coordinates environmental public health activities and enforcement activities with other professionals and governmental agencies.

20. Collaborates in the development and implementation of environmental best-practices.

21. Collaborates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of long- and short-range policies, plans, and programs, with approval by the Public Health Director.

22. Contributes to individual, team, and Departmental quality improvement and evaluation activities.

Communication and Cultural Competency

23. Delivers targeted, culturally appropriate information to help individuals and groups understand local environmental public health policies and regulations.

24. Utilizes appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with people of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles and physical abilities.

25. Adheres to ethical principles and department policies in the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of data and information.

Financial Planning and Management

26. Participates in activities such as time studies that contribute to the development of budgets and the efficient use of resources.

Other

27. Attend regular staff meetings, trainings and other meetings, as assigned.

28. Performs public health emergency response duties as assigned.

29. Participates as part of the Incident Command Structure in planning, training, and exercising for emergencies; includes annual respirator fit testing.

30. Works to support the mission of the department and adheres to the core values as described in the most current agency strategic plan.

31. Responsible to know and practice the Safety Policies of the County. Perform all job tasks in a safe and prescribed manner.

32. Ability to accommodate flexible scheduling to address program or client needs.

33. All other duties as assigned or necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the Public Health Department.

WORK REQUIREMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS:

A. Education/Knowledge: Major Field of study or emphasis: Environmental Health, Biology, Microbiology, Public Health or related field with a minimum of 30 semester hours of science.

4 Year College Degree Required

B. Licensure/Certification:

Required:

· Registered Sanitarian (RS) or Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) within three (3) years of employment and maintained throughout employment.

· National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 300, 400 and 700.a certification within six (6) months of employment.

· Valid Wisconsin driver’s license, current certificate of vehicle insurance, and access to reliable transportation to all assigned work locations.

Additional preferred training and experience: Additional coursework or experience in: epidemiology, public facility plan review and inspections, water sampling and results interpretation, Emergency Preparedness/Incident Command System, HACCP, radon measurement and mitigation certification, pool operator certification, WI Food Code standardized.

C. Required Work Experience:

In addition to Education/Licensure:

· 1+ years of experience working in environmental or public health field is preferred.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS REQUIRED TO PERFORM POSITION:

· Knowledge of environmental sciences and environmental public health principles

· Knowledge of and ability to comprehend and interpret applicable statues, regulations, ordinances, codes, policies and procedures

· Knowledge and ability to implement enforcement action when violations exist

· Ability to perform thorough investigations and inspections and to analyze and interpret them effectively to ensure public health

· Knowledge of safety procedures for handling hazardous materials

· Knowledge of data collection, analysis and interpretation techniques

· Proficiency in use of the Microsoft Office Suite, along with Department and program-specific required databases.

· Demonstrate effective written and oral communications, including conveying technical information to non-technical community members

· Knowledge of conflict resolution techniques and its applications.

· Ability to demonstrate leadership, independent judgment, and critical thinking skills.

· Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, general public, other departments, agencies and state officials and work with people with varying levels of education, understanding and values in a culturally sensitive manner.

· Must be able to meet required deadlines, which may be stressful.

Due to the need for all Health Department personnel to respond to public health emergencies, the employee must be assessed for his/her ability to meet the physical demands of performing the following activities:

· Must be able to be fitted and wear NIOSH 95 mask.

· Engage in the following movements: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling and writing and repetitive motions.

· Exert up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

· Hearing ability sufficient enough to communicate with others effectively in person and over the phone

· Visual ability must be sufficient enough to read typewritten documents, computer screen and drive a car.

If unable to demonstrate these abilities based upon a standardized, objective assessment performed by external occupational health professionals, all reasonable accommodations will be made, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and any other applicable Federal and Wisconsin law.

Work Environment: General office setting in the department facilities, as well as community sites including clients’ homes and workplaces. Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions such as snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity, vibration, sudden temperature changes, and poor illumination at the job site or due to travel on the job. Travel to and from field locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals.

In all settings, employees in this classification may occasionally need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical or hostile behaviors and/or communication.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $26.36 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• Registered Sanitarian/Registered Environ Health Specialist (Preferred)

Work Location: In person