Environmental Health Technician

Vilas County requires that all applicants fill out our application. It can be found on our website at www.workforvilascounty.com

Job Summary:

The purpose of this position is to provide oversight and management of the water lab and to promote individual and population health by providing essential services of public health within a variety of settings. This position handles all aspects of the laboratory, including monitoring quality compliance with regulatory guidelines, maintaining lab equipment, researching changes in methods and regulations, reviewing lab quality compliance and taking corrective actions as necessary.

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. Responsibilities also include a wide range of inspection services; identifying human health and environmental hazards; providing community education; ensuring compliance with a number state and local ordinances, codes, laws and policies; participating in multi-faceted health or environmental projects; and providing technical assistance and information to individuals, businesses, and groups regarding public health and environmental issues.

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

4. 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.

Community Dimensions of Practice

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

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

7. 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.

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

Analysis and Assessment

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

Leadership and Systems Thinking

10. Demonstrates knowledge of applicable professional guidelines and other Federal and State laws and regulations applicable to practice as an environmental public health professional in the state of Wisconsin.

11. 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.

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

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

Policy Development and Program Planning

14. Assist in environmental public health activities and enforcement activities with other professionals and governmental agencies.

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

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

17. Assists with the coordination of enforcement activities between other governmental agencies, such as the Vilas County Zoning and Planning Department, which enforce laws and regulations to protect the public’s health.

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

Communication and Cultural Competency

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

20. 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.

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

Financial Planning and Management

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

Other

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

24. Maintains and secures lab equipment and supply inventories.

25. Performs public health emergency response duties as assigned.

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

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

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

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

30. 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 Science, Biology, or similar field

2 Year College Degree - Preferred

B. Licensure/Certification:

Required:

· 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:

Instead of Education/Licensure:

· 1 year experience working in environmental or public health field collections or any combination of education and experience that provides necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS REQUIRED TO PERFORM POSITION:

· Knowledge of methods, procedures, equipment and materials needed to perform a variety of laboratory water testing.

· Laboratory skills to operate equipment, measure minute volumes and weights, observe chemical reactions.

· 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 and ability to perform environmental field-testing techniques and instrumentation, analysis and interpretation techniques.

· Ability to produce accurate reports and records, as needed.

· 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 $22.11 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

Experience:

• Environmental Field Collections: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person