Environmental Health Regional Specialist

Job Code: 32000069
Salary Grade: NC15
Revision Date: 06/2018

Class Concept

This is fieldwork in providing consultative services on environmental health programs to local health departments. Employees are responsible within an assigned geographical district for counsel to local environmental health directors on the content and development of programs in environmental health, the training and certification of new environmental health officers, and technical assistance with the more difficult problems encountered. Basic work objectives center on the strengthening of county programs within the district in all areas of environmental health, monitoring of program quality, and achieving consistency in regard to the enforcement of laws, regulations, and ordinances. Duties occasionally include presentations before county commissioners and local boards of health regarding model ordinances being proposed or modifications in existing programs. While direct regulatory action is ordinarily executed within the local programs, an active enforcement and corroborative witness role is intermittently required when State institutions or facilities are involved, or when the direct involvement of a State-level officer is in the best interest of the local department. Work is performed under the general supervision of an environmental health superior and is evaluated through efficiency exhibited in working with local staff, oral conferences, and written reports.

Acts as consultant to local health directors, environmental health program directors, boards of health, county commissioners, environmental health officers, corroborative agencies, and other interested parties in the environmental sanitation areas of milk sanitation, solid waste-vectors control, shellfish sanitation, and the inclusive area of general sanitation. Advises on environmental health programming which will meet the requirements of State and Federal laws, regulations, and model ordinances; provides technical guidance in the implementation of new State laws and in drafting local ordinances to meet specific area needs. Orients and trains freshmen environmental health officers; appraises work effectiveness and recommends authorization as-agent-of the State Board of Health upon satisfactory performances; reviews and evaluates periodically the work of authorized environmental health officers to determine their continuing effectiveness in inspection, consultation, and enforcement. Lends technical assistance with the more difficult problems encountered such as the design of a water supply and sewage disposal system under marginal environmental circumstances or the design criteria for a large, one-of-a-kind restaurant. Conducts short schools, workshops, and seminars in all areas of environmental health. Investigates communicable disease outbreaks, especially food-borne epidemics, and recommends future preventive measures. Inspects annually all State institutions within the district and develops a summary report; counsels responsible State officials in pertinent environmental health concerns. Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of contemporary environmental health programs and the principles and concepts upon which they are based.
• Considerable knowledge of the State and county laws, regulations, and ordinances which pertain to the enforcement aspects of environmental health.
• Considerable knowledge of the field inspection methods and laboratory support procedures applicable to the various areas of environmental health sanitation.
• Ability to advise and consult with local health directors, boards of health, county commissioners, environmental health directors, corroborative agencies, and other interested parties regarding environmental health programming.
• Ability to handle the more difficult technical problems which are referred by local staffs.
• Ability to train new environmental health officers in the concepts and methods of environmental health sanitation.
• Ability to deal tactfully, consistently, and with sound judgment over a wide range of public contacts in the personnel interaction concerned with the enforcement of environmental health regulations.
• Ability to communicate with clarity in written and oral form.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution with coursework in physical and biological sciences and three years of professional experience in environmental health; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.