Help wanted: Lenoir County Public Health - Environmental Health Program Specialist
Salary Range: $46,454.78 - $64,038.42
Primary Purpose of the Position: The Environmental Health Program Specialist is an advanced specialist in the On-site Water Protection Section (OWPS). The OWPS Program Specialist works both inside and outside of the Health Department spending the majority of the time on more complex On-site Wastewater Program and Private Water Well Program tasks. An Environmental Health Program Specialist is a public health professional qualified by education in the arts and sciences, specialized training and acceptable environmental health field experience to effectively plan, organize, manage, execute, and evaluate the many diverse elements comprising the field of environmental health. Practice in the field of environmental health includes, but is not limited to, inspection, education, enforcement, surveillance, organization, management, and consultation for the purpose of prevention of environmental health hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health in the following areas: food, lodging, and institutional sanitation, on-site wastewater treatment and disposal, public water supplies, vector control, and solid waste disposal.
Responsibilities of an Environmental Health Program Specialist also include: investigating foodborne illness outbreaks and communicable disease outbreaks; complaints and emergency response following any type of disaster or bioterrorism incident. The primary purpose of this position is inspecting type IIIB, IV, V, and VI wastewater systems; working with operators (ORCs) of these systems; and making sure that all documentation (both Health Department and ORC) are properly maintained for these system types. The Program Specialist will be the primary point of contact for septic system manufacturer/installer concerning registration, education, and information. The Program Specialist will be the primary point of contact for on-site wastewater contract labor from other counties. The Program Specialist will review all contractor permits and the required amount of fieldwork to comply with state law. The Program Specialist will ensure that private drinking water well rules adhere to and will address any issues that arise in this program. The Program Specialist may be called upon to deal with difficult situations where rule interpretation is needed. The Program Specialist may handle minor daily administrative responsibilities within the Section, such as assigning work, in the absence of the Environmental Health Supervisor.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Considerable knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures, as well as complete understanding of the concepts of public health law. Considerable knowledge of microbiology, biology, chemistry, food science, epidemiology, soil science, entomology, and basic engineering technology as applied to environmental health practices. General knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies relating to environmental health and community resources. General knowledge of the interrelationship between socio-economic factors and environmental health concerns. Considerable knowledge of the design of on-site waste water treatment systems, protection of water supplies, food sanitation, food borne diseases, communicable diseases, vector control, solid waste management, and institutional sanitation. Extensive knowledge in area of specialty. Ability to analyze and comprehend a wide variety of technical and administrative regulations, records, and reports. Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal tactfully with a wide range of public contacts while enforcing public health laws and regulations. Ability to motivate and educate business and property owners and the consuming public in matters related to protecting and promoting public health. Ability to present formal environmental health training programs. Ability to develop and express ideas and opinions concisely, comprehensively, and clearly in oral and written form. Ability to independently plan and schedule work activities and perform assignments. Ability to apply environmental health knowledges and techniques in the investigation of environmental health problems. Ability to coordinate work in a specialized program area. Ability to plan and implement education programs. Ability to workwith others in solving the more complex environmental problems.
Minimum education and experience requirements: Two years of experience at the Environmental Health Specialist level in a health department. Necessary Special Qualifications: Registered as a Sanitarian by the N.C. State Board of Sanitarian Examiners.
Application process: County employees who wish to make a change in employment to this position must apply on-line through the Munis applicant tracking system. All outside applicants must apply on-line at www.lenoircountync.gov under Employment and Employment Opportunities. Incomplete or unsigned applications will not be processed.
OPEN UNTIL FILLED
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
