Environmental Health Specialist
The Public Health & Environmental Services team at Anoka County is looking for an inspired individual to join their team. Improving public health and safety through regulation, education, prevention, service and advocacy is the mission of the Public Health & Environmental Services department in Anoka County. They lead the community in promoting healthy behaviors, responding to emergencies and maintaining local public health infrastructure. We are looking for an energetic environmental health professional with a passion for customer service and experience with environmental health regulatory programs.
As an Environmental Health Specialist, you will be responsible for providing investigative, consultative, educational and enforcement activities. These activities will be in a variety of environmental areas such as food, pools and lodging with the possibility of working in solid waste, hazardous waste, water supply, sewage disposal, body art, vermin control and public health nuisances. In addition, this position will be responsible for maintaining our department website and social media accounts as well as establishing and maintaining electronic mailing lists, preparing emergency notifications and distributing digital quarterly newsletters. Education, consultation and public outreach activities are critical for the safety of the community and as an Environmental Health Specialist, you are directly involved in ensuring that safety as well as helping protect our county from environmental factors that may adversely impact the ecological balances essential to health and environmental quality.
This full-time, exempt, benefit-eligible position is located at the Anoka County Government Center.
Responding to public health emergencies, which may occur outside of normal business hours, is a requirement of this position to protect the health and well-being of our residents. Recurrent after-hour and weekend work is required. This position may be on call during an emergency response including weekends or evenings in support of special events and incident management.
Why join Anoka County?
- 24 days of paid Flexible Time Off and 11 paid holidays.
- Comprehensive insurance including medical, dental, vision and more.
- Medical and dental clinic exclusive to employees, located at the Anoka County Government Center.
- Pension plan and other retirement investment options.
Learn more about our robust benefits package by going to our website. www.anokacounty.us/benefits
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Duties and Responsibilities
These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Environmental Health Specialist.
- ·Performs inspections and consultations with licensed businesses such as restaurants, schools, daycares and lodging facilities to determine compliance with the applicable ordinances, codes and regulations.
- Performs investigations of unlicensed activities such as unsafe food sources or home-based kitchens to ensure compliance with regulations or recommended public health practices.
- Prepares inspection and investigation reports documenting deficiencies and outlining corrective action needed.
- Verifies requirements for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Plan (HACCP) and FDA/CDC regarding Food Safety Plans at all licensed food establishments.
- Provides technical assistance, and education for newly licensed businesses, government partners and the public.
- Helps create guidance documents, educational videos for operators/establishments to access via our department website.
- ·Provides education and consultation to the community related to current, new or emerging environmental health issues.
- Helps maintain social media accounts and public facing websites, including newsletters, educational videos, welcome documents, community resources, etc.
- Assists in the preparation of cases for action by department management and the County Attorney.
REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Qualifications (Required)
- Bachelor’s degree with at least 30 semester credits in environmental health, food science, or natural science.
- Registered as an Environmental Health Specialist in the state of Minnesota or ability to obtain this within two years of hire.
- Must have a valid driver’s license and vehicle available for business use.
- Successfully pass criminal history and driver’s license background check.
Preferred Qualifications
- One year (2,080 annual hours) of work experience as an Environmental Health Specialist or equivalent.
- Experience as a paid employee of a regulatory agency.
- Standardized Food Inspection Officer.
- Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Certification
- Water System Operator Certification.
- Certified Pool Operator or Certified Aquatic Facilities Operator.
- Fluency in a language in addition to English.
- Experience using Constant Contact, establishing and maintaining email lists and web design software.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed
- Analyze potential environmental health hazards and prepare reports or other documents which clearly state the conditions that exist and necessary corrective actions that are needed.
- Conduct inspection programs with uniformity, impartiality and personal responsibility.
- Knowledge of federal, state, county and local laws and regulations governing environmental health and the legal system.
- Ability to work in multiple computer systems and programs to conduct and record inspection data.
- Effective oral and written communication, conflict management and resolution and ability to understand oral and written instructions
Work Environment
Environmental Health Specialists work approximately 80% of the time in the field, with the potential to be exposed to extreme temperatures. Some work will involve areas with potential exposure to hazardous materials and/or heavy equipment.
GRADE LEVEL
Salary
Anoka County Salary Schedule, Grade C012. Exempt.
Normal hiring rate: $49,878 to $51,376 ($23.98 to $24.70 per hour).
2021 full salary range: $49,878 to 74,776 ($23.98 to $35.95 per hour).
Upon successful completion of an initial hire probationary period, employees will be reviewed for a potential pay increase, and reviewed at least annually thereafter.
Hours
Full-time; 40 hours per pay week.
Work schedule is primarily Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with flexibility to accommodate area businesses’ start and end times Recurrent after-hour and weekend work is required. This position may be on call during an emergency response.
Schedule may vary based on business needs and at supervisor discretion.
Selection Process
The examination/selection process for this classification will consist of a review of your training and experience from the application materials submitted. The most qualified candidates will be invited for an oral exam and/or interview. Oral exams will take place during the week of October 6th, 2021.
Include responses to all supplemental questions with your application no later than 4:30 p.m. on the closing date of the position. A complete application is required for you to be considered. Resume and cover letter submissions are optional and cannot be used in lieu of the application
Additional Information
Our team of nearly 2,000 employees is united by a common mission to preserve the public's trust. We do this by bringing our very best to work every day and serving Anoka County's 345,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County! Apply today to join our team.
If you are requesting an exam accommodation, would like to submit Veterans’ Preference information or have any other questions regarding this job posting, please call the Anoka County Employee Relations Department at 763-324-4300 and reference the posting title and number.
Have a question about the hiring process? Please visit: www.anokacounty.us/er-faq