Environmental Health Specialist Under general supervision provided by the Health Compliance Supervisor, conducts health and safety inspections and enforces health and food safety codes. Responsible for plan reviews of commercial food establishments and public swimming pools. Investigates and tracks cause and origination of food and water borne illnesses. Essential Functions/Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Essential duties and responsibilities include:- Drives to and from assigned work locations.
- Completes routine health inspections of commercial food establishments and mobile food units, enforces ordinances, conducts re-inspections, and provides safe food handling practices education.
- Implements the Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point approach to the food protection program.
- Investigates complaints; responds to and resolve customer inquiries.
- Assists in surveillance efforts in current health topics, and ensures that the Department is utilizing the most current and effective techniques and procedures in the health profession.
- Ability to work rotating weekend schedule as needed/required in order to inspect temporary food establishments. Responds to emergency situations outside of normal working hours when needed.
- Makes recommendations to both public and private industry representatives on methods/techniques to modify daily operations in accordance with current health codes.
- Maintains environmental surveys, records of inspections and action taken. Prepares documentation; and represents the City in court cases and hearings, when necessary.
- Reviews plans and specifications of commercial food establishments including but not limited to restaurants, grocery stores, daycares, concession stands, and temporary establishments.
- Reviews plans and specifications for commercial swimming pools and spas.
- Assists with the development of departmental policies and procedures.
- Coordinates work activity, as required, with other federal, state or local agencies.
- Assists with mosquito abatement program as needed.
- Prepares, processes, and issues health notices.
- Maintains all relevant certifications and required continuing education units.
- Comply with all written City policies and procedures.
- Adhere to assigned work schedule as outlined in City and department attendance policies and procedures.
- Provide technical assistance to architects, engineers, contractors, and business owners on health, safety, and code requirements.
- Enters inspection results using an iPad and IG Inspect and IG Enforce Applications
- Works with files; may update files.
- Other job functions include:
- Perform other duties as assigned or directed.
- Knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors include:
- Ability to embrace and embody the City's core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (R.I.S.E.).The incumbent identifies methods and techniques to modify daily operations of public and private industry to comply with current health codes.
- Knowledge of EnerGov software applications preferred.
- Proficiency in the use of mobile inspection equipment.
- Position requires a working knowledge of health and safety standards applicable to the handling, storage and preparation of food, and the maintenance and inspection of public pools and spas, and mosquito control methods.
Position requires effective oral and written communication skills. Should be skilled in applying established testing procedures for extracting food and water samples, as well as the use of sampling and testing equipment. Ability to calculate decimals and percentages; perform mathematical equations with fractions; ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights and measures.
Ability to utilize a personal computer, copier, iPad, calculator, fax machine, thermometer, chemical test kit, test papers, and other technical devices required to perform job functions.
Meet the City's driving requirements.
Requires ability to obtain necessary continuing education units to retain certifications.
Frequent ability to apply principles of persuasion and influence.
Build professional relationships with internal staff and external clients.
The ability to work in a team environment; contribute as a team member and treat co-workers, subordinates and customers with respect.
Offer flexibility and adaptability, especially during times of change.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Required Qualifications
Minimum qualifications include:
Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of Thirty (30) semester hours combined in the following fields: Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacy, Physical Science, Food Technology, Environmental Engineering or other related science.
Texas Class C driver's license.
Must possess Professional Sanitarian registration through Texas Department of State Health Services at the time of application.
Ability to obtain Texas Department of Agriculture Noncommercial Pesticide Applicators License within one year of employment.
Any work related experience resulting in acceptable proficiency levels in the above Minimum Qualifications is an acceptable substitute for the above specified education and experience requirements.
Conditions of employment include:- Must pass a drug screen and background check.
- Must have Class C Texas Driver's License
- Physical Demands/Supplemental
Physical demands include:
Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities. Tasks involve the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds). Tasks require sound, odor, visual perception and discrimination and oral communications ability. Work environment tasks may require exposure to extreme heat/cold, extreme weather conditions, odors, and diseases/pathogens, insecticides, vectors, and hazardous chemicals Some tasks may risk exposure to extreme heat/cold or extreme weather conditions, dust or pollen. Applicant must be able to use commercial insect repellent products containing DEET. Applicant may be required to wear other Personal Protection Equipment required to safely perform job functions. Office and inspection sites to include but are not limited to food establishments, swimming pools, and standing water locations.
Benefits: The City offers a full complement of benefits:
- Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Medical and Childcare Account (FSA)
- Mental Health Care and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- City-paid and Voluntary Life Insurance
- City-paid and Voluntary Long Term Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Insurance through Aflac
Additional Benefits:
Legal Services through Legal Shield, Tuition Reimbursement (up to $10,000 per year), Wellness Program (earn up to $600 per year)
Retirement:
Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) Mandatory 7% employee contribution, City match 2:1, 5 year vesting, Retire after 20 years of service, or age 60 with 5 years of service, 457(b) Deferred Compensation PlansPaid Time Off (PTO): Paid Vacation (80 hours per year for new hires; tiered increases after 2 yrs), Sick Leave (135 hours per year for yourself and immediate family), Paid Parental Leave (80 hours for birth, adoption, or placement of a child in foster care), Ten Paid Holidays, Personal Day, Optional compensatory time for hourly employees, Compensatory time for salaried employees
