ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST - 40001165

Durham County Government employs approximately 1,900 employees that work towards providing needed services throughout the community. With a wide array of services, Durham County Government is at the heart of a rapidly growing and diverse area offering residents, employees and visitors exciting opportunities to live, work, grow and play. For more information about Durham County Government, visit www.dconc.gov.

**THIS REQUISITION IS SUBJECT TO CLOSE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION**

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The primary responsibilities of this position involve enforcement of state and local environmental health laws, rules, and ordinances that apply to on-site water protection (septic systems), private drinking water supply wells, and public swimming pools. 

Work activities include:

• Site and soil evaluations, design, permitting, and inspection of on-site wastewater systems.
• Site evaluation, permitting, inspection, and sampling of water supply wells.
• Inspection and permitting of public swimming pools.
• Environmental health complaint investigations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• On-Site Program: A primary responsibility of this position is to complete the administrative and field responsibilities of the on-site wastewater program. These include enforcement of state rules and statutes related to onsite wastewater systems including site evaluations, permit issuance, system installation inspections, evaluation/troubleshooting of failed onsite wastewater systems and permitting repairs or replacements to failed onsite wastewater systems, and maintaining appropriate documentation and records of activities as required by the Supervisor or Health Director.
• Well Water Program:  Another primary responsibility of this position is to complete the administrative and field responsibilities of the well water program. These include the enforcement of state well rules and statutes, including the siting of wells, permitting and inspection wells, water sample collection, and maintaining appropriate documentation and records of activities as required by the Supervisor or Health Director.
• Public Health Complaints: Conduct investigations of public health complaints, document findings, and advise EH Supervisor of situations requiring legal action or those considered to be public health nuisances or imminent hazards.  
• Public Health Preparedness/Other Duties:  Is available for emergency assignments upon request by Health Director or Division Director.  Is available to serve on committees and task forces as assigned.    Other duties as assigned.
• Other Responsibilities associated with this position include the investigation of environmental health complaints, assistance with the monitoring and pool inspection programs and other duties as assigned, and maintaining appropriate documentation and records of these activities as required by the Supervisor or Health Director.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures, as well as a complete understanding of the concepts of public health law.
• Practical knowledge of microbiology, biology, chemistry, soil science, soil science, and basic engineering technology as applied to environmental health practices.
• General knowledge of community resources.
• Working knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies involved in environmental health work.
• Working knowledge of the design of on-site wastewater treatment systems and protection of water supplies.
• Working knowledge of inspection methods and investigation techniques as applied in environmental health.
• 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 contracts while enforcing public health laws and regulations.
• Ability to motivate and educate business and property owners and the public in matters related to protecting and promoting public health.
• 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.
• Ability to apply environmental health knowledge and techniques in the investigation of environmental health problems.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Requires a bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours of coursework in physical or biological sciences (i.e., biology, chemistry, geology, soil science, or physics courses) and two years of experience in environmental health; or a bachelors or master's degree in environmental health from a program which is accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Curricula of the National Environmental Health Association and one year of experience in environmental health.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be a Registered Environmental Health Specialist in North Carolina and possess a valid North Carolina driver's license with a three-year acceptable driving record.
• Trainee appointment may be considered for this position.  Appointees must be eligible and apply for registration as an Environmental Health Specialist Intern within 60 days of employment and are required to obtain NC Registered Environmental Health Specialist status within three (3) years of hire.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENT:

• Registered Environmental Health Specialist candidates with current State authorizations in on-site wastewater, wells, and pools.
• ArcGIS skills desired.
• Bilingual skills (Spanish) desired

To further the mission of the Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) to partner with our community to advance health equity, protect the environment, and promote health and wellness for all, DCoDPH is implementing the employee vaccination and tuberculosis screening policies. All DCoDPH employees are considered healthcare personnel (HCP) working in a health care setting with the potential for exposure to patients and/or infectious materials and, therefore, are required to comply and provide documented proof of the following:

• Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccination/immunity 
• Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chicken Pox) vaccination/immunity 
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• Tuberculosis (TB) baseline screening within the last twelve (12) months prior to employment
• Hepatitis B vaccination/immunity – only required for DCoDPH employees with potential Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) exposures.

Identified DCoDPH HCP with potential Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) exposure have an additional requirement for the Hepatitis B vaccination. Required vaccination, serological testing to determine immunity, and baseline tuberculosis screening are available for all Public Health employees who elect to become DCoDPH patients upon request and at no cost.

Proof of vaccination and tuberculosis screening must be provided to Human Resources within seven (7) business days prior to the date of employment.

Durham County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer