Environmental Health Specialist I/II -Food Protection Services (Environmental Sanitarian II)

Posting number: 8745

Department: Health

Job classification: Environmental Sanitarian II

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Food Services, Health Services

Summary

Anne Arundel County Government is looking to fill a full-time, emergency essential, and permanent Environmental Health Specialist I/II -Food Protection Services (Environmental Sanitarian I / II) position in the Department of Health.

This position conducts inspections and investigations for the promotion of environmental health, for the protection of the environment and for the enforcement of State and local environmental health codes, laws and regulations. Field inspections and/or investigations are conducted on food service facilities with follow-up action, as necessary.

NATURE AND VARIETY OF WORK
This position handles special assignments for the Food Protection Services Program Supervisor, under the direction of the Program Manager, EH Bureau Deputy Director, EH Bureau Director, Deputy Health Officer, and Health Officer, to include prioritizing timely response to constituent services concerns that are of importance to the County Executive or County Council.

Employee may be designated as an emergency essential employee at the time of an emergency. This means that the employee may be required to report to work or remain at work to continue agency operations during an emergency.

Examples of duties

(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)

• Performs full-performance on-site inspections, investigations, and surveys for assigned program(s) to obtain or insure compliance with existing County, State, and Federal public environmental health laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Licensed food service facilities, mobile food units, or special food events and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
• Investigates the nature of the complaint with the complainant to determine possible public or environmental health violations.
• Takes routine or less complex field samples of items such as food, beverages, air, soil, water, paint, etc., and sends them to the laboratory for testing and analysis to ensure compliance with applicable health laws, codes, regulations, and standards; Reads, analyzes, and interprets laboratory test results and reports to determine compliance or presence of environmental health hazard.
• Issues written notices of code violation to responsible party(ies) to communicate what practices or operations are not in compliance.
• Confers with owners and operators to explain, clarify, and resolve actual/potential problems and to initiate or recommend appropriate actions necessary to gain compliance.
• Prepares and submits written correspondence or documentation in resolution of cases or promotion or accomplishment of agency's goals, missions or objectives.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and retrievable records, data, statistics, and documentation for inclusion in reports or to provide information for potential use at hearings or court proceedings.
• Testifies at hearings or court proceedings to provide relevant evidence or testimony in the adjudication of code violation cases.
• Maintains, uses, and operates vehicles, equipment, and supplies in accordance with established departmental rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Responds to environmental health emergencies during or after regular work hours, as directed by a higher-level Sanitarian or Manager.
• Participates in training of Environmental Sanitarians I.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the principles, objectives, techniques, and practices related to public and environmental health programs.
• Knowledge of and/or the ability to apply natural science principles in such fields as biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.
• Knowledge of County, State, and Federal laws, codes, and ordinances governing public and environmental health;
• Ability to recognize environmental health problems and to learn and properly apply appropriate laws, codes, ordinances or standards;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with State, Local, Federal, and community representatives, property and business owners, co-workers and the general public;
• Ability to interpret and enforce codes and regulations firmly, tactfully, and impartially;
• Ability to accurately read and interpr