ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST (50075419)

Marion County Public Health Department is an organization that celebrates diversity, and seeks to employ a diverse workforce. We actively encourage all individuals to apply for employment and to seek advancement opportunities. Marion County Public Health Department also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as required by law. For additional questions please contact us at: hrmail@hhcorp.org.

Job Role Summary

 The Environmental Health Specialist promotes individual and population public health by providing the essential services of public health within a variety of settings.  Responsibilities include inspecting properties, homes, and businesses; identifying health, safety, and environmental hazards; providing or participating in community health education and health promotion activities; ensuring compliance with a broad range of local health and environmental codes, regulations and policies; participating in multi-faceted health, safety, and environmental projects and initiatives; and providing information to individuals, families, agencies, and groups regarding public health and environmental issues or code enforcement data/updates.  Environmental Health Specialists also make necessary referrals to other departments within the Marion County Public Health Department and other City social service agencies to link clients with needs.

Associated Job Duties

• Conducts routine, required inspections and/or audits to ensure compliance with the Health and Hospital Code of Marion County, Chapter 10 (Residential) and Chapter 19 (Commercial) codes and the Indiana State Statue of Abandoned vehicles. 
• Maintains expert knowledge of Chapters 10, 19, and 21 of the Health and Hospital Code of Marion County. 
• Surveys assigned district for housing, sanitation, trash, and junk vehicle violations.  
• Provides health education and technical assistance to individuals and/or groups regarding compliance with current local public health and environmental codes, regulations, and policies. 
• Investigates complaints and conducts proactive inspections to identify Housing and Neighborhood Health violations and concerns and initiates appropriate enforcement or corrective actions.   
• Follows In-Person and Virtual Court Protocols.  
• Conducts inspections, performs necessary data entry and documentation, and provides expert testimony in Administrative Hearings and Environmental Court when compliance cannot be obtained on an enforcement case through any other means.
• Provides expert testimony to obtain court orders to inspect, clean, tow, or vacate a property when compliance cannot be attained through any other means.  
• Possesses the ability to think critically and on-demand to explain why a cited violation is considered a health or safety hazard.  

Associated Job Duties Cont'd

• Responds to public complaints and inquiries on environmental or public health matters. 
• Deals with challenging clients and situations that can become hostile or pose a threat; knows how to use tact and sound judgment to prevent or remove themselves from these situations. 
• Attends and actively participates in neighborhood, taskforce, partner agency, or other community meetings. Prepares necessary reports for reference and/or dissemination in community meetings. 
• Educates the public on Housing and Neighborhood Health issues and the public health rationale for environmental health regulations.
• Provides environmental health information, interpretation, and regulatory compliance advice to individuals, industry organizations, the general public, and other agencies. 
• Works closely and in coordination with other governmental agencies to address code enforcement and nuisance issues.  Those government agencies include are not limited to: the City of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, Department of Metropolitan Development, Department of Public Works, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indianapolis Fire Department, State Fire Marshal’s office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, Indianapolis Animal Care Services, Child and Adult Protective Services, and Central Indiana Council on Aging. 
• Delivers targeted, culturally appropriate information to help individuals and groups understand local environmental public