Environmental Health Specialist - $1,500 Hiring Incentive

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$34.80 - $42.71 Hourly

Department:

Health Department

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

February 24, 2025

The Opportunity:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

We seek leaders, achievers and doers who bring skill and passion to a challenging and evolving environment. At the Multnomah County Health Department we are all inspired by the mission: We work with communities to advance health equity, protect the most vulnerable, and prompt health and wellness for everyone and we uphold the values: Compassion and Care, Empowerment, Racial Equity, Creativity and Integrity. We create a culture of respect, trust and understanding for the highly diverse population we serve in our communities.

Environmental Health Services (EHS) programs serve to protect the public from environmental health related issues: food, water, vector borne diseases and environmental health threats and disasters. The nature of the work is complex due to the numerous environmental health concerns and regulations and the high profile of the activities conducted. The EHS unit analyzes local environmental health issues from a public health perspective, regulates specified businesses and enforces state and local environmental health laws and rules.

The Environmental Health Specialist plays a crucial role in protecting public health by ensuring compliance with state sanitary codes in various settings. This dynamic position offers a blend of fieldwork, community interaction, and administrative tasks. Responsibilities include:

Inspections

• Conduct comprehensive on-site inspections of food service establishments (restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, etc.), evaluating food handling practices, temperature control, equipment sanitation, employee hygiene, and overall facility cleanliness.

• Inspect tourist accommodations including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, RV parks, and campgrounds to ensure compliance with regulations related to water quality, sanitation, waste disposal, and pest control.

• Evaluate public and private swimming pools and spa pools for proper water chemistry, filtration systems, safety equipment, and overall hygiene.

• Inspect other facilities as needed, such as schools, daycare centers, and temporary food vendors.

• Document findings thoroughly and accurately, using photographs and detailed reports to support your assessments.

Enforcement

• Issue citations and warnings for violations of state sanitary codes.

• Work with business owners and operators to develop and implement corrective action plans to address identified deficiencies.

• When necessary, initiate legal action to ensure compliance and protect public health.

• Respond to and investigate complaints from the public regarding potential health hazards.

Community Education

• Develop and deliver engaging food handler training courses, covering topics such as safe food handling practices, personal hygiene, temperature control, and preventing cross-contamination.

• Provide educational materials and resources to the public on various environmental health topics, including food safety, water quality, and disease prevention.

• Conduct outreach to businesses and community organizations to promote awareness of public health regulations and best practices.

$1,500 Hiring Incentive: As a newly hired Environmental Health Specialist, you will receive a one-time New Hire Recruitment and Retention Incentive payment of $1,500 on your first paycheck. The incentive will be prorated based on the position's FTE status.

Routine Telework: At this time, this position is eligible for “routine telework,” meaning you will be working remotely (from home) most of the time. As with all telework positions, employees may be required to come into the office on occasion. The designation of Routine Telework may be subject to change at a future time. Currently, all employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations. The onsite work location for this