Senior Environmental Health Specialist - Jefferson County Department of Health

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

05/23/2025

PAY GRADE:

Grade 23

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

Jefferson County Department of Health is seeking to hire a Senior Environmental Health Specialist to conduct high-priority and/or complex environmental inspections requiring advanced training and expertise to assess facilities, sites, and equipment that pose danger to human health. Senior Environmental Health Specialists also perform larger-scale assessments, projects, and evaluation of cumulative inspection results and practical trainer for the onboarding of new Environmental Health Specialist new hires and interns. In the absence of the supervisor, this position may be assigned as a designated back-up for a variety of tasks shared by Environmental Health Program Supervisors. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Environmental Health Program Supervisor who reviews work for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and adherence to policies and procedures. Progression into this job is dependent on having acquired the requisite Jefferson County Department of Health experience necessary to perform the full range of duties assigned to the Senior Environmental Health Specialist.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

The Jefferson County Department of Health provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more.

The pay range for this job is listed below:

Jefferson County Department of Health $57,449 - $89,128

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position:

• Driver's License.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

• Experience working in public health or environmental regulatory agency.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications deemed desirable by the Jefferson County Department of Health. These qualifications may be considered by the Health Department when reviewing applications and inviting candidates to participate in subsequent steps in the selection processes.

• Familiarization of current environmental health codes (e.g., food codes, air pollution, onsite and community sanitation, storm water).

• Experience performing inspections in specialized areas (e.g., food/lodging, community environmental protection, air pollution and radiation).

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Performs administrative tasks such as maintaining records, gathering/documenting information, preparing resolutions, and updating systems in order to document and coordinate the work of the environmental health inspection unit.

• Communicates with individuals (e.g., citizens, inspectors, supervisors, other departments, and/or department managers) in an effort to represent the department, answer questions, and/or explain information (e.g., law, codes, ordinances).

• Assigns public health scores after completion of inspections in order to rate the overall level of compliance for inspection sites.

• Condemns or interrupts the use of items/equipment that are not in compliance with applicable rules/regulations/standards for health and safety reasons.

• Recommends corrective action for residents/owners/operators/stakeholders in order to bring them into compliance with applicable health laws, rules, and regulations.

• Engages in activities designed to ensure professional development, awareness of developments in the field, and knowledge of relevant practices, rules, laws, policies, and/or guidelines.

• Performs large-scale assessments and evaluations by analyzing trends and patterns in inspection results and public health data to guide decision-making, improve inspection protocols, or identify emerging public health risks.

• Conducts high-priority and complex environmental inspections by overseeing the intake, investigation, and resolution of complex or escalated environmental health complaints, requiring advanced training and expertise to assess facilities, sites, and equipment that may pose a danger to human health.

• Utilizes independent judgment to coordinate with property owners, collect data samples, identify hazards, and interpret regulations to ensure compliance with public health rules and regulations.

• Coordinates and assists with public health emergency responses that require advanced training or experience.

• Serves as a practical trainer for the onboarding of new Environmental Health Specialists to ensure professional de