Health Protection Scientist Lead

Job Posting Title:

Health Protection Scientist Lead

Department:

Planning & Development Services

Location:

415 SILVER AVE SW

Pay Range:

$69,451.00 - $109,720.00

Close Date:

November 18, 2025

Employees at Bernalillo County enjoy the ability to team up with each other to build a high quality of life for our county residents, communities, and businesses. In addition to being an organization with a strong focus on work-life balance, building a culture of flexibility, learning, and belonging the County offers many benefits. Employees of Bernalillo County enjoy many thoughtful rewards such as, but not limited to generous leave accruals; career development opportunities; remote & flex-work options as appropriate; longevity pay; education assistance program; health benefits; lucrative retirement; and so much more.

The Health Protection Scientist Lead supports the protection of public environmental health from diseases related to food, water, and environmental factors. This role serves as a technical resource within the Health Protection section, contributing expertise in compliance inspections, environmental investigations, code interpretation, outreach and education, interdepartmental and interagency collaboration, and regulatory actions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead the application of laws and regulations governing on-site inspections and investigations of private, public, and commercial facilities; review compliance permits following pre-permit inspections. 

• Conduct and coordinate detailed inspections and investigations of environmental and/or public health infractions at commercial food operations and public aquatic facilities, serving as a technical resource for inspection staff. 

• Provide guidance on investigations of routine environmental health complaints; recommend corrective actions and support the issuance of notices of violation to protect public health. 

• Track compliance activities, determine when reinvestigations are warranted, and ensure appropriate follow-up occurs in line with established protocols. 

• Collect and analyze field samples and data, ensuring accuracy, quality control, and appropriate application of laboratory results and trend analysis. 

• Review and present analytical findings and reports to clients, outside agencies, forums, the general public, and county departments, representing the program as a subject matter expert. 

• Serve as a field training officer by mentoring inspectors, standardizing food safety inspection practices, and providing technical training on environmental health studies and programs. 

• Prepare and coordinate cases scheduled for court hearings. 

• Coordinate commercial building permits for food establishments and public aquatic facilities, ensuring regulatory requirements are met and review is completed. 

• Interpret environmental health ordinances, rules, and procedures, acting as a point of contact for public inquiries and providing guidance on complex regulatory questions. 

• Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of public health education programs, and mentor staff in outreach methods that prevent public health risks. 

• Collaborate with private and governmental agencies to strengthen environmental health practices, support public health and safety initiatives, and assist with grant and resource development efforts. 

• Participate in project management activities for Health Protection initiatives as assigned by the Health Protection Manager. 

• Develop and maintain food program standards in compliance with FDA’s retail food program standards and manufactured standards. 

• Handle sensitive and/or confidential records, plans, documents, or decisions that require maintaining confidentiality of se