Environmental Health Specialist I- Food & Lodging

Job Title: Environmental Health Specialist I- Food & Lodging
Department: Health and Human Services
Hiring Range: $26.77 - $31.26
Posted Internally and Externally
Purpose of the position:
The primary purpose if this position is to conduct state-mandated inspections of facilities under the jurisdiction of BCHHS Environmental Health division to ensure compliance with public health laws and rules.
Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Graduated with a bachelor's degree or postgraduate degree in Environmental Health from a program accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council; or graduated with a bachelor's degree or postgraduate degree and earned a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in the physical, biological, natural, life, or health sciences; or Bachelor's degree in public health.
Additional Training and Experience: Most work-related skills will be developed through in-service and on-the-job training. Educational requirements in accordance with Chapter 90A must be obtained each calendar year to renew registration in order to maintain Registered Environmental Health Specialist status.
License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation: Registration is required by the N.C. State Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners under the provisions of Chapter 90A of the General Statues of North Carolina. Required to attend and pass the centralized training provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, must be able to pass state authorization evaluations and test for specific program areas in order to perform duties. Also, must pass the REHS exam within the timeframe established by the Board.
Essential Functions of the position:

• Enforce compliance with state, local, and federal environmental and public health laws and regulations.
• Investigate environmental related complaints, health related nuisances, and reports of food borne illness and contaminated food to prevent the spread of communicable disease.
• Perform routine inspections, visits, and critical violation visits to ensure that food and lodging facilities, swimming pools, institutions, childcare centers, schools, tattoo artists and lead investigations are meeting standards as mandated by state laws and rules to reduce the incidences and threat of food borne illness, lead hazards, and other communicable disease.
• Seek corrective actions where needed and educate managers, operators and staff of various facilities and establishments on safe handling processes and sanitation procedures.
• Keep accurate and detailed inspection records as mandated by the state that include the violation observed, food code citation, and method of correction.
• Assist EPI team and other staff in the event of a food borne outbreak.
• Seek legal remedies under the advice of the program supervisor and division director to abate health nuisances or prosecute individuals for failure to comply with public health laws and rules.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Working knowledge of Environmental Health laws, rules, and procedures, as well as a complete understanding of the concepts of public health law.
• Working knowledge of the design of on-site wastewater treatment systems, food sanitation, food borne diseases, communicable diseases, vector control, protection of water supplies, solid waste management, lead hazard identification and institutional sanitation as applicable to area of assignment.
• Working knowledge of inspection methods and investigation techniques as applied in Environmental Health.
• Working knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies involved in Environmental Health work.
• Ability to accurately interpret and enforce state and local laws, rules and ordinances.
• Ability to analyze and comprehend a variety of technical and administrative regulation, records, and reports.
• Ability to effectively communicate potential concerns and corrective measures to business and property owners and the consuming public in matters related to protecting and promoting public health.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal tactfully with a wide range of the public while enforcing public health laws and regulations.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity, salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.
Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.
It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. In addition, Buncombe County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.
Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.