Registered Environmental Health Specialist

General Description

The City of Hamilton is an EEO & AAE. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

This is responsible and difficult technical work involving the enforcement of the City’s public health and housing laws and regulations. The work is performed under the general direction and supervision of the City’s Senior Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), but considerable leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative. While an employee in this class does not supervise the work of others, the nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain close cooperative working relationships with other city departments and the general public.   

Essential Job Functions

• Conducts inspections and makes required follow-up actions to enforce the State of Ohio Food Safety Code Chapter 3717-1 of the Ohio Administrative Code, including implementation of hazard analysis critical control points as required; rules with each owner and/or operator;
• Conducts inspections of food operations to ensure safe handling of foods and educates operators on safe handling practices and food recalls in progress;
• Conducts temporary inspections during festivals and other special events to reduce the number of food and other hazards to the public health;
• Investigates food borne illness outbreaks and issues appropriate public warnings;
• Evaluates plans for the construction of food service operations and retail food establishments and makes appropriate comments and suggestions as needed;
• Orders repairs of structures as needed to protect the public health and prepares a case for prosecution of violations where repairs are not made in a timely manner;
• Makes annual environmental inspections and assessments of jails and lock up[ facilities and schools (private and public)
• Reviews plans and issues permits relating to all wells and on-site sewage systems;
• Works with other City departments to install public sanitary sewers where septic systems have failed or are suspected of failing and the soil conditions and lot sizes are not suitable for the repair or replacement of the septic system;
• Responds to threats of infectious diseases as necessary; 
• Conducts swimming pool and spa inspections and consults swimming pool and spa owners and/or operators to assure good operation and design and to minimize the potential for disease transmission;
• Educates tattoo facility operators concerning the code and related health risks associated with such equipment;
• Conducts inspections and makes enforcement for all State Mandated Environmental Programs including rabies, school environments, private water/ wells, solid waste, smoking complaints, etc.
• Implements the City’s Health code ordinances as needed;
• Inspects hospitals, large and small generators of infectious waste, plasma and blood centers and similar facilities for the control, education and proper use and disposal of all infectious waste and material;
• Attends meetings, conferences and workshops as requested and authorized;
• Performs related work as required.

Skills/Knowledges/Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the Ohio Food Safety Code 3717-1 and related Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Rules as issued by the Ohio Department of Health and the City of Hamilton Health Department including Ohio State Health Department standards for the construction and operation of food service operations and Retail Food Establishments;
• Highly organized individual and capable of managing complex workload with a variety of State and Local Health rules and regulations;
• Thorough knowledge of all other public health, safety and nuisance laws, rules and regulations issued by federal and state agencies and the City;
• Through knowledge of federal and state environmental laws, rules and regulations;
• Thorough knowledge of state and local housing and related laws, rules and regulations;
• Thorough knowledge of chemistry and bacteriology;
• Skill in the identification and assessment of public health and safety risks and ability to take decisive actions as necessary to protect the public health and safety;
• Ability to communicate well with property owners, business owners, architects, contractors, subcontractors, public officials and the general public to secure compliance with appropriate public health and safety codes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations;
• Ability to read and understand building plans and blueprints;
• Ability to prepare accurate and reliable reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations;
• Ability to operate a personal computer using standard word processing, spreadsheet and database applications appropriate to assigned duties;
• Ability to communicate well with others both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to use logical thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of difficult technical tasks with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information; 
• Ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

Training/Education/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications 

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health science or related field; and
• Must have at least 1 year of work experience as a REHS and 
• Must possess a valid REHS certification; and 
• Possession of a valid Driver's License. (Will be verified for finalists)

Preferred Qualifications 

• Graduated from an accredited college or university with at least a baccalaureate degree, including at least forty-five quarter units or thirty semester units of science courses approved by the director; and completed at least two years of full-time employment as a sanitarian;
• Graduated from an accredited college or university with a degree higher than a baccalaureate degree, including at least forty-five quarter units or thirty semester units of science courses approved by the director; and completed at least one year of full-time employment as a sanitarian.