General Summary

Under the supervision of the Director of Environmental Health and/or Environmental Health Supervisor inspects commercial, residential, and public properties in the County to enforce federal, state and county sanitation and environmental health laws to safeguard public health. Serves as a program coordinator for various environmental health programs and implements state mandated law/rule changes as a program coordinator.

Essential Functions

1. Represents the department in programs where state/national registration is required, such as, subdivisions and commercial sewage disposal systems. Maintains professional registrations as required by the department through continuing education.

2. Serves as program coordinator and ensures that the requirements for state accreditation are met. Serves as lead program contact and establishes program priorities and schedules and responsible for all mandatory program reporting.

3. Assists the Director of Environmental Health and/or Environmental Health Supervisor in training of new sanitarians by conducting joint site visits for onsite training for all program activities. Maintains records of staff training for program areas.

4. Inspects and evaluates premises and establishments having a public health significance, such as schools, public swimming pools, bathing beaches, dwellings, workplaces, adult and childcare facilities, campgrounds, mobile home parks, licensed food service establishments, body art facilities, waste disposal facilities, construction sites, private and public water supplies and sites of alleged public health nuisances.

5. Inspects licensed food service establishments for cleanliness, proper food handling practices, and compliance with sanitation standards. Inspects and licenses temporary food facilities and Special Transitory Food Units. Investigates food service complaints regarding improper food service practices, suspected food-borne illness outbreaks or adulterated food. Prepares and submits a formal report. Conducts illness investigations using accepted epidemiological methods. Conducts food manager certification training.

6. Performs site evaluations on public and private land, issuing permits for earth changes, on-site waste disposal and water supply systems. Consults with owners, builders, engineers, other governmental agencies and others regarding the design, installation, and maintenance of such water and septic systems. Interprets local and state codes and provides construction recommendations.

7. Reviews Point of Sale inspection reports submitted to ensure compliance with the ordinance requirements. Makes recommendations to prolong proper function of onsite wastewater and water supply systems. May conduct Point of Sale evaluations of onsite wastewater and water supply systems.

8. Investigates complaints involving possible water pollution, insect and rodent infestation and similar public health hazards and nuisances. Serves as an advisor during chemical and other hazardous substances spills/releases. Advises emergency response team regarding environmental health issues. Collects samples and specimens for laboratory analysis when appropriate. May post unsafe water supplies and bathing beaches or other facilities deemed harmful to public welfare.

9. Reviews plans, blueprints, and specifications for construction of new facilities or renovation of existing structures for compliance with environmental health standards and advises owners, builders, architects, and others regarding prevention or correction of problems. Issues verbal and written orders to correct violation, re-inspects to ensure compliance, collects samples, takes pictures, prepares reports and initiates legal action, with approval of the supervisor. Testifies at hearing and court as necessary.

10. Works with state, local, federal agencies jointly to resolve environmental and public health issues. Assist the general public in the office or by telephone with their complaints and questions regarding sanitation and environmental health matters. Advises the public on the prevention and resolution of problem matters.

11. Meets with community groups and local agencies regarding prevention and resolution of environmental health problems. Provides educational trainings and classes to the public and other governmental agencies regarding sanitation and environmental health matters.

12. Assist in emergency response activities including, but not limited to, activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Examples include natural disasters, pandemics, environmental disasters, etc.

13. Performs duties as assigned for Materials Management Program. May require HAZWOPPER Certification.

14. Performs other duties as assigned.

Employment Qualifications

Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree in environmental health or a related field.

Experience: Two years as an Environmental Health Sanitarian. Possession of a certificate of registration as a State of Michigan Registered Sanitarian (R.S.) or National Registered Environmental Health Specialist (R.E.H.S.) credential or ability to obtain within 2 years.

Other Requirements:

1. Appropriate National Incident Management System/Incident Command Systems (NIMS/ICS) certification.
2. Blood borne pathogen training and certification yearly.
3. Possession of a valid Michigan Driver’s License.
4. May require certification as a Stormwater Operator/Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Reviewer.
5. May require standardized trainer certification for the food safety program.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Physical Requirements: (This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements.)

Ability to drive to various locations within the county and to travel to other communities for meetings and training.
Lifting various hand tools including soil augers, soil probes, and shovels, up to sixty pounds. Climbing up and down ladders to enter into confined space, well pits and soil test holes.
Crawling in crawl spaces and under homes to inspect plumbing connections and well components.
Bends, stoops, kneels to inspect food service establishments, sewage treatment systems, water well construction sites, and other locations.
Ability to traverse uneven ground, construction sites, woods, open farmlands and along drainage ways.

Working Conditions:

Works outside in various types of weather conditions and is exposed to high and low temperatures at various points throughout the year.
Travels during potentially hazardous driving conditions.
Exposure to environmental and chemical hazards during course of investigations.
Works with hostile individuals during the course of investigative and enforcement functions.