Job Details

San Mateo County Health is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III. Current vacancies include two positions in the Land Use Program and one position in the Solid Waste, Medical Waste, and Body Art Programs within Environmental Health Services. All positions are based in San Mateo, CA, with travel throughout the Countys 20 cities and unincorporated areas.

The Environmental Health Services Division ensures a safe and healthful environment through education, monitoring, enforcement, and community services. This recruitment offers the opportunity to apply technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and community engagement skills across diverse program areas that directly protect the health and safety of County residents.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMS

Land Use Program

• Inspects and oversees water wells, septic systems, and related construction.
• Reviews soil percolation testing, hydrogeology, and system design.
• Conducts inspections of confined and exotic animal facilities.
• Advises builders, engineers, and contractors on compliance with environmental health laws.

Solid Waste, Medical Waste, and Body Art Programs

• Serves as the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) designated by CalRecycle for permitting, inspection, and enforcement of landfills, recycling facilities, and waste transporters.
• Enforces the California Medical Waste Management Act to ensure safe generation, storage, transport, and disposal of medical waste.
• Implements the Safe Body Art Act to ensure safe and sanitary operation of body art facilities and practitioners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities will vary depending on program assignment and may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform inspections, investigations, and enforcement activities in assigned program areas.
• Review and apply relevant laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Provide instructions for correction of violations.
• Investigate and resolve citizen complaints.
• Advise and instruct individuals, businesses, and contractors on environmental health requirements.
• Maintain records, prepare reports and correspondence.
• Work independently and collaboratively within a team to achieve program objectives.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Experience conducting regulatory, health-based inspections.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical issues in understandable terms.
• Skilled in preparing concise, well-organized reports and correspondence.
• Effective at balancing independent work with teamwork.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Land Use candidates: Knowledge of water well siting, construction, water treatment, soil science, hydrogeology, septic system design, and construction drawings.
• Solid Waste/Medical Waste/Body Art candidates: Knowledge of the California Health & Safety, California Code of Regulations, Public Resources Codes and County ordinances pertaining to these programs; experience using CalRecycles Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) portal is a plus.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Environmental Health Specialist I - Possession of a current Trainee Certification Letter from the California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Specialist Registration Program.

Environmental Health Specialist II and III - Possession of a California Certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS).

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

I level ($43.73 - $48.90/hour): A bachelor's degree which has included a minimum of 30 semester units of basic sciences.

II level ($51.25 - $64.04/hour): One year of experience in general inspections and investigations in the environmental health field.

III level ($54.38 - $67.95/hour): Two years of journey level experience in environmental health inspections and investigations.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles of biological and physical sciences.
• Principles and practices of environmental health sanitation.
• Techniques of environmental health inspection, investigation and control.
• General community health problems and governmental programs designed to control or alleviate them.
• Research, evaluation and statistical methods.
• Laws, regulations and ordinances governing environmental health in California.
• Provisions of the Penal Code relating to public nuisances.

SKILL/ABILITY TO

• Interpret laws, regulations and data.
• Define difficult problem areas, analyze complex data and make valid recommendations.
• Advise and instruct others in the principles of sanitation and environmental health.
• Enforce local ordinances and state law.
• Work independently and as a team member.
• Keep complex and accurate records.
• Prepare clear, concise reports and correspondence.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
• Speak effectively and communicate in situations requiring instruction and persuasion.
• Represent the division as an expert in area of specialty.
• Assist in the training and orientation of new personnel.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION

• EHS I- possession of a Letter of Approval as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee from the State of California Department of Health Services.
• EHS II and EHS III - possession of a California Certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support, and retrain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.