Position Description

Responsibilites

Responsibilites

 

Promotes public health programs through education, surveillance, consultation, inspection, and enforcement of State and local public health rules and regulations.  
An employee in this class will evaluate and analyze potential sites for septic systems and wells for new construction and existing home sites; inspect newly installed septic systems and wells for compliance; investigate complaints relating to a variety of environmental issues and remediate if needed; communicate with the public the findings of applicable site evaluations and complaint investigations. The employee is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, extremely hot and cold temperatures, loud noise, and dust.  Work is performed under the direct supervision of the Environmental Health Supervisor.

 

 

• Evaluates, designs, reviews, and permits simple and complex onsite wastewater septic systems, including but not limited to coordinating with soil scientists and engineers contracted by applicant, consulting with applicant, and acting as a liaison between the state and the applicant.  
• Inspects and monitors level IIIB Management Entity Program sites.  
• Conducts on-site inspections for the determination of acceptable conditions for the issuance of improvement permits and installation of septic tank sewage disposal systems for a variety of structures.
• Evaluates topography and landscape position, soil characteristics, soil drainage, soil depth, restrictive horizons, and available space in determining suitability.
• Issues permits when requirements are met.  
• Evaluates and designs permit layouts to repair existing systems.  
• Evaluates individual lots, areas for development as potential subdivision, mobile home parks, business, or industrial site.  
• Evaluates, and permits as appropriate, proposed well sites, inspects well heads, and inspects the construction of wells in accordance with laws and regulations.
• Performs in-office administrative duties including making and receiving business calls, completes required reports, writes necessary letters, review correspondence, laws and ordinances.
• Conducts conferences or discussions with clients and supervisors.
• Conducts inspections for new and existing systems.
• Periodically inspects lodging, food-handling establishments, tattoo artist/parlors, other operations that may fall under the purview of the FLI program as assigned.
• Investigates public health law violations and initiates corrective action.  
• Refers non-jurisdictional complaints to the appropriate authorities including local, state, and federal agencies. 
• Aids in implementation of related state and local guidelines.
• Collects various water samples of new and existing wells for testing; and provides health risk evaluations of the test results from the state lab.
• Conducts environmental surveys for WPCOG to support need for the extension of public water supplies and/or municipal sewer into new areas.
• Attends training seminars as required by the NC State Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners, to obtain and maintain continuing education credits.  
• Performs related duties as required.

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.
• Practical knowledge of microbiology, biology, chemistry, food science, epidemiologist, soil science, entomology, and basic engineering technology as applied to environmental health.
• General knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies relating to environmental health.
• Considerable knowledge of the design of on-site wastewater treatment systems, protection of water supplies, food sanitation, food borne diseases, communicable diseases, vector control, solid waste management, and institutional sanitation.
• Considerable knowledge of inspection methods and investigation techniques as applied in environmental health.
• Ability to analyze and comprehend a wide variety of technical and administrative regulations, records, and reports.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal tactfully with a wide range of public contacts while enforcing public health laws and regulations.
• Ability to motivate and educate business and property owners and the consuming public in matters relating to protecting and promoting public health.
• Ability to independently plan and schedule work activities.
• Ability to develop and express ideas and opinions concisely, comprehensively, and clearly in oral and written form.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with public and private groups.

 

 

 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program with 30 semester hours of coursework in the physical or biological sciences and two years of experience in environmental health; or 
• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in environmental health from a program which is accredited by the National Accreditation Counsel for Environmental Health Curricula of the National Environmental Health Association and one year of experience in environmental health.
• A valid NC driver’s license. All mandatory or required training for county and/or Health Department.