Job Information
Clark County Environmental Health Specialist I/II - Food Safety -Public Health Department in Vancouver, Washington
Job Summary
Environmental Health Specialists (EHS) work within the section of Environmental Public Health (EPH) and are responsible for protecting the health of citizens by enforcing EPH rules and regulations, educating stakeholders, preventing exposure to environmental hazards by promoting healthy natural and built environments within Clark County. This position will be assigned basic job duties: • Design/Plan Review - the EHS will review designs and plans such as food establishment floor plans, food preparation plans, and Toolkits of various topics. This review is critical to ensure the safety of the facility or infrastructure and compliance with State and Local requirements. • Site Inspections - the EHS will ensure the site matches design and plan criteria and that operations are conducted in compliance with state and local codes. These inspections ensure processes protect the public health and prevent injury. • Complaint and Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation - an EHS will investigate complaints by performing records searches, site visits, interviews of complainants and gathering other pertinent information. • Enforcement of Regulation - an EHS will, when necessary, initiate enforcement when regulations are not met. The goal is to ensure compliance with public health rules. In many instances, the EHS will partner with other agencies that can improve the process or offer resources to the one with whom enforcement is being pursued. • Technical Assistance - the EHS will offer technical expertise to property owners, business owners, food workers, entrepreneurs, county departments and other stakeholders. This task can include significant research and communication. The position may be asked to work in other EPH programs as needed. Organizational responsibilities include understanding and promoting the public health mission of the department; providing courteous, respectful, efficient customer service to all Public Health customers; honoring diversity of all department employees and constituents; participating in Emergency Preparedness activities and on-call rotations; striving for personal excellence in public health work. The Public Health Department values our community's diversity and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. Our department also encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. This position is represented by Local 335, Laborers International Union of North America Health Care Division. This position has the option of a remote/hybrid work schedule possibility. However, the candidate selected must reside in OR or WA. No Exceptions. Weekend work assignments, on a rotating schedule.
Qualifications
Job Function
Resolves complaints concerning food borne illnesses by interviewing affected individuals, obtaining clinical specimens, collecting food samples, interviewing employees, tracing possible sources of contamination, consulting with state epidemiologist, evaluating findings and writing reports.
Conducts compliance inspections of schools, restaurants, grocery stores, taverns, bakeries, meat markets, weekend events, and other retail food establishments according to assigned schedule.
Records violations found during inspections, evaluate findings, discuss with owner or manager, and establish short and long-term corrective actions.
Makes follow-up evaluations and initiates enforcement procedures, if necessary.
Provides information on building requirements for new and remodeled food establishments and answers questions from the public regarding public health requirements for food service establishments.
Reviews submitt