ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST - 64085123

Environmental Health Specialist 

The incumbent, an Environmental Health Specialist, is an employee of the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County (DOH – Highlands). The Environmental Health Specialist is expected to work relatively independently but under the supervisor of the Environmental supervisor I-SES, in accordance with inspection standards and timeframes mandated by the agency.  

The incumbent conducts inspections, investigations, and enforcement of Environmental Health programs assigned, to ensure that minimum requirements of the Florida Administrative Codes are maintained. The incumbent in this position will be required to confer with and /or educate both the public and private sector with respect to long range public health matters and disease control for the good of the community. This position will be required to confer with engineers, public officials, and community leaders. When violations of Administrative Codes or threats to public health are identified, this position initiates and then uses progressive legal enforcement to seek corrective action.  

Appropriate documentation of investigative and case work is essential and the use of the various databases. The incumbent is responsible for, but not limited to: The Migrant Farm Worker Housing Program: The incumbent is expected to process annual permits, conduct pre-licensure inspections, routine inspections, re-inspections, complaint investigations, environmental assessments, and required enforcement actions in a times manner to ensure compliance with Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-14 and Florida Statutes Chapters 381 and 386. 

 The Limited Use Public Water System: The incumbent is expected to process annual permits, conduct initial sanitary surveys, routine inspections, re-inspections, investigations, environmental assessments, water sample collection, and required enforcement action in a timely manner to ensure compliance with Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-8 and Florida Statutes Chapters 381 and 386.  

Assist with the process of annual permits and routine inspections, complaint investigations, and required enforcement of other Environmental Health Programs, such as Public Swimming Pools and Bathing Places, Biomedical Waste, Mobile Home & RV Parks, Food, Tanning, Tattoos, Body Art, and Group Care in a timely manner, to ensure they are in compliance with applicable Florida Administrative Codes and Florida Statutes 381 and 386. Incumbent will act as EPH Lead and Coordinator for both the Body Art and Tattoo Programs. This position is able to confer with engineers, public officials, and community leaders. When a violation of Administrative Code or threats to public health is identified, this position initiates and then uses progressive legal enforcement to seek corrections. Appropriate documentation of the investigations and case work performed is essential.  

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

Knowledge of:  Environmental Health Programs and standards, Florida Administrative Codes and Florida Statues related to the duties of this position. 

Skills: use of equipment and supplies related to the position.  Incumbent must be able to lift 40 or more pounds.  Incumbents must be able to work outdoors for most of the day. 

Ability to: 

• Ability to make observations, take measurements, and relate same to standards in order to identify deviations. 

• Ability to perform mathematical functions. 

• Ability to reach duty sites as scheduled, perform field work, write reports, and prepare legal notices when necessary. 

• Ability to coordinate work activities, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with multi-cultural clients, co-workers, and supervisors. 

• Ability to work independently. 

• Ability to perform computer skills as required by the position held. 

• Ability to prepare and present information to clients, the general public, and community partners. 

• Ability to lift items up to 40 pounds or use tools to move those items. May be required to work outside in all types of weather extremes, both hot and cold, or in wet conditions caused by rains or other water-related events. 

• Lead People: motivate, provide constructive feedback, positive recognition, and organize activities to improve team skills and performance. 

• Manage Processes: integrate and effectively utilize all components of the strategic planning process to help DOH Highlands achieve its vision.  Appropriately assesses and allocates resources (financial, human, equipment, and supplies) develop, implement, and evaluate business plans. 

• Human relations: working with others in a professional, considerate, and helpful manner, projects a positive image of DOH Highlands staff. 

• Initiative: be self-confident, motivated, and enthusiastic drive to perform current job duties and undertake duties of greater responsibility. 

• Responsive to Direction: take and give direction; accept and deliver constructive criticism and respond and implement suggestions for improvement. 

• Flexibility: accommodating changing situations or plans for satisfactory performance of the job.  Able to change easily from one task to another. 

• Technology: navigate the Internet, use office suite and assorted software, and use of technology equipment. 

• Communication (Oral &Written): takes the initiative to communicate accurate, up-to-date plans and information to subordinates, peers, and management.  Expresses thoughts clearly, both verbally and in writing.  Listens and understands the views of others. 

• Creative Thinking: develop new insights into situations and apply innovative solutions to make organizational improvements; design and implement new or cutting-edge programs/processes. 

• Team Building: inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishments.  Consistently develops and sustains cooperative working relationships.  Encourages and facilitates cooperation within the organization and with customer groups, fosters commitment, team spirit, pride, trust. 

• Interpersonal Skills: show understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others, relate well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations. 

• Customer Service:  works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work produces including the public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provides information or assistance, resolve their problems or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing excellence in products and services. 

• Time Management: manages a variety of responsibilities in a timely, efficient manner and can prioritize tasks, and input of data into data base in a timely manner. 

• Emergency Duty: Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal wok hours or days in the event of an emergency. Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelter, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Incumbent must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License, or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

• High School Diploma or Equivalent. 

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values: 

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work: 

Florida Department of Health – Highlands County 

7205 S George Blvd 

Sebring, FL 33875  

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.