Environmental Health Practitioner

Our Environmental Health Services Plan Review Unit has an opening on our team for a Environmental Health Specialist II. In this role, you will be responsible for providing a wide range of services for multiple environmental health programs. You will also have the responsibility of training and mentoring subordinate staff engaged in similar responsibilities.

This is full-time position located at our Central Public Health Center in Wheaton, with work out in the field. We offer a generous leave package, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and an IMRF retirement account. For a full list of our benefits, click on the benefit tab.

•  Reviews construction application documents and plans, conducts consultations and performs inspections of new and existing food establishments, child-care facilities, private water supplies, and private sewage disposal systems.
•  Performs routine and complex compliance inspections of facilities, including but not limited to, the following: retail, mobile and non-profit food establishments and vendors; public and private schools.
•  Public, private and institutional child-care facilities; groundwater sourced private water systems; private sewage disposal systems.
•  Vector/animal disease surveillance, collection and abatement.
•  Public swimming pools; and other environmental health issues.
•  Prepares inspection reports, documents all violations, issues notices of corrective action and ensures future adherence through periodic follow-up visits.
•  Responds to citizens' complaints as they relate to environmental health issues.
•  Conducts investigations related to food-borne illness or environmentally acquired diseases referred from the Disease Control and Epidemiology program.
•  Reviews construction application documents and plans for food establishments, child-care facilities, private sewage disposal systems and private water supplies as needed.
•  Meets established productivity standards; approves or denies application based on factual evidence and issues permits as appropriate.
•  Selects, prepares and submits, under prescribed methods, environmental samples as required.
•  Performs environmental tests as required.
•  Conducts educational presentations on food safety and other general health or sanitary related topics.
•  Provides and explains educational materials, regulations, policies and other compliance to the general public.
•  Consults with industry professionals on a regular basis.
•  Mentors and trains subordinate staff; maintains records and files.
•  Testifies in judicial proceedings and hearings as needed.
•  Demonstrates independent judgment and discretion in making position related decisions.
•  Participates in emergency response activities as assigned.
•  Maintains required training, licensure and/or certification.
•  Maintains confidentiality of privileged information and adheres to client privacy laws.
•  Demonstrates sensitivity and understanding of other ethnic groups and cultures.
•  Adheres to department guidelines for attendance and punctuality. May act as lead worker; may need to be available to respond to afterhours emergency calls on a rotating basis.
Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Health or a related field which required a minimum of thirty semester hours or forty-five quarter hours in the physical and/or biological sciences, and three (3) years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS :
Current Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner (LEHP) in the State of Illinois.

The position performs essential on-site functions and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS :
Considerable knowledge of practices and procedures of environmental health; considerable knowledge of at least three specialty areas within environmental health including, but not limited to, food sanitation, private water supplies, private sewage disposal, nuisance control, and housing and recreation; considerable knowledge of state law, local ordinances and the rules and regulations pertaining to environmental health practices; good knowledge of environmental health resources; good knowledge of training principles.

Considerable skill in analyzing facts and data in order to make recommendations; considerable skill in interpreting and applying policies in a consistent manner; considerable skill in organizing one's work to meet deadlines; considerable skill developing and maintaining positive and professional relationships with internal and external customers; working skill in verbal and written communication; working skill in preparing written documentation that is consistent with laws and regulations; working skill in developing and delivering training and education to internal and external customers; working skill in developing and maintaining positive and professional relationships with internal and external customers; working skill in maintaining records and files; working skill in operating a personal computer, applicable software and peripheral equipment.
Associated topics: agrosciences, air, bioassay, biodiversity, environment, environmental science, field, ocean, water, water monitoring