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Environmental Health Specialist I (Health & Wellness Department)
HEALTH & WELLNESS DEPARTMENT
Environmental Health Specialist I
The Health Department’s mission is to foster collaborative efforts that protect and promote public health, equity, safety and well-being.
- Mission - Address public and population health priorities of Detroiters
- Vision - We envision healthy communities where every Detroiter has the opportunity to thrive
- Values - Quality Service, Transparency, Accountability and Respect
The Detroit Health Department food safety unit licenses and inspects over 1,900 food establishments. The goal of these inspections is to prevent foodborne illness and ensure that safe food is being served to the public.
Under general supervision, the Environmental Health Specialist will perform inspections and related regulatory functions to reduce the hazard to the public from environmental health hazards. Will also conduct investigation of food borne or environmental vector disease outbreaks. Will be assigned primarily to the Food Safety or Environmental Health program but will be expected to be able to handle a variety of duties.
Requirements
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (may perform other duties as assigned)
Environmental Health and Food Safety
Illness and complaint Investigation
Education and Training
Stakeholder Engagement
Other Activities
Duties can include food safety, child care facilities, adult foster care, body art, swimming pools, recreational facilities, emergency shelters, hotels/motels, marijuana businesses, and other required inspections.
Environmental Health and Food Safety
- Inspects public facilities including child care, adult foster care, swimming pools, recreation facilities, body art, food service establishments, and other regulated facilities to ensure compliance with applicable city, state and federal regulations.
- Ensures correction of hazards identified in accordance with State and City regulations and Department policies.
- Maintains proper documentation, filing and record keeping of all records.
- Discusses findings and provides education, interpretation of regulations and recommendations to owner or representative, and ensure correction of sanitation hazards identified.
- Identifies and researches environmental health hazards to public health.
- Educates the public and businesses on environmental health and food safety issues.
- Writes reports to adequately explain environmental health and & safety hazards to a range of audiences.
- Conducts preliminary inspections, monitors new facilities during construction and performs final inspection upon completion
- Participates in enforcement activities.
Illness and complaint Investigation
- Investigates possible food or water borne illness outbreaks.
- Investigates potential environmental vector illness outbreaks.
- Investigates complaints from the public.
Education and Training
- Educates the public, businesses, government and private agencies on environmental health issues.
- Contributes to educational materials to explain food safety or environmental hazards to a range of audiences.
- Develops educational material to raise awareness on environmental health and food safety issues.
- Coordinates and promotes continuing education to keep up to date on regulatory trends, changes, and initiatives.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborates with other agencies to improve the health of the public.
- Serves on committees, special project teams, or task forces as assigned.
Other Activities
- Certification in Incident Command Structure, crisis management, and participation in public health emergency preparedness activities in real or simulated emergencies.
- Other related duties and training as assigned.
- Candidate may be assigned to primarily food safety or environmental health.
Duties can include food safety, child care facilities, adult foster care, body art, swimming pools, recreational facilities, emergency shelters, hotels/motels, marijuana businesses, and other required inspections.
Qualifications
Qualifications (required):
Qualifications (preferred):
Equivalency:
Licensing & Certifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental health, public health, biology, chemistry, physics, natural science, environmental science, food science or a related field with at least 30 hours of science (biology, chemistry, physics, or statistics).
- Experience in conducting food safety, environmental health or related inspections is strongly preferred.
Qualifications (preferred):
- At least three (3) years of experience in environmental health or public health.
- Fluency in foreign languages common in Detroit (Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese)
- Registered Sanitarian or Registered Environmental Health Specialist (National Environmental Health Association or State of Michigan).
- Experience as a Plan Review Officer, Standardized Trainer, or investigating foodborne or environmental illness outbreaks, especially in an urban environment.
- Certification in Incident Command Structure, crisis management, and participation in public health emergency preparedness activities in real or simulated emergencies.
Equivalency:
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Licensing & Certifications:
- State of Michigan Motor Vehicle Operator license is required with appropriate insurance coverage and reliable vehicle – Department is not responsible for out of pocket costs beyond mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate.
- Completion of emergency preparedness training (to include, but not limited to FEMA IS Courses 100, 200, 700 and 800) within 90 days of hire is required for this position.
- Computer Based Assessment : 25% (writing sample)
- Interview: 50%
- Evaluation of Training, Experience & Personal Qualifications: 25%
- Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%
- Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
- Detroit Residency Credit: 15 points
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of environmental health and food safety principals, statistical methods, food safety and environmental regulations.
- Skill in computer literacy with primary software programs such as Microsoft Office.
- Skill in strong analytic and assessment skills.
- Skill in strong leadership skills.
- Ability to demonstrate excellence in verbal, written, and public communication skills.
- Ability to work with a wide variety of people and temperaments.
- Ability to identify, interpret, and enforce public health law, ordinances, and policies related to specific food safety and environmental health.
- Ability to work effectively in teams of diverse people and organizations.
- Ability to pay excellent attention to detail, follow through, and timeliness.
- Ability to be highly self-motivated and directed with a strong work ethic.
- Ability to possessa high level of ethical standards and avoid conflicts of interest.
- Ability to learn the applicable laws, ordinances and departmental rules and regulations.
- Ability to work under stressful circumstances.
Candidates considered for placement in this classification may be subject to a Criminal Background Investigation based on the requirements of the position
The above statements reflect the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this class. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Essential duties may vary from position to position.
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