Land Use Environmental Health Specialist I
Currently Permit Sonoma is recruiting to fill their position at either the I, II, and/or Senior level. If you are interested in applying at the other levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate, concurrent recruitments being conducted for those levels.
Join Permit Sonoma
Sonoma County contains numerous soil types and is at the forefront of innovative and experimental septic systems. Currently, across the county, approximately 4,000 permitted, non-standard systems are being monitored. As a Land Use Environmental Health Specialist in Permit Sonoma, you will provide a unique level of expertise in the evaluation and permitting of septic systems and water well construction. You will also work with the public to encourage sound sanitary practices; assess and approve permits for land development, private sewage systems, and water wells; and provide consultation, information, and educational services regarding soils and groundwater concerns. Additionally, Land Use Environmental Health Specialists’ conduct plan check and inspections of assigned geographic areas. Please visit Permit Sonoma’s website to learn more about the valuable services they provide the community we serve - our community!
Please note that qualified candidates for this position must be certified by the State of California as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), per California Health and Safety Code Sections 106600-106735. Additionally, the ideal candidate will also possess:
- Land-use development experience, particularly with wells and/or septic systems
- A high-level of professionalism, and excellent customer service skills
- Good judgment and the ability to make sound decisions, particularly in compliance situations
- The ability to work independently, as well as in a team environment
- A desire to work in a fast-paced work environment, and the ability to effectively address competing priorities
- What We Offer
When you join Permit Sonoma's challenging and rewarding work environment, you become a valuable team member and gain the satisfaction of knowing you're working together to better your community. You can also look forward to excellent benefits* including:
- An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- A significant portion of health care premiums paid by the County and access to several health plan options
- County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
- Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to the II level (Salary up to $44.78/hour)
We are currently recruiting to fill positions at either the I, II and/or Senior level. The Civil Service title of this position is Environmental Health Specialist I. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities stated herein. Normally, this would include graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in environmental health science, biology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, or related subjects, as required by state law, and one year of trainee level experience in the field of environmental health and safety regulation and enforcement, OR graduation from an accredited California university program that meets the requirements of the California Health and Safety Code, Section 106635 (V).
License: Possession of a valid certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist as required by the State of California's Health and Safety Code.
Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required, depending upon assignment, to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesWorking knowledge of: sanitation science, requirements and procedures and the methods and procedures used in inspecting, investigating and correcting unsanitary conditions; federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental health and safety; principles and practices of public health; environmental research and statistical methods; methods of gathering and analyzing data; basic building construction materials and principles relating to environmental health requirements; principles of general chemistry, physics, microbiology and biology.
Ability to: plan, organize and carry out research, analyze, and evaluate data and make recommendations based on findings; detect unsanitary conditions and public health hazards and secure correction through education, voluntary compliance, or legal enforcement; prepare comprehensive reports; communicate verbal and written ideas clearly and logically; establish and maintain effective relationships with staff, other governmental officials and the general public.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.