Placer County

Environmental Health Technician - Senior (#11723)

$31.19-$38.95 Hourly / $5,406.27-$6,751.33 Monthly / $64,875.20-$81,016.00 Yearly


DEFINITION

To assist in ensuring compliance with various environmental health regulations required by federal, state, and local statutes and ordinances; conduct field inspections to ensure compliance; and perform a variety of research related to environmental health compliance.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey level class in the Environmental Health Technician series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken,  the amount of time spent performing lead duties, or by performing the more complex environmental health functions. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series which may include technical and functional supervision of technical and clerical personnel. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to the assigned area of responsibility and have technical knowledge of food, water recreation, hazardous materials, solid waste, domestic water supply, on-site sewage disposal, and environmental health land use programs with general knowledge of planning and building codes, as needed. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives supervision from a Supervising Registered Environmental Health Specialist or other professional, supervisory, or management classification.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over assigned technical and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Conducts the more complex field inspections to assure regulatory compliance and in response to service requests; document inspections or write inspection reports.
  • Process complex environmental health permits and applications; review for compliance with standards and regulations.
  • Perform complex research involving parcel and permit history.
  • Review commercial and home occupation business licenses for compliance with environmental health and/or land use standards and regulations.
  • Accept, log, and review commercial and residential plans and associated documents for plan checking as assigned; process, prepare, and issue permits, as needed.
  • Log and maintain various data and record and prepare reports; prepare notices; perform the more complex research regarding compliance issues as necessary.
  • Serve as a technical resource to lower-level staff and the public in the interpretation and application of environmental health guidelines.
  • Assist in developing and revising policies and procedures related to the area of assignment.
  • Work on special projects as assigned.
  • Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
  • Interact with other County departments and/or outside agencies as needed.
  • Prepare correspondence and notifications providing and requesting information to and from customers related to application materials and permits.
  • May serve as liaison between Environmental Health and the public, providing information regarding the permit process, requirements, and regulations.
  • May train and lead-lower level technical and/or clerical staff in technical and procedural aspects of environmental health regulations and in departmental and division policies and procedures.
  • Performs related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in both an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and in the field requiring travel to various locations throughout the County in a variety of outdoor weather conditions. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:  

Experience: Two (2) years of responsible journey level experience comparable to an Environmental Health Technician II with Placer County.  

Training: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by at least twelve (12) semester units of college level courses in chemistry, biology, physics, toxicology, or a related field.  

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

  • Advanced principles and practices of customer service and public contact.
  • Local ordinances and state statutes relative to land use, land development, permitting process, and environmental health such as food, water recreation, solid waste, hazardous materials, domestic water supply, and on-site sewage disposal.
  • Policies and procedures related to environmental health regulations and related County requirements and regulations.
  • Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
  • Technical resource materials and information sources applicable to environmental health related activities.
  • Department and division specific software systems.
  • Principles and practices of research.
  • Arithmetic and mathematical calculations.
  • Principles of technical and functional supervision.
  • Methods of filing and tracking information.
  • Basic sciences
  • Principles and practices of work safety.
  • English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Ability to: 

  • On a continuous basis, sit at a desk and/or stand at counter for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; intermittently walk, stand, bend, stoop, squat, crouch, climb, kneel, reach, and twist when performing field inspections; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation; see and hear with sufficient acuity to preform essential job functions; speak, use telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate through; occasionally lift moderate weight.
  • On a continuous basis, know and understand assigned aspects of the job; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; understand, analyze, recall, interpret, and explain environmental procedures and County regulations and requirements; complete tasks with frequent interruptions.   
  • Obtain information through interviews and dialogue; work fairly and courteously with the public.
  • Use a variety of modern office equipment, including but not limited to, computer, calculator, telephone, facsimile machine, and photocopy machine.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
  • Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
  • Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine appropriate course of action.
  • Train, assign, and review the work of technical and/or clerical staff.
  • Assume a lead role to less experienced staff and work independently in the absence of supervision.
  • Use independent judgment to resolve a variety of issues.
  • Compile, analyze, and evaluate a variety of technical information related to environmental health issues.
  • Read and interpret a variety of plans, maps, drawing, construction documents, and specifications, as assigned.
  • Effectively use automated permit systems.
  • Independently conduct complex field inspections.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation:
All permanent appointments to this classification shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand (2,080) hours, whichever is more.

Bargaining Unit:
General

FLSA Status:
Non-exempt

Established:
03/01/2006

Revised:
08/14/2023

Last Content Review:
08/14/2023

CLASS: 11723; EST: 3/1/2006; REV: 8/14/2023; REVWD: 8/14/2023;