Position Description

A Drug-Free Workplace

Invites your interest for the position of

Environmental Health Specialist I

$5,366– $6,979 per Month

Continuous

Priority Screen Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025

Exam #25/30J11/10MC

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The County of Monterey Health Department’s Environmental Health Bureau is seeking individuals to join a dynamic team of professionals to fill several vacancies for Environmental Health Specialist I. The incumbent will be responsible for conducting inspections, outreach, investigations, and surveys in support of Federal, State and local environmental health laws and regulations in an assigned district or specialty area.

The Environmental Health Bureau is dedicated to safeguarding the residents and resources of Monterey County by providing services that help promote responsible business practices, by providing educational opportunities to industry workers and public, and when necessary, by enforcing Environmental Health principles and laws.

The Environmental Health Bureau is responsible for the oversight of the following programs:

Drinking Water Protection Services Healthy Housing Services: Responsible for Multifamily dwellings, detention facilities, employee housing, lead prevention program, public swimming pools and beach water monitoring. Also responsible for small public, state small, and local small water systems inspection & compliance monitoring programs; drinking water source assessment; water well construction; repair & destruction inspection; cross connection control; collaborative aquifer protection; desalination treatment facility permitting & inspection; the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project monitoring; and water reuse programs.
Hazardous Materials Services: Responsible for emergency response; pesticide exposure; site mitigation programs; Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) programs: hazardous materials management; hazardous waste generator and on-site treatment/tiered permitting; accidental release prevention; underground storage tanks; and aboveground petroleum storage tanks.
Solid Waste Management Services: Responsible for solid waste facility inspection & permitting; illegal dumping enforcement; liquid waste hauler inspection; solid waste vehicle inspection; medical waste generator inspection; body art facility & operator inspection; waste tire inspection; and vegetable cull feeding inspection programs.
Consumer Health Protection Services: Responsible for retail food facility inspection; food borne illness investigation; food complaint investigation; vector control; general environmental health & sanitation; smoking pollution control; storm water pollution control; and agricultural field toilet inspection programs.
Environmental Health Review (Land Use) Services: Review of subdivisions and lot-ling adjustments; planning projects; administrative, zoning and coastal permits; building permits; regional and long-term planning; and general plan update. Responsible for nuisance noise control; wastewater treatment facility and nitrate monitoring; standard and alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems; grey water disposal; and winery wastewater disposal programs.

As of September 8^th, 2023, the Health Department offers up to a $10,000 signing bonus to candidates hired into regular full-time positions for this classification from this recruitment.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority in accordance with the Flexible Staffing Program and Guidelines.

Examples of Duties

To view the complete job description, please visit the Monterey County website: Environmental Health Specialist I

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Some Knowledge of:

Chemistry, biology, microbiology, and environmental health science.
Methods and procedures used to conduct research, inspections, or investigations.

Skill and Ability to:

Learn to conduct investigations.
Communicate visual observations and ideas by writing concise complete and technically.
accurate reports, records, correspondence, surveys and studies.
Speak effectively to individuals and groups from diverse social and cultural backgrounds.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with business and community groups, department staff, other departments, and the public.
React calmly and effectively to diffuse any potentially stressful or difficult situations.

Desirable Qualifications:

Ability to speak, read, and write effectively in English and Spanish.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Education:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major work in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Environmental Health, Toxicology or closely related field and possession of a valid Environmental Health Specialist Trainee letter issued by the California Department of Health Services

Additional Information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The required conditions of employment include, but are not limited to the following:

Pursuant to Section 106660 California Health and Safety Code, at the time of application, all applicants must present a current evaluation letter from the State of California, Department of Public Health which states that the applicant is eligible to begin training in an approved environmental health program.
Pursuant to Section 106615 (d) California Health and Safety Code, the Environmental Health Specialist I must meet the minimum education requirements necessary to qualify for State of California Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist – Trainee. Environmental Health Specialist I candidates must possess a letter from the State of California Local Environmental Health Programs Section stating that they meet the minimum educational requirements.
The Environmental Health Specialist I must complete all required education, experience and training for and obtain a valid Certificate of Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist issued by the State of California, Department of Health Services, no later than 36 months from date of hire.
Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
Tolerate rodents and insects; such as, rats, mice, and cockroaches; tolerate unsanitary or hazardous conditions; such as, septic failures, accumulated garbage or animal waste.
Work with potentially hostile individuals in volatile situations.
Enter and perform work in establishments which may expose the incumbent to what may be considered offensive or repugnant sights, sounds, or smells.
Work with or around equipment that, if misused, has the potential to present a radiological hazard.
Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.
An Environmental Health Specialist assigned to the Hazardous Materials Management Services may be required to respond to incidents involving spills of unknown chemically hazardous materials or potentially hazardous unidentified substances; may be required to maintain contact with the worksite or co-workers outside of normal work hours by carrying a communications device; and will be required to respond, as a member of the Emergency Response Team, to incidents that occur outside normal work hours.
An Environmental Health Specialist assigned to the Hazardous Materials Management Services must pass fitness testing for the use of respirators.
Successfully complete background check to include fingerprinting.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting.
Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.
Tolerate rodents and insects such as rats, mice and cockroaches; tolerate unsanitary or hazardous conditions such as septic failures, accumulated garbage or animal waste.
An Environmental Health Specialist assigned to the Hazardous Materials Management Services must pass fitness testing for the use of respirators.

BENEFITS:

The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Bargaining Unit H Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

Application And Selection Procedures

Apply On-Line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty

By priority screening date: October 26, 2025, 11:59 PM (PST)

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours,

Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:

Health Department

Attn: Human Resources

1270 Natividad Road

Salinas, CA 93906

(831) 755-4519

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
Responses to Supplemental Questions
Current evaluation letter from the State of California, Department of Public Health

All application materials must be received by the priority screen date of October 26,2025, for a guaranteed review. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Jeremy Hathaway, Human Resources Analyst I, at (831) 755 – 4749 or hathawayj@countyofmonterey.gov.

County of Monterey

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Environmental Health Specialist I