Job Summary

The Public Health Specialist (Environmental Health) protects public health and the environment by providing environmental health services in the community. This position ensures compliance with federal, state, and local health regulations by responding to, investigating, and providing education for environmental health hazards, including reports of lead hazards, other human health hazards and rabies control. This position conducts inspections and investigations of transient non-community wells as well as temporary and mobile food establishments. The Public Health Specialist responds to citizen complaints and conducts disease prevention work in conjunction with environmental health and other division staff to promote health and prevent disease.

Key Responsibilities

Key duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Environmental Health Program

Helps conduct inspections and investigations of temporary and mobile food establishments for DATCP agent program using applicable health and safety statutes, administrative codes, and local ordinances.
Provides environmental and public health consultation and training to operators and staff of temporary food operators, and to other agencies and businesses as needed.
Works as a member of a team.

Surveillance and Investigation / Human Health Hazard Control

Performs activities authorized under ss. 251.06 (3) (f), 254.59, and 254.593 Stats.
Investigates, follows-up and writes corrective action orders on complaints of environmental health hazards and other unsanitary conditions using applicable statutes, administrative codes, and local ordinances. Investigations may include but not limited to rabies control and human health hazards.
Implements human health hazard control program, and works with Environmental Health Supervisor, Deputy Health Officer and Health Officer to declare housing to be a human health hazard, when permitted under s. 254.593, Stats.
Implements the rabies control program, including investigation of animal bite cases and rabies quarantine compliance.
Helps implements radon control program as applicable.

Communicable Disease (CD) Control

Helps investigate suspected foodborne, waterborne, and airborne outbreaks.
Performs inspections for the DNR Transient, Non-Community Well Program, including collecting well water samples and performing sanitary surveys of these wells.
Collaborates with Community Health for outbreak response and prevention activities.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Participates in implementation of response strategies to address public health emergencies.
Participates in public health preparedness exercises as appropriate.
Maintains a general knowledge of the National Incident Management System (ICS 100, 200, 700, 800).

Health Promotion

Helps implement processes for and dissemination of relevant, accurate information and evidence-informed environmental health prevention guidance to the public health system and community.
Helps implement use of a variety of accessible, transparent, and inclusive methods of communication to convey and to receive information from the public and stakeholders.

Other Duties

Maintains adequate records and statistics, enters data, prepares reports, and reports all findings of investigations and inspections to the Environmental Health Supervisor and appropriate authorities.
Answers questions or complaints from the general public.
Attends meetings and trainings to keep abreast of recent research, concepts, equipment, federal, state, and local requirements, and educational techniques, at the discretion of the Environmental Health Supervisor.
Consults with other local and state health departments and agencies.
Works weekends and variable weekday hours as needed.
Works as part of a team to work toward accomplishing program objectives.
Maintains a safe work environment and follows all safety rules and regulations.
Utilizes various policies and procedures, forms, and tools to perform duties as assigned.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Maintains records and privacy (HIPAA).

Supervision Received: Works under the direction of the Environmental Health Supervisor. Employee is expected to perform normal work assignments in accordance with established work procedures and division policies with a minimum amount of supervision.

Qualifications

Graduate from a college or university of recognized standing with the course work in public health, environmental health, biology, chemistry, or related field preferred.
One year of public health work experience (preferred) or any combination of education, training and/or experience which provides the required knowledge, duties, responsibilities, and competencies necessary for the position.
Possession of a valid WI Motor Vehicle Operator's License with a good driving record.
Own car and have active personal automobile insurance (mileage reimbursement provided) and have personal vehicle available for daily use.
Available to work variable weekday hours, weekends, and available for on-call response after normal business hours.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

Analytical/Assessment Skills:

Knowledge of principles and practices of investigations, including data collection, sampling
Utilization of evidence-based decision making
Application of ethical principles in use of data
Adept in using word processing, spreadsheets, and other technological tools
Strong organizational skills

Communication Skills:

Experience providing health education to individuals and groups.
Written and oral linguistic and cultural proficiency
Ability to assess literacy of populations served and communicate with a diversity of people
Ability to prepare and write reports, keep accurate records, summarize information
Effectively utilizes written, verbal and listening skills to communicate with internal and external clients

Cultural Competency Skills:

Understanding of concept of diversity and can describe the community served by the division
Articulates impact of cultural influences on and diversity in program and services

Community Dimensions of Practice Skills:

Ability to engage the community
Ability to maintain effective working relationships, collaborations, and partnerships
Consistently demonstrates willingness to engage in teamwork (collaboration, cooperation) and utilize time management skills (prioritization, multi-tasking, flexibility, adaptability) to achieve program and division goals

Public Health Science Skills:

Knowledge of standards, skills, statutes, administrative code, and ordinances pertaining to human health hazard, rabies control, well water testing, and others as needed
Knowledge of communicable disease, vector, water, radon, and other environmental health hazard control techniques
Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment reasonably and accurately in interpretation of statues, codes and ordinances based upon public health principles
Meets requirements and standards of the program, grants, and applicable policies, procedures, and laws

Work Relationships:

Consistently maintains a positive, respectful, and open-minded approach in understanding and interacting with individuals at all levels of the organization, outside agencies, customers, and public officials. Displays sensitivity in interactions with culturally diverse clients and co-workers, recognizing and responding to the needs and views of others. Uses behavior and language in dealing with others that are appropriate for workplace situations.

Quality and Quantity of Work:

Produces accurate, neat, and thorough work. Maintains an acceptable level of productivity/output and timeliness of work.

Job Knowledge:

Understands duties and responsibilities. Has the necessary job knowledge and necessary technical skills. Understands the department’s values. Keeps job knowledge current and is in command of critical issues.

Customer Service:

Employee’s interaction with internal and external customers is prompt, pleasant and helpful. Employee promotes a positive departmental and organizational image. Employee provides follow-up support to ensure customers are dealt with satisfactorily. Employee skillfully overcomes challenging customer situations and knows when to ask for additional support from management.

Attendance:

Punctual and adheres to attendance standards consistently

Tools and Equipment Used:

All standard office equipment i.e., computers, printers, copy machine, telephone, fax machine, camera, and measuring devices, etc., as well as water sampling equipment, propane torch and other basic hand-tools.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Worker is exposed to blood, respiratory secretions and other body fluids for which universal precautions apply. Personal protective equipment is available and shall be worn. Potential exposure to hostile individuals and settings. Physical settings in the community may be unsanitary and potentially dangerous and the employee is occasionally exposed to these conditions. Employee may work near mechanical moving parts, in high/precarious places, in wet and humid conditions, near hot grease and stove flames, and near airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment maybe moderate at times. Personal protective equipment is available and shall be worn.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to travel to a variety of locations to evaluate public and environmental health problems and to access facilities and/or sites which may not be handicap-accessible.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, or hear. The employee maybe regularly required to walk, bend, stand, squat, twist, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and traverse a variety of ground and structures. The employee is required to use hands and fingers to handle and operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee may have to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, ability to adjust focus, and depth perception.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Racine, County of

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