ABOUT THE POSITION
To learn more about this amazing opportunity, please, view the Director of Environmental Health Brochure.
The County of Riverside is seeking an innovative, strategic, and experienced leader to serve as its next Director of Environmental Health. This executive level position oversees a dynamic department dedicated to protecting public health, safety, and the environment through progressive, community focused environmental health programs.
The Department of Environmental Health operates with an annual budget of 40 million and carries out its mission by implementing efficient and effective regulatory services across a broad range of environmental health areas. The Director provides leadership to three major divisions, District Environmental Services (DES) Division, Environmental Protection & Oversight (EPO), and Business Operations & Finance, each staffed by highly trained professional, technical, and support personnel operating from multiple branch offices countywide. The DES Division, the largest within the department, administers seven major programs focused on compliance through education and partnership with regulated businesses. The EPO Division, comprised of the Environmental Resources Management and Hazardous Materials Management Branches, oversees key programs involving hazardous materials, water systems, land use, and emergency response. The Hazardous Materials Management Branch (HMMB) also serves as the County’s Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA). The Business Operations & Finance Division provides essential administrative, fiscal, and analytical services that support the entire department’s operations and mission.
The Director will guide these divisions in advancing regulatory compliance, enhancing program effectiveness, and ensuring alignment with State and local environmental health mandates. This role requires a forward-thinking leader capable of strengthening partnerships, driving innovation, and fostering a culture of service excellence.
The ideal candidate for Director of Environmental Health is a seasoned and forward-thinking executive with a proven record of leadership in a large Environmental Health department, division, or comparable regulatory entity. This individual brings deep expertise in environmental health operations, land-use development, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance paired with the strategic vision needed to guide a complex, countywide public health organization. The successful candidate will be an influential leader capable of advancing high-impact initiatives, strengthening regulatory programs, and representing Riverside County with professionalism and authority. Overseeing large, multi-disciplinary teams and directing professional, technical, and administrative staff across multiple locations.
Meet the team!The
Riverside County Department of Environmental Health (RCDEH) is one of California’s most comprehensive and geographically expansive environmental health agencies, serving a vast and diverse region that includes one of the state’s largest counties. With a broad regulatory portfolio, RCDEH oversees complex programs that protect public health, ensure environmental safety, and support responsible land use and economic development. The department delivers services through multiple divisions, highly specialized program areas, and strategically located branch offices, enabling effective oversight of urban, rural, and remote communities alike. RCDEH’s scale, scope, and regional influence make it a critical leader in advancing environmental health practices across Southern California.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Provide executive leadership in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating all Environmental Health programs; ensure policies, procedures, and operational methods are effective, consistent with departmental goals, and aligned with countywide public health and environmental standards.
• Direct the development, administration, and oversight of the Environmental Health annual budget and program plan; ensure alignment with strategic priorities, regulatory mandates, and fiscal integrity.
• Represent the County in discussions with state and federal agencies regarding environmental health issues; cultivate cooperative partnerships with internal departments, external agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Represent the County in contacts with state and federal agencies and their staff relative to environmental health concerns; develop and promote contacts, working relationships, and cooperative programs between the environmental health programs, other County departments, and other agencies and organizations involved in environmental health services.
• Negotiate and manage contracts with private organizations for the provision of environmental health services.
• Provide guidance to engineers, developers, subdividers, and contractors on the interpretation and application of environmental health laws, regulations, and standards.
• Oversee and support staff in implementing comprehensive environmental health programs, including inspections and enforcement related to food safety, water quality, sewage disposal, solid waste management, vector control, recreational health, housing and public facilities, nuisance abatement, hazardous materials management, and underground storage tanks.
• Review and interpret laboratory findings; direct the evaluation of subdivision maps, construction plans, and related documents for compliance with environmental health requirements.
• Conduct informal hearings and participate in appeals related to violations of sanitation and environmental health laws.
• Deliver presentations to the public, community groups, and governing bodies; lead staff meetings; and prepare high-quality reports, correspondence, and briefing materials.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, preferably with major course work in environmental health, public health, planning, public or business administration, engineering, criminal justice, law enforcement or a closely related field.
Experience: Five years of experience in an executive managerial capacity that included strategic decision-making, overseeing major programs, divisions, or departments and policy development, responsibility as an environmental health specialist in a public health agency or recognized environmental health entity as defined by State law.
Other Requirements:
License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.
Registration with the State of California as an Environmental Health Specialist is required.Knowledge of: The principles and practices of environmental quality control, public health, and sanitation; environmental quality control provisions of state and local laws and regulations; principles and practices of organization, administration, and supervision; functions and operations of governmental agencies and community organizations related to environmental health.
Ability to: Plan, organize, and direct the work of an environmental health and quality control program; formulate and interpret policies and procedures; prepare and administer a budget; instruct in the methods and procedures of inspection and correction of unsanitary conditions; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with officials, employees, and the public; speak and write effectively, including preparing clear and concise records and reports.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
This class has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the provisions provided under Article 6, Section 601E (1) of the County Management Resolution and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors.
This class has been deemed eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311(A) of the County Management Resolution. Program eligibility requires employees to be in a leadership position, manage other employees or programs, and have significant influence on the achievement of organizational objectives.
This recruitment will be open until filled. The initial review of applications will likely occur January 5, 2025. However, the posting may close at any time. To be considered, please, electronically submit your application, including a resume. Resume should reflect related work experience as well as details of years and months of positions held. For questions regarding this recruitment, please, contact: Angela Tavaglione at (951) 955-3523 or atavaglione@rivco.org.
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APPLICATION INFORMATION
Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. The Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 is available here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.
If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.
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