Environmental Health Scientist - Salt Lake County

Salt Lake County…A career with a purpose in the community you love!

Salt Lake County invites you to explore our exciting career opportunities. We seek highly enthusiastic individuals to enrich our County with your experience and talent. If you enjoy working in a team environment that is committed to changing the lives of its community, please keep reading.

What it is like to work here:

At Salt Lake County our culture is woven into all aspects of our work and our employees’ lives, from the way we treat each other to the way we support the community.  To promote and foster a fun and healthy work environment, we appreciate employees through great benefits, a healthy work life balance and room to grow and develop.

Surround yourself with:

Peers who are motivated to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. We serve Salt Lake County and envision a safe and beautiful place for all to live, work and have fun. Salt Lake County is about connecting people and championing our community.  Community is more than a place….its our heart and service that bring us together.

We encourage a work life balance:

Working for Salt Lake County is more than just a paycheck.  A career with /Salt Lake County includes several benefits and perks.  We support our employees with 12 Holidays, up to 24 vacation days, 12 sick days and one personal day every year.  

Additional Benefits include:

• Retirement options for hybrid pension/401(k) or 401(k) only with a 10% contribution
• Medical coverage including a 100% county paid premium option-Dental and Vision coverage including coverage for adult designees
• Health Savings account with a county contribution up to $1200/year, Flexible Spending Account
• 100% county-paid Long-Term Disability and Short-Term Disability option
• Professional Development including professional membership fees paid
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Plus: Onsite medical clinic, and gym; hospital insurance, pet insurance auto and home insurance and discounts at County facilities. 

For Benefits information Click HERE 

To estimate how much your pay and benefits could be worth use our Total Rewards Estimator

JOB SUMMARY

Identifies problems and solutions to minimize or eliminate hazards that may harm the environment and the population. Inspects and monitors environmental health and safety conditions. Coordinates and implements health and safety programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Grade 14:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Health or a related area of study as required for Environmental Health Scientist licensure, plus must become licensed as an Environmental Health Scientist-in-training in the State of Utah within sixty (60) days of the date of hire and must become licensed as an Environmental Health Scientist within one (1) year of the date of hire.

Grade 15:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Health or a related area of study as required for Environmental Health Scientist licensure and current Licensure in the State of Utah as an Environmental Health Scientist.

Transcripts for all degrees are required to confirm applicant meets licensure requirement.  https://dopl.utah.gov/environmental-health-science/

Must possess a valid Driver’s License issued by the State of Utah in order to drive a County or personal vehicle to various work sites.

This position may require additional certifications and trainings depending on the program assignment.

It is mandatory that all new hires receive the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) vaccine before beginning employment or provide a copy of their immunization record prior to starting employment. The immunization record must show the vaccine name and date received.

Upon hire, a two-step Tuberculosis skin test will be required. The first will need to be placed prior to starting employment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conducts inspections and surveys, monitors and investigates places or individuals, and determines compliance with the laws. Issues notices and orders, initiates and negotiates compliance, and follows through with legal action
• Acts as a consultant and provides technical assistance related to environmental health issues. Assesses program needs, formulates proposals for solutions, and analyzes effects.
• Investigates disease outbreaks and determines nature, scope and cause, takes appropriate action to ensure the cause is eliminated.
• Conducts studies and research into causes and solutions to environmental health problems, investigates methods and techniques, and develops and implements strategies for abatement and control.
• Develops and implements public education programs; trains and educates citizens. Works through and with community organizations, governmental agencies, and community leaders to implement and maintain environmental programs.
• Prepares and gives reports, proposes and drafts regulations and procedures dealing with environmental health programs.
• Collects and analyzes samples and specimens for field tests.
• Evaluates and approves plans and specifications, license and permit applications, and planning and zoning referrals.
• Maintains and operates specialized equipment and ensures the equipment is in good repair, properly calibrated and stored.
• Prepares and responds to emergencies for earthquakes, floods, chemical releases and spills, biological and other threats.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA)

Knowledge of:

• Accident/injury, noise, insect/rodent, and air pollution control, food protection, housing and public lodging, lead, licensed and permitted establishments, occupational and radiological health, public health nuisances and sanitation, recreational sanitation, school/institutional safety and sanitation, waste management, wastewater management, quality control, and Zoonosis
• Epidemiology and communicable diseases; causes of foodborne illness
• Biology, microbiology, and bacteriology
• Chemistry
• Geology and hydrogeology
• Pesticides
• Sampling, evidence collection, and laboratory procedures
• Legal, regulatory, and enforcement processes
• Implicit and explicit governmental and community organizations
• Federal, State, local, and Health Department laws related to environmental health
• Report writing and preparation
• Research and statistical methods, data collection and analysis, and data entry and retrieval
• Effective public relations and health education methods and techniques

Skills and Abilities to:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Effectively apply general principles to specific conditions
• Work effectively with people from a variety of social, ethnic, economic, educational, and professional backgrounds
• Defend and follow oral and written instructions, policies, and procedures
• Work with minimum supervision and act independently when appropriate
• Train and motivate others and effect change in ideas and attitudes
• Create and develop new concepts
• Plan and conduct research
• Design, organize, coordinate, and develop programs and policies
• Prepare material for media and community dissemination
• Operate a personal computer, noise meter, sampling and testing equipment, and other program related equipment
• Respond adequately to problems and utilize problem solving techniques
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public, government, private groups, and individuals
• Deal professionally and tactfully with angry individuals and diffuse hostile situations

Considerable walking over rough terrain, bending and kneeling, exposure to adverse weather conditions, and difficult to access places. May be required to carry bulky equipment necessary for performance of various tasks. May involve work around hazardous chemicals and unsanitary conditions.

This recruitment will be used to fill any vacant positions in the Environmental Health Division, in Food Protection, Water Quality & Hazardous Waste, Sanitation & Safety, and Air Quality Bureaus.

Schedule for this position is Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with some afterhours and weekend work required.