ENVIRONMENTAL SANITARIAN

Thank you for your interest in employment with Kenosha County!

ENVIRONMENTAL SANITARIAN

The Environmental Sanitarian position requires professional level administration and enforcement of state statutes, administrative codes, and local ordinances. This position conducts standard compliance inspections for implementation of governing health codes and ordinances as well as preservation of the community’s health and safety in preventing foodborne outbreaks and other human health hazards.

This position reports to the Environmental Sanitarian Supervisor.

Kenosha County is committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and is an

Equal Opportunity Employer.

2024 Hiring Range:  $62,540 - $74,452 annually

Position Summary and Job Duties

Inspections and Investigations

• Conduct thorough inspections and re-inspections of restaurants, retail food establishments, schools, taverns, hotels, motels, septic systems, campgrounds, mobile home parks, recreational and educational camps, public swimming pools, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, tattoo and body piercing establishments, special events, and vending machines for compliance with public health standards
• Conduct complaint investigations to determine recommended corrective measures and enforcement measures when needed
• Investigate foodborne illnesses including collecting food histories for epidemiological analysis
• Collect samples for laboratory analysis
• Conduct full sanitary survey inspection of Transient Non-Community (TNC) water systems to ensure compliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and state regulations
• Collect bacteria, E. coli, and nitrate water samples for TNC wells to ensure compliance with federal SDWA and state regulations
• Cooperate with other municipalities to enforce rabies control, noise ordinance, light ordinance, and health ordinances
• Conduct risk assessments in response to lead-poisoned children including determining corrective measures and enforcement
• Conduct routine inspections of gas pumps, price scanners, scales, and package weights to ensure compliance with state statues and standards for the City of Kenosha Weights and Measures Program
• Investigate miscellaneous environmental health issues relating to water, air, soil, or hazardous materials
• Create detailed and accurate reports of inspections and investigations

Review Plans and Applications

• Review license applications
• Review variance requests and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans
• Review lifeguard staffing plans
• Review new construction or remodeling plans of existing establishments for applicable code compliance

Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (POWTS)

• Work with the Sanitary Codes and Private Sewage System Ordinance which regulates the installation and maintenance of septic system types
• Review and issue POWTS permit for new and replacement systems
• Conduct soil test on sites for POWTS site suitability
• Review submitted soil tests for code compliance
• Upload, edit, and manage electronic POWTS data files and place into appropriate databases
• Review subdivision plat and certified survey map
• Provide instruction and equipment for community members to test private wells

Operational Responsibilities

• Respond to requests for technical assistance from residents, regulated community, and other governmental agencies
• Collaborate in the development and leadership of community workgroups, committees, and coalitions related to environmental health and community-specific issues
• Develop and implement equitable and innovative marketing and promotion plans to assist in other health department work such as improving county immunization rates and increasing blood lead tests
• Participate in broader divisional orientation, training, and staff development functions including all staff meetings and Community Health Improvement Planning (CHIP)
• Promote and facilitate the incorporation of departmental core values and strategic initiatives into daily service delivery
• Participate in peer review activities and evaluation of program effectiveness
• Ensure adherence and compliance to the policies and procedures of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regarding protected health information

Success Factors

Knowledge of:

• State statutes, administrative codes, and local ordinances relating to environmental and public health; WI DATCP, WI DNR, WI DHS, WI DSPS, FDA Food Code
• Foodborne and waterborne disease outbreak investigations
• Principles and techniques of sampling protocols and laboratory analysis
• General land survey methods and techniques
• Federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil series mapping units, characteristic features, soil morphology, and their relevance to POWTS operation and performance
• Soils, soil properties, and morphology
• POWTS products features and their use limitations
• Types of POWTS and their design and use requirements
• Cultural competency: supporting diverse perspectives in implementing services that affect the health of the community

Skill in:

• Independent and interdependent work as part of a collaborative team
• Professional judgement and decision making
• Critical thinking, systems thinking, analytical and problem solving, and sound judgement
• Strong oral communication for networking, interpersonal relationships, and effective presentations to a wide range of people
• Strong written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and proper documentation with minimal grammatical and syntax errors
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Relationship building, outreach, and customer service skills
• Thorough documentation and attention to detail in observations
• Use of multiple database programs and provider formats and personal computers
• General mathematics use and computational understanding
• Blueprint reading and subdivision platting processes, procedures, and development
• Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Basic internet usage

Ability to:

• Effectively interact with sensitivity with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
• Effectively work in a team environment that promotes customer satisfaction as well as independently to meet deadlines
• Remain professional and courteous at all times, especially in high pressure situations
• Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
• Engage, establish, and maintain collaborative partnerships with multi-cultural/multi-disciplinary staff, management, community partners, and the public
• Maintain confidentiality and serve the public with honesty and integrity
• Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
• Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization
• Work respectfully in a diverse and inclusive environment

Job Requirements, Education, Training and Experience

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in environmental health, biology, chemistry, or public health or eligible to sit for the REHS or WI RS credentialing exam or currently REHS or WI RS credentialed
• Registered Sanitarian (RS) or Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) within 3 years of employment and maintained throughout employment

Preferred Education and Experience

• 1+ years of experience working in environmental or public health field preferred

• Bilingual (English and Spanish)

Licenses or Certifications - Preferred

• Certified Lead Risk Assessor (LRA) with the State of Wisconsin
• Standardized Wisconsin Food Code
• Certified Pool Operator
• DSPS Certified Soil Tester Certification
• DSPS POWTS Inspector Certification
• DSPS POWTS Maintainer Certification
• Or any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Other Job Requirements

• Annual continuing education credits to be obtained for renewal of required certifications necessary to perform the assigned job duties
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record
• Occasional weekend and evening work as required
• Perform other work as required or assigned including but not limited to a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance effective first of month following 30 days of employment with the ability to reduce premium contribution through participation in a wellness program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Twelve Paid Holidays
• Retirement Plan:  Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System which includes county-paid life insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement

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.

• The position involves heavy physical demands, such as exerting up to 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects
• Constant walking, dynamic balance, forward level reaching and simple grasping; frequent sitting, standing, static balancing, and repetitive bending, squatting, and kneeling; and occasional climbing of stairs while lifting/carrying 50 pounds
• Will occasionally work in an outdoor environment with exposure to weather-related heat and cold, rain, wind, and other elements
• Will occasionally work in environments with exposure to nonweather-related extreme temperatures including kitchens
• Will work occasionally in environments with uneven terrain

Selection Process

• Application Review - Qualifying
• Oral Interview - Qualifying
• Background Check - Qualifying
• Drug Screen - Qualifying

If you require accommodations at any point in the selection process because of a disability, please notify Human Resources in advance for arrangements.

To learn more about the Kenosha County Public Health, please visit:  https://www.kenoshacounty.org/297/Public-Health

Applications must be submitted no later than Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Kenosha County is a Wisconsin Retirement System participating employer.  Your participation is required, which includes an employee contribution.

The pay grade for this position is E7 (Min. $62,540 – Max. $86,365).

This position is located in Kenosha County, a growing community along the shores of Lake Michigan and less than an hour away from Milwaukee and Chicago.  To see why Kenosha County is a great place to live, work, and play, visit:  https://www.visitkenosha.com/

Thank you for your interest in employment with Kenosha County!

Kenosha County is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.