County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Directs and administers all local environmental health programs mandated by law and other programs as delegated by the Health Officer or that serve the County’s best interest to be managed and implemented by the Department; plans, organizes and directs the activities of the Environmental Health Department, Health Care Services Agency, and does related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Director of Environmental Health is responsible for the operations of the Environmental Health Department in the Health Care Services Agency. The incumbent is responsible for and supervises directly the Division of Environmental Health Administration, the Divisions of Environmental Protection, Vector Control Services District, Certified Unified Program Agency, and programs undergoing significant change such as the Safe Drug Disposal Program, Land Use (septic) and Ground Water management and protection and the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program. He/she reports directly to the Director of Health Care Services Agency.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Administers the environmental health programs of the Health Care Services Agency and oversees the delivery, planning, and evaluation of those programs.

2. Represents the Health Care Services Agency before the Board of Supervisors, County Administrator's, Planning Department, Agriculture Department, Sheriff's Department, and other County departments regarding environmental health matters.

3. Represents the Health Care Services Agency before the legislature and works with a variety of statewide committees on Environmental Health issues.

4. Reviews, monitors, and makes recommendations on Environmental Health legislation.

5. Works directly with regional (e.g., Regional Water Quality Control Board, Association of Bay Area Governments); State (e.g., State Water Resources Control Board, State Office of Emergency Services); and Federal (e.g., Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Food and Drug Administration) agencies on Environmental Health issues.

6. Advises the Health Officer and Agency Director on emerging issues and trends within Environmental Health in order to position the Department to best meet the needs of the County. Examples include expansion of services and delegation of services currently met by other County offices.

7. Administers the Alameda County Vector Control Services District.

8. Develops and interprets policies and procedures and ensures the uniform application of same.

9. Enforces new Federal, State, and local laws affecting the County's environmental health programs.

10. Represents the Agency in the development and negotiation of environmental health grants and contracts.

11. Insures compliance within a changing regulatory environment in terms of programmatic issues and revenue sources such as fees and Prop 218 taxation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required Certification:

The Director of Environmental Health must meet the minimum qualifications specified by the California Administrative Code (Section 1355): Possession of a valid certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist in the State of California.

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in industrial hygiene, environmental health science, or a related natural science field such as Geology, Chemistry, or Toxicology.

And

Either I
Experience:

The equivalent of four years of full-time experience in the class of Supervising Environmental Health Specialist or Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist or a higher-level class in the field of environmental health in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.) This experience may be acquired through compatible private industry fields such as environmental consulting, or other public sector agencies on the State or Federal levels.


Or II
Experience:

The equivalent of six years of full-time experience in an environmental health program in a class equivalent to or higher than the class of Supervising Environmental Health Specialist or Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist. (A Master’s degree in an appropriate field may substitute for 2 years of the required experience.) This experience may be acquired through compatible private industry fields such as environmental consulting, or other public sector agencies on the State or Federal levels.

License:

The Director of Environmental Health must possess a valid California driver's license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination as long as the California Administrative Code requirements are met.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Trends, laws, principles, and practices of environmental health.
• Principles of supervision.
• Principles of organization and management.
• Technical aspects of environmental health administration.
• Complex funding structures related to environmental health.

Ability to:

• Represent the Agency effectively with numerous agencies.
• Plan, organize, implement, and evaluate effectively a broad environmental health program.
• Communicate orally and in writing
• Make decisions.
• Analyze and problem solve.
• Provide leadership.
• Plan and organize.
• Exercise management control.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
• Be flexible.
• Adapt to stress.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

TT:nw 11/24/76
LB:pb Revised/Retitled: 7/87
AM:lm-Revised/Retitled: 9/21/95
Old doc: 0508h
New doc: /5681.doc
ys/7/01
CSC Date: 9/20/95
DFH:\po Revised 3/27/06
CSC Date: 4/12/2006
SP:cs Revised 3/10/15
CSC Date: 5/11/16

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.