State of Maryland

17

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE     BARGAINING UNIT: G     NCP

An Environmental Health Specialist II is the full performance level of work in a local health department performing inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with environmental health laws and regulations.  Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an Environmental Health Specialist Supervisor or Environmental Health Specialist Program Supervisor.  Employees may be subject to 24-hour call-in and overtime.  The work may be performed at private homes, businesses, construction sites and other community settings where travel is required and the environment is often unpredictable.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.  On some assignments, employees may be required to wear safety equipment and may be required to lift and carry objects weighing over 50 pounds.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Environmental Health Specialist Trainee, Environmental Health Specialist I and Environmental Health Specialist II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Environmental Health Specialist Trainee performs duties under close supervision.  The Environmental Health Specialist I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Environmental Health Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Environmental Health Specialist II is differentiated from the Environmental Health Specialist Supervisor in that the Environmental Health Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Environmental Health Specialists.

Inspects, investigates, records and reports on the environmental public health impact of the manufacture, preparation, handling, distribution and sale of food and milk, waste water treatment and disposal, solid waste management and disposal, vector control and institutional and residential sanitation;

Performs soil evaluation and percolation tests for individual, subdivision and commercial plots in order to determine placement of wells and sewage systems;

Reviews plots and plans for new construction and renovations for housing, food and recreational facilities;

Issues permits, licenses and site plan approvals for wells, septic systems expansions and new construction, relocation of sewage easements and innovative and alternative septic systems;

Investigates complaints concerning open burning, rodents and insects, asbestos, animal bites, trash, lead paint and nuisance complaints and other possible violations of environmental health regulations;

Prepares and maintains reports and records of health inspections, violations and permits;

Provides advice and guidance in the interpretation of environmental health laws and regulations to builders, private businesses, governmental agencies and other interested parties;

Testifies in hearings and court cases related to health inspections and investigations;

Collects samples at private and public wells, public beaches, pools and food facilities for chemical and bacteriological analysis;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles, practices and objectives of public health related to the control of the human environment;

Knowledge of the environmental health laws and regulations of the State;

Knowledge of control methods and techniques used by the public in complying with environmental laws and regulations;

Knowledge of the application of chemistry and biology to environmental health;

Skill in applying the appropriate environmental health laws, rules and regulations in areas of assigned responsibility;

Skill in recognizing and dealing with environmental health problems;

Ability to prepare and present reports;

Ability to communicate effectively with agency personnel, officials, clients and the general public;

Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with State, federal and community representatives, property owners, business owners, co-workers and the general public.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland Board of Environmental Health Specialists under the licensing requirements for Environmental Health Specialists.

Experience: One year of experience performing inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with environmental health laws and regulations.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute a Master of Public Health or Master of Science degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Environmental Engineering classifications or Environmental Engineering specialty codes in the Engineering and Natural Resources field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess and maintain a current license as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist from the Maryland Board of Environmental Health Specialists.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, engineering, scientific and administrative professionals unit.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

October 1, 2024

Director, Division of Classification and Salary