Environmental Health Specialist Trainee (#RA0601)
$27.70-$33.67 Hourly / $4,801.54-$5,836.31 Monthly / $57,618.58-$70,035.75 Yearly

Under immediate supervision, learns methods and procedures of investigating and enforcing environmental health related laws; performs related and other work as required in accordance with Civil Service Rule 3, Section 3.

This is the trainee level in the Registered Environmental Health Specialist series. Employees in this class are trained to perform a variety of environmental health inspections and investigations and as experience is gained will assist Registered Environmental Health Specialists in performing these duties. Once eligibility and proficiency are demonstrated, employees are expected to obtain certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.

• Learns environmental health programs, functions, procedures, policies and standards.
• Learns methods of conducting inspections and investigations to determine environmental health problems and areas where assistance may be rendered; learns evidence, sample and information collection techniques.
• Learns applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and standards in the area of environmental health; learns methods and principles of enforcement of these laws.
• Learns to gather, organize and analyze technical data and prepare appropriate reports utilizing computers and computing software programs; learns to prepare and maintain specialized records.
• Assists Registered Environmental Health Specialists in the performance of their professional duties.

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including 30 semester units of basic science.

Special Qualification: At the time of application, possession of an evaluation letter from the State of California, Department of Health Services, stating that eligibility and educational requirements for acceptance as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee have been met.

License:  Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Special Requirement: Trainees are expected to participate in an approved training program for Environmental Health Specialist Trainees and obtain registration as an Environmental Health Specialist when eligible and in any instance within 18 months from date of appointment as a Trainee.

Basic principles of biology, chemistry, microbiology, and physics; methods of data gathering, analysis and statistical concepts; mathematics at the college algebra or calculus level; language mechanics; general environmental health issues and problems; basic public relations principles.

Learn environmental health inspection, investigation, enforcement, and reporting procedures; learn legal aspects of environmental health field; communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing; operate a data entry device; present information in both written and verbal formats; enforce laws; establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of public and private officials and the general public; interpret technical written information; follow written and oral directions.

Mobility-Operation of a data entry device; repetitive motion; sitting, standing, walking for extended periods of time; driving; occasional pushing, pulling, bending, squatting, climbing; Lifting-Frequently 5 pounds or less; occasionally 5 to 30 pounds; Visual-Distinguishing between various items, including pests and health conditions; constant good overall vision and reading/close-up work; frequent color perception and use of eye/hand coordination; occasional use of depth perception and peripheral vision; Hearing/Talking-Frequent hearing of normal speech, hearing/talking on the telephone, talking in person; Emotional/Psychological-Frequent decision making, concentration, and public contact; deal with emergency situations, exposure to trauma, grief, death; heights; working with hazardous materials; Special Requirements-Some assignments may require working weekends, nights, and/or occasional overtime; working alone; Environmental-Working in cold, heat, rain, snow (outside); poor ventilation.