Environmental Health Technician I

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

The Environmental Health Division of the Health and Human Services Department is currently recruiting for an Environmental Health Technician - I for the Tahoe Office.* 

This position serves as the public contact to intake permit applications and provide information required by environmental health regulations related to food safety, drinking water systems, waste water disposal systems, and hazardous materials regulations. Additionally, this position conducts field inspections after corrective actions to verify compliance with regulations, maintains and updates software related to the implementation of environmental health programs, and generates reports related to environmental health program activities.

The eligible list created by this recruitment may be used in the future to fill additional extra help and/or permanent positions in the Tahoe area. 

*Salary plus up to an additional $875 per month Tahoe Branch Assignment Premium for employees who meet residency requirements.

To assist in ensuring compliance with various environmental health regulations as required by Federal, State and local statutes and ordinances; conduct routine field inspections to ensure compliance; and perform a variety of research related to environmental health compliance.

This is the first working level in the Environmental Health Technician series. This class is distinguished from the II level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within the series that do not require an in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of processes, regulations, and requirements. Employees at this level may not be expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to higher level classifications. 

Receives supervision from a Supervising Environmental Health Specialist or other professional, supervisory, or management classification. May receive technical or functional supervision from a Senior Environmental Health Technician or other technical or professional personnel.

• Conducts field inspections to assure regulatory compliance. 
• May process Environmental Health applications and review for compliance with standards and regulations. 
• Performs plan review and basic research. 
• Reviews commercial and home occupation business licenses for compliance with environmental health and/or land use standards and regulations. 
• Prepares correspondence and notifications providing and requesting information. 
• Receives and logs complaints pertaining to environmental health related issues. 
• Logs and maintains various data and records and prepare reports; prepares routine notices; researches permit and code enforcement issues as necessary. 
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service. 
• Interacts with other County departments and/or outside agencies as needed. 
• Prepares and distributes a variety of self-help related materials pertaining to environmental issues. 
• Performs related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: One year experience in an Environmental Health setting, emphasizing public contact is desirable.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by at least 12 semester units of college level courses in chemistry, biology, physics, toxicology or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of customer service and public contact.
• Basic arithmetic and mathematical calculations.
• Clear, effective, and correct use of oral and written English including spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation and letter composition.
• Advanced operation of varied office equipment including computers and associated word processing, spreadsheets, and specialized applications.
• Methods of filing and tracking information.
• Basic sciences.
• Principles and practices of work safety.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, sit at desk and/or stand at counter for long periods of time; know and understand assigned aspects of job.  Identify and interpret technical and numerical permit processing activities.  Explain County and Department policies and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand assigned aspects of the job; identify and interpret technical activities related to job; explain environmental procedures and County regulations and requirements to the public.
• Intermittently, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel and twist when performing field inspections; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; and lift light weight.
• Obtain information through interviews and dialogue; work fairly and courteously with the public; and work effectively with interruption.
• Use a variety of modern office equipment, including but not limited to, computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, facsimile machine, microfilm reader/printer, and photocopy machine.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Clearly and concisely explain permit and compliance requirements and procedures to those less knowledgeable.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
• Effectively use automated permit systems.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph) and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications, and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for General bargaining unit