ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST III - 64027985

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INTERNAL AGENCY OPPORTUNITY

Applicants are accepted only from current Department of Health employees (Internal includes OPS, Career Service, SES, and SMS employees). Applicants will not be accepted from outside of the department.

This is a highly specialized, independent, professional position to lead environmental health staff in performing day-to-day duties.  This position is the primary program lead and technical advisor in Escambia County for Swimming pools compliance, swimming pool engineering (for all counties covered by Escambia), body arts, tanning, and biomedical waste. As a senior/lead inspector, this position will be required to have technical knowledge and experience in the general environmental health programs listed above as well as food hygiene, group care, mobile home parks, sanitary nuisance complaints, and OSTDS.  Travel may be required.

The position will be the primary inspector responsible for carrying out the program management for swimming pools compliance and engineering. This position will coordinate and assist in training all new General Environmental Health Inspectors; will be responsible for the planning, organizing and coordinating of daily work assignments and special projects as assigned by the Environmental Health Supervisor. Performs assigned facility inspections or inspection oversight in accordance with Chapter 64E-9, Florida Administrative Code (FAC), Chapter 64E-12, FAC, Rules 6A-2.0040 and 6A.2.0010, FAC, FAC, Chapter 64E-15, FAC, Chapter 64E-16, FAC, Chapter 64E-17, FAC, Chapter 64E-19, FAC, and Chapter 64E-28, FAC. This will include but not limited to preliminary site inspections, plan review, complaint investigations, and prepares written routine and technical reports, graphs, charts and correspondence to a standard that can be used as evidence in a legal proceeding. The employee, when necessary, initiates legal action to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Provides technical assistance to owners and operators of regulated facilities.

Employee functions as the Food and Waterborne Disease Surveillance and Investigation Program Specialist for Environmental Health and is the liaison for the State Health Office, Food and Waterborne Disease Surveillance and Investigation Epidemiology Program. This position will oversee and act as backup to the inspector assigned to food/water borne illness investigations as a primary duty.  [Removed rabies duty]. Information custodian: Assures compliance with current DOH security policies by fulfilling the Information custodian responsibilities described in Security Policy 3, areas of responsibilities. Ensures that data set(s) under incumbent’s responsibility are available to those who need to know, protects the integrity of assigned data set(s) and assists the Security Coordinator as needed to comply with policies and procedures. Performs other duties as assigned by their supervisor. The employee will be required to promote the department as a positive, caring community organization through courteous behavior toward all clients and co-workers.

Performs other related work as required. Participate in all mandatory department training. Required to submit daily EAR’s and completed inspection reports, maintain state vehicle truck log and required maintenance on state vehicle.

Other job-related requirements for this position: This position may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.  Emergency duty required of this position includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural. This position must be willing to work outside during extreme weather conditions (heat and cold). The incumbent in this position may be required to use vehicles owned, leased, or operated by the state or county to conduct official state business. State or county vehicles shall be used only for officially authorized duties and not for personal use, unless a specific exception applies under Florida law (F.S. § 287.17). May be required to use a personal vehicle for work-related duties. Experience in utilizing computers to input field data and generate technical reports.

Working hours: (A) Daily from 8:00 to 5:00 (B) Total hours in workweek 40 (C) Explain any variation in work (split shift, rotation, etc.). This position requires daily in-office or field work.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Serves as the ECHD expert in the following specific environmental health program areas: swimming pools compliance and engineering, tanning, food hygiene, group care, mobile home parks, tattoo, body piercing, biomedical waste, sanitary nuisance complaints, OSTDS, Foodborne/Waterborne Epidemiology.
• Knowledge of County Ordinances and Florida Statutes. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of all Community Environmental Health Programs.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principals, and analytical techniques of the physical or natural sciences.
• Knowledge of enforcement techniques and evidence gathering.
• Comprehensive knowledge of data collection and analysis principals and procedures.
• Knowledge of water microbiology and water borne disease.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and methods of disease surveillance.

Skills:

• Skilled in scientific report writing and graphing of data using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Power Point, Microsoft Outlook and REHOST.
• Skilled in inspecting and the investigation of Environmental Health Programs.
• Skilled in using a variety of field equipment for data collection and its interpretation.
• Skilled in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skilled in problem solving, conflict resolution and dealing with the public under stressful situations.
• Skilled in maintaining accurate records.
• Skilled in creating presentations and presenting to various audiences.
• Skilled in working independently and in teams.
• Skilled in evaluating epidemiologic data to develop valid interpretations of the data.
• Skilled in organizing the conduct of an outbreak investigation or other epidemiologic study.
• Skilled in providing solutions to difficult program questions and rule interpretations using environmental health and public health principles, skills and knowledge.

Abilities:

• Able to communicate effectively with scientific peers when working with cases regarding the public’s health.
• Able to maintain a positive, professional attitude while working under pressure.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Licensure/registration/certification requirements (If applicable, list the appropriate Florida Statute or federal regulation cite): Valid driver’s license.  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the physical or natural science or engineering. State of Florida Food Service Certification or Registered

Sanitarian Certification or willing to obtain a Food Hygiene certification within 6 months of hire.  2 years’ experience as an Environmental Health Specialist. The incumbent in this position may be required to use vehicles owned, leased, or operated by the state or county to conduct official state business. State or county vehicles shall be used only for officially authorized duties and not for personal use, unless a specific exception applies under Florida law (F.S. § 287.17).

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values: 

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

1300 West Gregory Street, Pensacola FL 32502

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.