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NOTE: This recruitment was amended on March 20, 2025 to update the role of the current vacancy.

San Mateo County Health is seeking a well-qualified individuals for the position of Environmental Health Specialist IV - Consumer Protection Programs. Environmental Health Specialist will receive general supervision and provide lead direction in performing various countywide environmental health inspection and enforcement activities in one of the several specialized technical areas such as consumer protection, food sanitation, recreational water, water, sewage, land use, and cross connection control; vector control; solid waste; medical waste; and housing and institutions.

There is currently one regular vacancy that will function as a Food Plan Check Specialist within the Environmental Health Division Food and Pool Programs, located in San Mateo, but the position will include travel/driving throughout the county to perform duties of the job.

Environmental Health Services ensures a safe and healthful environment in the County's 20 cities and unincorporated areas through education, monitoring and enforcement of a variety of regulatory programs, as well as ongoing services to the community.

Duties within the Consumer Protection Programs include:

• Lead specialized programs within the Food and Pool Programs, such as Food and Pool Facilities Plan Review, Cottage Food Operations, Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO), Temporary Food Events, Mobile Food Facilities, and Certified Farmers Markets.
• Lead quality assurance, quality control and standardization functions.
• Conduct compliance inspections of programs and projects within the Consumer Protection Programs as assigned.
• Lead or provide direction in the investigation of citizen complaints.
• Lead and implement special projects.
• Set program standards, coordinate activities with various County and City Departments, collaborate with California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health ad hoc committees and stakeholders.

Ideal candidateswill possess:

• Forward thinking; use of innovation for program improvement goals and implementation.
• Exceptional organizational, leadership, communication and technical skills in all programs served.
• Experience leading and motivating a team.
• Experience working with diverse members of the community and other government agencies.
• An understanding of retail food construction design, and facility requirements; inspections of retail food facilities, temporary event/certified farmer's market booths and pools/spas.
• Working knowledge of FDA Standards; California Retail Food Code; California Department of Food Agriculture Guidelines; and Title 22 and 24 of the California Building Code.
• Experience related to performing inspections, investigations and research for an environmental health program or sanitation program in a regulatory agency.
• Ability to travel to different sites in San Mateo County to conduct inspections and investigations; this is critical to the position.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Candidates must be a California Department of Public Health, Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) in good standing. A copy of a current California certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) is to be submitted with the application.
 

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
 

Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide lead direction, training and work review to assigned staff; organize and assign work, coordinate complex projects, and follow up to ensure completion of assigned work.
• Provide input into selection decisions, performance evaluations and disciplinary matters.
• Serve as technical expert and staff consultant in area of specialization.
• Inspect establishments and properties in assigned area for compliance with environmental health laws and regulations.
• Conduct specialized studies, program audits, investigations and inspections and make recommendations; maintain a program of code compliance and implementation in the area of specialization.
• Develop, standardize, and update staff inspection techniques.
• Investigate and resolve citizen complaints, acting as a liaison with community groups, government agencies and private business.
• Compile data, evaluate procedures and draft proposed legislation and guidelines; may review and make recommendations on environmental impact reports.
• Plan and conduct in service and public education training programs.
• Interpret regulations and provide advice relating to area of specialization to city officials, citizen groups, business owners and others.
• Maintain records and prepare reports and correspondence.
• May act as expert witness in court proceedings.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• The area of specialty, including its scientific background, technology, principles, methods, investigative techniques and problems.
• Laws, regulations and codes governing the assigned area of specialization.
• Sanitation provisions in the Health and Safety Code.
• Government agencies, community organizations and business establishments as they relate to environmental health.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, direct and coordinate a program of research, study, investigation and enforcement in the specialized area of responsibility.
• Interpret laws, regulations and data.
• Define difficult problem areas, analyze complex data and make valid recommendations.
• Advise and instruct others on compliance requirements in specialized area.
• Enforce local ordinances and state law.
• Work independently.
• Keep complex and accurate records.
• Speak effectively and make public presentations.
• Prepare clear, concise reports and correspondence.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Three years of journey level experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, including one year of experience in a regulatory agency in the designated option: Option 1 - Water, Sewage, Land Use and Cross Connection Control Option 2 - Vector Control and Solid/Infectious Waste Option 3 - Housing and Institutions Option 4 - Food Sanitation and Consumer Protection

Licensure/Certification:

• Possession of a California certificate as Registered Environmental Health Specialist.

Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score

A copy of a current California certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) is to be submitted with the application.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: Pass/Fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
 

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the “Apply” button.If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the County of San Mateo Human Resources Department.

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.

School Sustainability Associates (SSAs) lead educational field trips at StopWaste’ s two Education Centers, support school-based programs, and help elementary, middle, and high school teachers and students take action to reduce waste.

SSAs also contribute to agency initiatives such as school infrastructure, trainings, and community outreach campaigns.

They work at the Education Centers, at schools, at the agency office, and in community settings to implement programs that advance StopWaste’ s goals and support educational equity.

Instructional support may include facilitating student-led waste audits and activities that help schools reduce waste in alignment with local climate action plans and district environmental literacy curricula. SSAs may also provide technical assistance and training, support school infrastructure projects, and assist with outreach campaigns such as StopWaste’ s Stop Food Waste campaign and carbon farming initiatives.

The position receives day-to-day direction from a StopWaste Program Manager and Project Coordinators or their designees, with work assignments at the StopWaste office and the Educational Field Trip Centers in San Leandro and Fremont. Selected candidates must have reliable transportation, be willing to travel regularly to sites throughout the county and provide proof of insurance if using a personal vehicle. Mileage between work sites is reimbursed at the standard IRS rate.

This position is in the Associate/Intern Series. It is part-time position with a generally fixed schedule. This position is normally scheduled to work Monday through Thursday and includes some scheduled Friday, evening, and weekend classes and events.

Visit the StopWaste school programs website at: https://www.stopwaste.org/schools

TO VIEW JOB ANNOUNCEMENT, CLICK JOB PDF OR JOB ANNOUNCEMENT URL BELOW.

About the Position
 
The Engineering Division evaluates permit applications and reviews permit renewals for equipment and operations that emit air pollutants in the Air District’s jurisdiction. The division provides technical support to other agency programs and assists businesses, trade associations, agencies, environmental groups, and community members with issues related to permitting and compliance.
  
 Beyond specific permitting work, some of the important programs and projects in which the Engineering Division are actively engaged include but not limited to:

• Emissions modeling of toxic air contaminants including Health Risk Assessments
• Verification of emissions inventories
• Data/database development and management 
• Technical support for rules and regulations

VTA’s Engineering and Program Delivery Division is seeking a seasoned professional with strong project delivery experience and a specialized focus in environmental engineering to serve as a Senior Environmental Engineer.

The Senior Environmental Engineer is expected to manage, mentor and train team members that supports delivery of projects with regards to environmental assessment/survey, hazardous material investigation, abatement of VTA acquired properties, remediation of soil and groundwater at VTA facilities and construction sites, noise and vibration monitoring, design of remediation system, preparation of site management plan, and facility closure application. 

Engineering and Program Delivery Division
The Engineering and Program Delivery  (EPD) division is responsible for the design and construction of all capital projects and infrastructure required to provide a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system for Santa Clara County. These responsibilities include program and project management, design development, engineering management, project controls, construction management and turnover of various projects that are part of VTA's rail, facilities and highway transportation improvement programs.

This division is also responsible for the implementation of the projects identified in the 2000 Measure A Program, which includes the planning, design, and construction of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART Silicon Valley) Project. This project will extend the BART regional heavy rail system to Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara. 

Transit Engineering Department
The Transit Engineering Department is responsible to deliver capital transit and facility projects located throughout the VTA service area. This group provides program management services for this transit and facility program by leading capital projects from engineering through construction and turnover.  With close coordination with VTA Operations and local jurisdictions, these projects include a variety of pedestrian, bus, light rail and commuter rail improvements.  Projects managed by this group also include important capital improvements for facility projects at the light rail and bus operations and maintenance facilities. The transit and facility projects include a variety of purposes ranging from rehabilitation to sustain a state of good repair to expansion of the existing infrastructure to increase bus or light rail service. This group also performs modification to the system to increase operational efficiency and flexibility and implements safety and security projects to improve the protection of the community and our riders.

What You will Be Doing:
Definition
Under general direction, a Senior Environmental Engineer supervises and performs highly responsible professional engineering in the analysis, design, implementation, operation, monitoring and reporting of hazardous materials remedial action systems either directly or through subordinate staff or consultants.

Distinguishing Characteristics
This position is responsible for managing all issues associated with regulatory determinations, site investigations, remedial recommendations and civil/hazmat contractor coordination for all hazardous material related issues encountered in property acquisitions, light rail construction, highway program liaison, and facility improvement construction activities for VTA.
 

Typical Tasks

• Performs program management for hazardous materials remediation projects;
• Directs engineers and other professionals involved in the remediation activities of VTA facilities, construction projects and real estate transactions;
• Processes requests for hazardous material investigations, develops scope of work for investigation, assigns work to a consultant, arranges for site walkthrough/inspections;
• Meets with Program and Construction Managers to provide status reports;
• Manages the work of environmental consultants and environmental hazardous materials contractors;
• Maintains records of remedial action systems;
• Performs due diligence investigations for property acquisitions for VTA capital projects;
• Performs groundwater monitoring and remedial activities at VTA maintenance facilities;
• Provides oversight of the VTA Highway Program relating to hazardous materials investigations;
• Keeps abreast of Federal, State, and local regulations and programs, and adheres to reporting requirements of regulatory agencies;
• Evaluates permit requirements and develops methods of compliance;
• Conducts and supervises environmental compliance audits;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of:

• Federal, State and local hazardous materials and safety regulations, statutes and legislation;
• Hazardous materials management activities and programs in the public sector;
• Design, operation, analysis, and monitoring of remedial action systems;
• Hazardous facility permitting processes;
• Types of remedial action systems including air strippers, carbon absorbers, recovery/monitoring wells, recovery slurry trenches, biodegradation, and soil vapor vacuum removal;
• Principles of supervision and training;
• Personal computers and common software applications.

Ability to:

• Monitor, evaluate and report on hazardous remedial action systems;
• Investigate and analyze remedial action systems;
• Prepared detailed and comprehensive engineering studies & reports;
• Interpret and comply with hazardous materials regulations;
• Analyze, evaluate and prepare construction drawings and specifications for remedial action systems;
• Rapidly assess hazardous situations and take appropriate action;
• Prepare and administer consultant contracts;
• Operate personal computers and software programs including word processing, spreadsheets, project management and CADD;
• Prepare comprehensive reports
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Plan, direct and supervise the work of others;
• Coordinate the activities of VTA staff, contractors and regulatory agencies on projects with hazardous potential;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Minimum Qualifications:
Training, education and experience that demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Development of the required knowledge, skills and abilities is typically obtained through graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in Civil, Chemical, Biochemical, Geotechnical, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering or a related field and six (6) years of increasingly responsible professional environmental engineering work including experience supervising or leading professional engineers or consultants.

Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of California in Civil, Chemical, Biochemical, Geotechnical, Mechanic, or Industrial Engineering or a related field at the time of appointment is required.

The ability to obtain and maintain a Hazardous Materials training certificate issued by the State of California.

TO VIEW JOB ANNOUNCEMENT, CLICK JOB PDF OR JOB ANNOUNCEMENT URL BELOW.