Environmental Health Specialist

Job Location: This position will be located at 930 Wildwood Drive, Jefferson City; however, this is a telecommuter position that will be full time from that person's residence.

Why you’ll love this position:

The Bureau of Environmental Health Services performs essential functions keeping people safe and healthy throughout Missouri, whether they are eating out a restaurant, staying at a motel, visiting a water park, or have children in a daycare. Being a Public Health Environmental Specialist is challenging and rewarding professional work conducting training, providing technical assistance, doing inspection and investigations in promoting environmental health programs. The blend of office and field work-- whether spending the day investigating a foodborne outbreak or visiting a county health department- utilizes a broad array of skills and talents, keeps the work interesting and the days flying by as you move from one task to another making a positive difference in people’s lives.

The salary indicated represents a base pay rate. If the individual selected or the position is eligible for a pay differential (e.g., shift, security, or years of service), it will be added to the total compensation in your paycheck. A pay differential does not raise your base pay.

• Promote uniformity and consistency in environmental health services, per established state guidelines, for the local public health jurisdictions of select counties in Highway Patrol Region A of the Northwest District.
• Serve as the primary liaison and representative between the Bureau, the local public health agencies (LPHAs), and other partners in promoting health (ex. Department of Natural Resources) in the NW District.
• Maintain awareness of District hotspots and challenges and keep your supervisor and Bureau management aware of such, preparing reports and interceding as needed.
• Assist to coordinate, develop, and present training courses and District in-services, and when needed evaluate and assess local environmental health programs and activities.
• Maintain knowledge and proficiency in core environmental health functions (food, lodging, wastewater, etc.), conduct inspections in key areas, and provide enforcement for those jurisdictions working under state authority.
• Provide technical consultation and assistance to LPHA field staff, industry, and the public.
• Serve on workgroups and committees to promote statewide environmental health initiatives.
• Serve on regional response teams providing assistance for local or multi-county response efforts to disasters and emergencies impacting public health.
• Perform other tasks as needed to protect public health.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; 30 hours in hard sciences, such as Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Soils, Entomology, etc. preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Health or Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences or Public Health extremely beneficial.
• 4-6 years of full time work in environmental health required in areas such as food, water, wastewater, lodging, childcare, foodborne outbreak response, etc. This experience can be through work at a private firm, for government, through laboratory work, or through a combination of such experiences. Missouri Certified Environmental Health Specialist, Registered Sanitarian, or similar certification preferred.
• Excellent people skills, ability to manage conflict, multi-task, solve problems, and take direction; ability to make difficult decisions based on public health principles; superior written and oral communication skills; proficient with Microsoft suite and electronic inspection systems.
• This position will be in travel mode (out and back) almost every day to conduct business. Some overnight and out-of-state travel will be required to fulfill job requirements and attend meetings/conferences. Valid driver’s license required. During times of emergencies, overtime may be required, including a mandatory two week per year on-call rotation. Occasional moderate physical effort, such as driving vehicles, climbing stairs, negotiating outdoor terrain, and stooping and bending will be required to conduct routine inspections/surveys.

Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant.

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here .

Aaron Winslow, phone 417-895-6915, or by email at Aaron.Winslow@health.mo.gov

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• State of Missouri

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