Environmental Health Specialist II

Environmental Health Specialist II

Salary

$78,291.20 - $105,518.40 Annually

Location

Santa Ana

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Job Number

5112HP-0426-042 (O)

Department

Health Care Agency

Division/Service Area

Public Health Services

Opening Date

04/24/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

CAREER DESCRIPTION

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST II

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidates qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59p.m. (PST) on the day the Countys needs are met. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

The eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Environmental Health Specialist II positions. This eligible list may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

THE HEALTH CARE AGENCY

The County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the direction of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) services areas - Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Public Health Services, Specialized Medical Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION

The Environmental Health Division (EH) is comprised of various programs aimed toward protecting the health and safety of Orange County residents and visitors from harmful conditions in the environment. Staff enforce laws and regulations and emphasize education to assist businesses with providing healthy and safe communities. Services include retail and wholesale food protection, foodborne illness investigations, public pool inspections, childhood lead exposure prevention, water quality, ocean water protection, solid waste facility oversight, hazardous materials surveillance and mitigation oversight, underground and aboveground storage tank oversight, body art facility and practitioner oversight, medical waste management inspections and a used oil recycling education program.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Environmental Health Specialist II (EHS II) is the journey level in the Environmental Health Specialist series and works independently with minimal technical direction.

Incumbents may be assigned to a specialized environmental health program, complex assignments, and unusual, sensitive, or difficult inspections and investigations. Incumbents may also provide technical assistance and training to other environmental health staff. Essential job duties and functions include, but are not limited to:

• Interact daily with food facility operators, pool operators, business owners, and members of the public to explain violations and regulatory expectations and provide education on laws and prevention strategies to ensure public health and safety
• Enforce public health laws and regulations which include conducting periodic inspections and investigations in restaurants, mobile food facilities, pools, and spas to ensure public health and safety.

This involves:

• entering kitchens, mechanical rooms, pool pump rooms, and other environments that may be noisy, wet, or physically restrictive

• conducting inspections both indoors and outdoors in hot, cold, rainy, or humid weather conditions

• carrying inspection equipment up to 30 pounds

• identifying violations and determining corrective actions to ensure compliance

• communicating and documenting findings in detailed inspection reports provided to the public

• Handle challenging and complex situations in a professional manner with facility operators to address non-compliance and enforce regulations, including delivering corrective action plans that may be met with resistance or confrontation

• Advance skills and knowledge of public health laws and regulations including enforcement of health codes, conducting food safety inspections and investigations, issuing permits, and all the EHS core competencies

IMPORTANT - REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) II applicants must attach a certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Applications submitted without this certificate will not be processed.

Information on how to obtain the certificate as a REHS can be found by visiting the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) website.

CORE COMPETENCIES

The Ideal candidate will also possess the following core competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Possesses sufficient skills and knowledge, such as food safety and environmental health concepts, to perform key components of the job
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of environmental health principles and practices, including understanding of environmental risk assessment, public health safety, and disease prevention to complete work accurately, thoroughly, and in a timely manner; pays attention to important details
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail to identify potential violations, ensure accuracy, and support through inspections and documentation
• Proficiency in navigating modern technologies, including word processing, and database systems with confidence and efficiency.

Adaptability/Flexibility

• Maintain composure in high-pressure situations and approaches challenges with solution-oriented mindset, effectively managing reactions, emotions, and decision-making in a professional and productive manner
• Ability to quickly adjust to changes in work processes and team dynamics, reassess situations, and develop effective strategies when faced with challenging or evolving circumstances
• Effectively establishes goals and priorities, follows through on commitments and deadlines, and adapts to shifting priorities with focus and composure, maintain productivity without becoming overwhelmed
• Demonstrates openness to learning and adaptability by actively seeking guidance, feedback, and direction from supervisors, and applying coaching to enhance performance

Critical Thinking/Judgement

• Uses common sense and exercises good judgement in decision-making; understands the limits of decision-making capabilities
• Identifies potential problems and analyzes relevant facts and possible solutions or alternatives before taking action; considers the impact of decision(s) on others
• Asks effective questions and gathers adequate information to make quality recommendations and credible decisions

Organization/Effectiveness

• Structures activities and assignments to maximize efficiency and results; commits to achieve goals
• Effectively plans and organizes a large volume of work; makes good use of time to accomplish assigned duties and projects within established timeframes
• Generates new ideas and champions initiatives to enhance effectiveness in a fast-paced and dynamic environment; collaborates with peers and supervisors to identify and implement improvements

Communication/Customer Service

• Engage with clients and stakeholders in a professional and courteous manner, utilizing effective business communication to support enforcement activities
• Actively listen to concerns, addresses and resolves issues, and helps prevent potential public health hazards and safety risks
• Collect information to produce clear, concise, and detailed written documents and reports
• Tailor communication to clearly convey complex and technical information in a manner that is easily understood by diverse stakeholders, including the public, public officials, community partners, agencies, and County leadership
• Build positive relationships with restaurant staff to educate, guide, and collaboratively resolve health and safety issues

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

Required licenses, certifications, and registration must be maintained throughout employment in this class.

A valid California Class C Drivers License, which must be maintained throughout employment in this class, is required. Employees in this class will be required to use their own personal vehicle.

A valid certificate of registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the State of California.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Please click here to view the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Health Specialist II as well as the physical, mental, environmental, and working conditions.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified candidates. After screening, qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants with the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

Application Screening| (Refer/Non-Refer):

Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Based on the Departments needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List

Once all assessments have been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Athena Corrales at 714.834.6713 oracorrales@ochca.com.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Employer

County of Orange

Address

400 W CIVIC CENTER DRIVE

Santa Ana, California, 92701

Phone

714-834-2555

Website

https://hrs.oc.gov

Non-Management Benefits

In addition to the Countys standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.

http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

01

The information you provide will be used to rate your qualifications for the position. Incomplete information will result in a lower rating. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing these questions. Please provide concise, descriptive, and detailed information when answering the question. If you do not have experience, please write N/A. NOTE: See resume, See above, or copy and paste of your resume are not considered qualifying responses and will not be scored.

• Yes
• No

02

Please note that you are required to attach a copy of a valid certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to your application to move forward in the recruitment process. Are you in possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the California Department of Public Health?

• Yes
• No

03

If you possess a valid certificate or registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) by the State of California, please provide your REHS License Number below. If you do dot have one, please write "N/A". Please note that you must include a copy of your valid certification as a REHS with your application

04

A valid California Class C Driver License is required to carry out essential functions. If you are selected, will you be able to present a valid California Drivers license (Class C or higher) by time of appointment?

• Yes
• No

05

This position requires driving to multiple sites each day. Candidates who are selected for the position are required to use their personal vehicles for conducting inspections and County business and will be reimbursed through the mileage claim process. Do you have a reliable means of transportation that would enable you to conduct daily inspections and county business?

• Yes, I have a personal vehicle that would enable me to conduct daily inspections and county business.
• No, I do not have a personal vehicle that would enable me to conduct daily inspections and county business.

06

Please select the option that best describes your experience performing the duties of a Registered Environmental Health Specialist that can be directly related to the knowledge and abilities listed as minimum qualifications. Note: A Masters Degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in a science field, such as biology, chemistry, environmental health, public health, environmental engineering, ecology, or geology, may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience. If you are qualifying with a masters degree, a clear copy of your unofficial transcripts must be attached to your application for verification to move forward in the recruitment process.

• At least one (1) year experience as an Environmental Health Specialist I with the County of Orange
• One (1) year of experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and a Masters Degree in a related science field (must attach unofficial transcript).
• Two (2) years or more experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.
• Less than two (2) years of experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.
• None of the above.

07

Describe in detail your experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) and in all applicable areas selected in Question #8 below. Include in your response, your scope of responsibilities, years of experience in each area, the organization you obtained this experience from, and all certifications you possess pertaining to the related experience. If you do not possess this type of experience or certification, please write "N/A".

08

Please check all applicable areas in which you have experience in:

• Body Art/Tattoo facilities
• Emergency Response
• Food facilities
• Foodborne illness investigations
• Hazardous materials and waste management
• Land & water clean-up, permitting, quality management
• Mobile foods facilities
• Plan check (drafting or construction planning review of food facilities and/or commercial/public pools)
• Public swimming pools
• Technical and field training
• Temporary food facilities/events
• Administrative/data management
• Other

09

This is a public-facing, field-based position responsible for enforcing Health & Safety Code regulations and providing verbal public health and safety education. Selected candidates are required to work in the field and interact with the public on a daily basis. Are you able to meet these requirements?

• Yes, I understand and am willing to perform all required duties
• No

Required Question

Employer County of Orange

Address 400 W CIVIC CENTER DRIVE

Santa Ana, California, 92701

Phone 714-834-2555

Website https://hrs.oc.gov