Senior Environmental Health Specialist – Division of Environmental Health – Department of Health Services
Organizational Overview:
The Bergen County Department of Health Services’ (BCDHS) mission is to coordinate and assure the preservation, protection, and promotion of the health, wellbeing, and quality of life for all Bergen County residents. Through a wide range of services, BCDHS creates healthy and thriving communities.
Job Description:
This employment opportunity is to serve as a Senior Environmental Health Specialist for the Department of Health Services. Under direction, takes the lead over lower-level environmental health specialists and/or performs the more difficult and complex technical work involved with conducting of investigations, inspections, and gathering of information for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, preventing, and eliminating environmental health hazards; does related work as required.
Job Responsibilities:
- Independently plans, develops, and implements studies designed to evaluate the environmental impact of various projects on the environment.
- Reviews and assesses environmental impact statements submitted to ensure compliance with state law and makes appropriate recommendations to superiors.
- Interprets bacteriological and chemical analyses of air, water, and/or soil samples and prepares reports based on the data gathered for use in the evaluation of environmental impact statements.
- Assists superiors in planning, development, and evaluation of environmental health policies and programs.
- Is responsible for planning and developing all phases of investigations and studies of a specific source of pollution; for example, air, hazardous substances, noise, solid waste and/or water, including recommendation of abatement action and initiation and completion of legal action including preparation of legal documentation and testimony in court.
- Organizes technical and enforcement work, analyzes environmental health problems, and assists in developing effective work programs and procedures.
- Provides appropriate assignments, instructions, technical directions, and guidance to assigned employees.
- Takes the lead over enforcement activities concerned with environmental health prevention and control programs.
- Assists state, county and local enforcement/legal authorities in preparing and prosecuting environmental health violations.
- Plans and oversees tests to determine actual and potential violations of environmental health standards.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of environmental control devices and procedures used or to be used in industrial/manufacturing processes.
- Directs and oversees the design, use, maintenance, and repair of various chemical, mechanical, electrical, and electronic devices used in environmental monitoring.
- Prepares and oversees field, office, and laboratory work.
- Prepares clear, technically sound, scientifically accurate, and comprehensive statistical reports and other records and files.
- Maintains records and files.
- Provides direction and guidance to environmental consultants in the preparation of environmental studies and reports.
- Organizes and takes the lead in the conduct of studies to compile data from primary and secondary sources to be used in making tests and reports.
- Prepares materials for inclusion in environmental impact statements and related reports.
- Meets with citizens, public officials, and others on environmental matters.
Schedule:
- Full time (40 hours/week) Evening, weekends, and holidays as required.
- Rotating on call schedule.
- Overtime as required.
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical, Chemical, Biological, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, or Public Health with a concentration in environmental health.
- Two (2) years of professional experience in environmental control work involving performing field surveys, investigations, inspections, and the preparation of reports on the environment or the preparation/review of environmental impact statements and the prevention or elimination of one or more environmental health hazards.
- NOTE: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in the physical, chemical, biological, or environmental sciences or environmental engineering may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.
Other Requirements:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
- Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey which is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
What we offer:
- Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage
- Enrollment into the state pension system
- Life, Short-term Disability & Long-term Disability coverage
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Competitive hourly wages
- Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee Assistance and Employee Wellness Programs
Salary: $63,000/ per annum
Please send resume and employment application to resume@bergencountynj.gov – put in subject line job applying for, thank you.
The County of Bergen is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.
It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of The County of Bergen not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws.
The County of Bergen complies with the New Jersey First Act. An employee’s primary residence must be within the State of New Jersey, or the employee will have 365 days (1 Year) from their date of hire to satisfy the requirement of principal residency.