Environmental Health Specialist

Pay Range:

$30.72 - $36.14 hourly (DOE)

MONTROSE COUNTY BENEFIT INFORMATION:

2026 Montrose County Benefit Information

General Statement of Duties: Position performs environmental health regulatory compliance and educational activities including inspections investigations enforcement actions and responding to public inquiries.

Supervision Received: Works under the general supervision of the Public Health Director and normally receives little instruction on a day-to-day work and receives general instructions on new assignments.

Supervision Exercised: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Functions: Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class.

• Conducts inspections plan reviews complaint investigations and other compliance activities related to retail food establishments schools childcare centers body art establishments onsite water treatment systems (OWTS) and other assigned environmental health programs.
• Conduct pre-operational inspections and final approvals for new or remodeled regulated facilities prior to opening or licensing as required.
• Respond to and investigate environmental health concerns including but not limited to water quality air quality and hazardous materials.
• Maintain accurate licensing permitting and inspection records; collect applicable fees in accordance with County financial policies and internal controls and prepare written reports and correspondence for regulatory and public information purposes.
• Enters inspection permitting and investigation data into required state and County databases and ensures timely and accurate reporting in accordance with CDPHE.
• Obtain compliance with public health laws and regulations through education corrective action and administrative enforcement procedures in coordination with supervisory staff and legal counsel as appropriate.
• Assist with foodborne illness investigations zoonotic disease surveillance and outbreak response activities including environmental sampling documentation and coordination with state and regional partners.
• Coordinate with local regional and state agencies emergency responders and community partners to support environmental health response.
• Attend required training meetings conferences and continuing education to maintain professional competence and required certifications.
• Provide education technical assistance and guidance to regulated facilities contractors community partners and the general public regarding environmental health requirements and best practices.
• Exercise independent judgement in prioritizing work identifying public health risks and determining appropriate corrective actions within established authority.
• Participates in County emergency preparedness response and recovery activities as assigned.
• Regular and predictable attendance is required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

Education: A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in environmental health biology public health or environmental science or a closely related field or any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge skills and abilities.

Experience: Previous experience in environmental health public health inspection code enforcement environmental compliance or related field is preferred.

Required Knowledge: Knowledge of environmental health principles and regulations. Knowledge of physical biological and /or environmental sciences related to job assignments. Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) Certified Professional in Food Safety (CP-FS) Colorado Professionals in Onsite wastewater (CPOW) or ability to obtain required program certifications and CDPHE standardization within established timeframes.

Required Abilities: Ability to conduct inspections investigations sampling and other assignments. Ability to prepare and conduct presentations. Ability to maintain organized and accurate files and record keeping systems. Ability to solve problems appropriately considering impact on human health and the environment. Ability to take responsibility for prioritize multiple assignments and track own progress.

Language Skills: Must have the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and the skill to organize materials and present information clearly in verbal and written form. Must be able to read understand and interpret work related documents. Must understand and follow verbal and written instructions. Must demonstrate knowledge of the English language proper grammar punctuation and spelling in oral and written communication Must be able to read comprehend and apply laws rules regulations policies and standard operating procedures required for this position. Must be able to make effective and persuasive presentation.

Interpersonal Skills: Must possess the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with fellow employees representatives of other agencies and organizations and members of the community. Have strong customer service orientation and work collaboratively within a team environment. Interact professionally and diplomatically with County employees other agencies and organizations and members of the community and manage difficult or emotional customer situations. Possess the ability to recognize when confidentiality is required and maintain strict confidentiality. Must maintain appropriate professional boundaries in relationships with customer/clients and the general public.

Mathematical Skills: Must have the ability to work with basic mathematical concepts such as addition subtraction multiplication and division and apply concepts such as fractions percentages ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Skills: Must be able to apply principles of logic and reasoning or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems and work independently with minimal direction. Must be able to prioritize work and simultaneously manage multiple responsibilities at times under pressure of tight deadlines and emotional situations. Must have the skill to solve problems involving concrete and abstract variables in a variety of situations within established guidelines.

Computer Skills: Must be able to effectively use office technology including computers calculators telephone and copiers with scanning and faxing capabilities. Must have experience with word processing database spread sheets email and the knowledge to save and retrieve documents from a variety of destinations and sources. Must be able to learn the software and programs related to the position and the County.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk and hear sit and stand for long periods of time; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands or arms. The employee is required to stand walk climb or balance twist stoop kneel crouch or crawl. Must be able to respond to the customers needs and perform tasks requiring extensive hand and eye coordination. Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard mouse and other devices and objects. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to smell to distinguish between normal odors chemicals wastes and other substances. Physical ability and mobility to drive a motor vehicle to and from field and meetings in all types of weather conditions. Ability to walk on uneven terrain. Ability to work extended shifts and attend training and meetings outside of regularly scheduled hours and the ability to work in stressful situations.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work requires ability to perform duties outdoors in all types of weather. Employee is regularly required to work in retail food kitchen environments school shops and laboratories and around young children and infants in child care facilities. Employee is regularly exposed to hot surfaces such as stoves steam tables and fryers; sharp objects such as food service knives and slicers; hot and cold ambient air temperature such as kitchen grill lines walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers; laboratory equipment and chemical reagents; and industrial shop equipment compressed gases and tools. May travel to rural areas in all types of weather.

Special Requirements: Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado Drivers License. Complete training or standardization required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or by Montrose County. Must complete the following NIMS training within one year of receiving this position: IS 700/100 and IS 200.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Experience:

IC