Job Posting
Environmental Specialist
Position: Environmental Specialist
Reports To: Director
Department: Environmental Health Services
Job Purpose: This degreed, public health professional position is responsible for oversight, planning, development, guidance and coordination of the Environmental Health Service portion of the EHS & SFC program for the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. The position functions in conjecture with the sanitation facilities construction portion of the program and facilitates the determination of needs, evaluation as to priority of needs, and the continual improvement of environmental health conditions within the Seminole Nation service area. The Environmental Specialist will assist in conducting food and life safety surveys for all tribal facilities where applicable, including SNO Child Care, Head Start, Food Distribution, SNO casinos, Older American Program, and any other facility as needed, animal bite investigations, indoor air quality surveys, environmental complaint investigations, and any other environmental or public health related survey. The Environmental Specialist will assist in conducting environmental reviews, site evaluations, and construction inspections for sanitation facilities construction and with other SFC operations as needed.
Job Duties:
Environmental Health Services:
1. Communicates & provides technical consultation to public health assets & teams in regard to community and rural environmental health surveys, community environmental health assessments, investigation of existing environmental health conditions, analyses of data collected related to environmental health needs, and provision of recommendations relative to effective corrections of identified deficiencies as applicable to the local public health need (and as resources allow).
2. Reviews and promotes compliance to health standards regarding safe, sanitary conditions, prevention of blood borne/food borne/water borne illness and prevention of loss of life due to diseases.
3. Conducts health assessments and investigations of environmental complaints.
4. Identifies safety training needs & coordinates training programs for Tribal staff, under the scope of EHS, to include safety and infection control as required by federal, tribal, and accrediting body standards.
5. Monitors safety and health regulations and provides technical support to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and Tribal health regulations, laws, and ordinances.
6. Serves as a member of & actively participates in Safety/Infection Control Committee meetings as applicable.
7. Completes comprehensive environmental health surveys (where applicable to program scope) of Tribal facilities, at least annually, and recommends actions to resolve or improve identified issues.
8. Provides technical assistance in regard to vector control programs, including, but not limited to, mosquito-borne, tick-borne, and rodent-borne illnesses.
9. Provides technical assistance to Tribal programs/departments in the areas of safety & health regulatory compliance, including but not limited to asbestos abatement, lead-based paint removal, mold remediation, confined space entry, and ergonomics.
10. Advises Tribal officials, committee members, managers and directors on matters relating to environmental health including assistance in the development and implementation of program plans.
11. Maintains credentials as a health professional and attends training as appropriate for professional development.
12. Stays abreast of the applicable project funding guidance information & documents presented by IHS to the Nation.
13. Maintains the STARS (Sanitation Tracking and Reporting System) database as the reporting tool for the provision of sanitation facilities construction.
14. Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of environmental health programs & resources for public agencies and organizations in food protection and safety, water protection, air quality, noise, industrial and land pollution, sewage disposal, hazardous and toxic substances, solid waste management, emergency management and institutional health.
2. Knowledge & ability to conduct, analyze and review epidemiologic data regarding disease outbreaks, public health hazards and injury prevention within a community.
3. Knowledge and skill regarding the identification and enforcement of local, state, Tribal and federal regulations and ordinances that pertain to the sanitation of food and water, handling of hazardous and infectious wastes, cleanliness, and safety of housing and institutional environments.
4. Effective communication skills, both verbal and written is required, technical and report writing, as well as active listening skills.
5. Ability to work with Federal, state, Tribal and local officials, as well as individuals regarding environmental health issues and concerns.
Working Conditions:
1. Work is performed indoors and outdoors. Outside work is subject to temperature extremes and inclement weather conditions.
2. Work hours subject to change with work schedule beyond the routine 8-hour day.
3. Much of the field work is associated with potential exposure to raw sewage & hazardous conditions. Subject to hazards which may cause personal bodily harm; smoke; diseases, cuts; bruises, burns, common cold, influenza, dust, odors, bodily fluids, and elevated noise levels.
4. Requirements include travel and expected fatigue, bending, climbing, some lifting, and walking. Must be able to safely lift & manage up to 50 lbs.
5. Some reporting and administrative functions will be performed in an office setting with the use of a personal computer.
Licensing Status
1. Must be able to successfully complete a Background Investigation.
2. Must be able to maintain a valid Driver’s License and be insurable under the Nation’s policy.
3. An initial health exam and drug/alcohol testing are required post job offer and prior to employment.
4. Current registration as a Registered Sanitarian (RS) and/or as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or any state with NEHA or state reciprocity. (Or be registration eligible) – if incumbent is IHS-trained, this training takes the place of required registration.
Minimum Qualifications/Requirements:
1. Formal & appropriate degree required - Completion of a four (4) year course of study that meets all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree and that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in a science, or any combination of sciences directly related to environmental health (such as sanitary science, public health, engineering, epidemiology, chemistry, microbiology or any appropriate biological or physical science). OR
2. Completion of a two (2) year degree in any relevant course of study, accompanied with a minimum of at least three (3) years’ experience in an Office of Environmental Health either compacted under a tribal nation or an IHS Direct-Service office. Position held must be related to Registered Environmental Health Specialist, IHS field technician, or construction inspector of sanitation facilities construction.
3. Must be able to pass background check, with no prior convictions and/or felonies.
4. Must be able to comply with the Seminole Nation Drug Free Workplace policies.
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