Manager - Environmental Health

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Under direction, plans, coordinates, executes and evaluates a wide range of sanitation and public health functions utilizing a staff of registered sanitarians, technical staff and clerical support personnel to prevent food-borne illness and other threats to the public health.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Exercises direct supervision over a staff of professional sanitarians and technical staff.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Plans, coordinates and supervises the work activities of the Environmental Health Section and its employees.

Performs inspection duties as necessary relating to health, safety, and nuisance issues.

Reviews reports, consults with local staff, and directs appropriate corrective action as needed to resolve identified violations or health concerns.

Monitors mosquito control program and standing/stagnant water to facilitate appropriate action to applicable threats to human health.

Operate a city vehicle daily to travel to various food establishments, special events, and nuisance investigation sites and for the purpose of vector control activities.

Evaluates conditions and situations and makes recommendations for immediate and long-term corrective actions or improvements relating to environmental health concerns.

Communicates with the general public, commercial sector, internal staff and elected/appointed officials to educate, define, improve, prevent and/or remediate environmental health problems and hazards.

Coordinates and oversees food-borne illness investigations and direct appropriate actions to resolve findings.

Regularly consults and coordinates with local, county and state health agencies, officials and/or industry experts concerning environmental health matters to ensure compliance with applicable laws, standards, practices, and procedures.

Supervises and/or prepares standard operating procedures, guidelines, ordinances, policies, standards and criteria as needed relating to food sanitation, nuisance abatement, vector control, on-site sewage and/or waste disposal, swimming pools, day care facilities, and other areas related to environmental health.

Evaluates the performance of supervised employees, provide applicable training and/or corrective counseling; establish performance expectations, and objectives as required.

Prepares and compiles necessary and useful program/project reports, operating records, and presentation materials.

Stays abreast of changes to the Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER), Texas Pool Code, mosquito abatement best practices, TCEQ regulations governing septic systems, and all other Texas laws and city ordinances pertaining to the oversight of environmental health and safety.

Duties may include public health mitigation in response to any public health emergency. During public health emergencies or disaster response, hours may be outside of normal business hours and may be long in duration.

OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES

Perform other job related duties and responsibilities as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of environmental sanitation.

Local, State and Federal laws, standards and guidelines pertaining to sanitation, and public health.

Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER)

Texas Pool Code

TCEQ regulations for septic systems

Mosquito abatement best practices

Structures, functions, and responsibilities of public health organizations.

Resources, trends, research, and best practices relating to environmental health.

Safe driving principles and practices.

Skill to:

Use chemical test kits, soil testing equipment (auger), vector control equipment, thermometers, cameras, and related equipment.

Operate office equipment including computers, laptops and mobile devices.

Safely operate a motor vehicle.

Ability to:

Plan and supervise programs; analyze and evaluate conditions.

Deal effectively and tactfully with the public, business owners and other agencies.

Communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing. Address the public and various audiences effectively including the use of broadcast print and on-line media.

Maintain and prepare effective records and reports.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally.

Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values – Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

Lead, manage, and perform as a team member in a manner that accomplishes the Division’s mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

For positions with more than one level, all listed requirements at the lower levels are required at the higher levels. Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying. Knowledge, skills, and abilities may be obtained through:

Experience:

Six (6) years of experience in environmental sanitation.

Education/Training:

A Bachelor’s degree in natural and applied sciences from an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester hours in Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Bacteriology, Pathology, or Biochemistry is required.

A Master’s degree in a natural science or science related degree, or a Master’s degree in public health, environmental science or sanitary science may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience in environmental sanitation.

License or Certificate:

Registration as a professional Registered Sanitarian in Texas is required.

A valid Texas driver’s license, the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment, or a military waiver is required.

Possession of or the ability to obtain a pesticide applicator license in the State of Texas within twelve (12) months of employment is required.

Possession of or the ability to obtain certification as a Designated Representative for on-site sewage facilities.

Special Requirements:

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

With or without accommodation, the “X” indicates the overall strength demand of the position during a typical workday:

­­___ Sedentary – lifting of no more than 10 pounds

_X_ Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carrying up to 10 pounds

___ Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds; carrying up to 25 pounds

___ Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds; carrying up to 50 pounds

___ Very Heavy – team lifting over 100 pounds; carrying more than 50 pounds

Physical Demand Codes: The following describes whether or not the position is expected to exert the physical demands listed during a typical workday as well as the overall frequency of the task:

Codes for how often:

N = No

E = Extensive (100 – 70% of the time)

M = Moderate (60 – 30% of the time)

I = Infrequent (20 – 10% of the time)

A = Almost Never (<10% of the time)

Code / Task

_E_ Standing

_I__ Sitting

_E_ Walking

_I__ Lifting

_M_ Carrying

_I__ Pushing/Pulling

_I__ Overhead Work

_M_ Fine Dexterity

_M_ Kneeling

_M_ Crouching

_I__ Crawling

_E_ Bending

_M_ Twisting

_I__ Climbing

_I__ Balancing

_E_ Vision

_E_ Hearing

_E_ Talking

___ Other: _____________________