Land Use Environmental Health Specialist Trainee



Land Use Environmental Health Specialist Trainee

Salary

$70,022.88 - $85,112.75 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

22/11-2610-O&PTTL&EHC

Department

Permit Sonoma (PRD)

Opening Date

11/07/2022

Closing Date

5/23/2023 1:29 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

75

Position Information


Grow your environmental health specialist career with the County of Sonoma.

Starting salary up to $40.78/hour ($85,112/year), a cash allowance of $600/month, and a competitive total compensation package!*

Permit Sonoma is recruiting to fill positions at either the Trainee, I, II, and/or Senior level. If you are interested in applying at the other levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate, concurrent recruitments being conducted for those levels. 

Currently available positions include a full-time position, a part-time time-limited position that is funded through June 30, 2024, and extra-help positions. The employment list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list.

Please note that the State of California Department of Public Health oversees the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) Trainee Letter of Eligibility process for this position. Applicants without a Letter of Eligibility to work as an EHS Trainee will not be considered qualified for this position.

For additional information regarding how to meet State requirements, including how out-of-state equivalency determinations are made, please visit the California Department of Public Health's website.

Join Our Team

Sonoma County contains numerous soil types and is at the forefront of innovative and experimental septic systems. Currently, across the County, approximately 4,000 permitted, non-standard systems are being monitored. As a Land Use Environmental Health Specialist Trainee in Permit Sonoma, you will learn to provide a unique level of expertise in the evaluation and permitting of septic systems and water well construction. You will also work with the public to encourage sound sanitation practices; assess and approve permits for land development, including private sewage systems and water wells; and provide consultation, information, and educational services regarding soils and groundwater concerns. Additionally, Land Use Environmental Health Specialist Trainees learn how to plan check and conduct inspections. Please visit our website to learn more about the valuable services we provide to the community we serve - our community!
 
Qualified candidates must attach to their application a valid Letter of Eligibility issued by the State of California in order to start this EHS Trainee program. Additionally, the ideal candidates will possess:

  • Knowledge of land-use development practices, particularly with wells and/or septic systems
  • A high level of professionalism, and excellent customer service skills
  • Good judgment and the ability to make sound decisions
  • The ability to work independently and in a team environment
  • A desire to work in a fast-paced environment and the ability to effectively address competing priorities
Due to the nature of the inspection work that the Land Use Environmental Specialists perform, incumbents are required to work indoors, in an office setting, and outdoors. They drive across the County in assigned County vehicles on dirt roads, pavements, and in various weather conditions. As these positions conduct site inspections in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, incumbents may be exposed to natural hazards such as poison oak, ticks, and other wildlife. If you enjoy a mixture of office and outdoor work and are comfortable working in hiking boots, bring your EHS skills and positive attitude to Permit Sonoma!

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

  • A hybrid telework schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve
  • Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
  • With time, good performance, and having obtained your State-mandated Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) certification, the opportunity for advancement to the I level (Salary up to $42.33/hour)
  • Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
  • County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
  • An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
  • County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
  • Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
  • May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
Living in Sonoma County

The County of Sonoma is the place to live, grow, and build your career legacy. When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county - its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. For additional information about the beauty of our community and the valuable services and support that the County provides our communities, please visit sonomacounty.ca.gov and sonomacountyconnections.org.

Extra-Help Employment

Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year. These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Engineers and Scientists of California Memorandum of Understanding (ESC MOU) and our Employee Benefits directory. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title of this position is Environmental Health Specialist Trainee.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities stated herein. Normally, this would include:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in environmental health science, biology, chemistry, physics, microbiology or a related subject, as required by state law, to obtain registration as an Environmental Health Specialist.

Experience: There is no experience requirement.

Special Qualifications: Possession of a certificate issued by the state of California indicating that the person is an approved Environmental Health Specialist Trainee by the time of appointment, and possession of a valid certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist as required by the State of California's Health and Safety Code within thirty-six months of appointment.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required, depending upon assignment, to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: sanitation science, requirements and procedures and the methods and procedures used in inspecting, investigating and correcting unsanitary conditions; federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental health and safety; principles and practices of public health; principles of general chemistry, physics, microbiology and biology; methods of gathering and analyzing data.

Ability to: learn to plan, organize and carry out research, analyze, and evaluate data and make recommendations based on findings; learn to detect unsanitary conditions and public health hazards and secure correction through education, voluntary compliance, or legal enforcement; prepare comprehensive reports; communicate verbal and written ideas clearly and logically; establish and maintain effective relationships with other governmental officials and the general public.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

  • Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
  • You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
  • You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
  • Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CG
HR Technician: EV/KK

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
 
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
 
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution towards the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.

Cash Allowance: A cash allowance of approximately $600 per month, in addition to monthly salary.
 
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.
 
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
 
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
 
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01
This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions, and your level of proficiency.
  • Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position
02
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
  • I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
  • I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
  • I am only interested in full-time positions
03
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  • California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH)
  • California Environmental Health Association (CEHA)
  • CalJobs
  • Careers in Government
  • College or University
  • Craigslist
  • DiversityJobs
  • Employee of Sonoma County
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • Google Jobs
  • GovernmentJobs.com
  • Handshake
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
  • Indeed
  • Instagram
  • Job Fair
  • La Voz
  • Latino Service Providers
  • LinkedIn
  • Los Cien
  • Minority Organization or Group
  • National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
  • Press Democrat
  • sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
  • Sonoma County Human Resources Office
  • Sonoma County Job Line
  • Start Here!
  • Twitter
  • Veterans Services Office
  • Women's Organization or Group
  • Workplace Diversity
  • ZipRecruiter
  • Other Internet Site
  • Other Publication
04
In order to be considered qualified for this position, do you have a valid Letter of Eligibility issued by the State of California which states that you are eligible to begin training in an approved environmental health program? If you do, you must attach the letter to your application.
  • Yes
  • No
05
As required by California State Health and Safety law to qualify for a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) certificate, have you graduated from an accredited college or university with a degree in biology, chemistry, environmental health science, microbiology, physics, or a related subject?
  • Yes
  • No
06
For this question and all subsequent questions provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.

Please list your relevant and qualifying degree(s) and coursework in biology, chemistry, environmental health science, microbiology, physics, or a related subject.
07
Please describe your internship, training, and/or experience you may have working with groundwater, land use development, soils, site compliance, septic systems, waste management, and/or water wells. Highlight if you have any training and/or experience related to reviewing and/or preparing design calculations or plans.
08
Please describe your experience explaining and/or interpreting laws, policies, and/or regulations. Provide a specific example that demonstrates your skills and describe the topic/situation, any challenges you encountered, and the outcome.

Required Question

Agency
County of Sonoma (CA)
Address
575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Phone
(707) 565-2331