Public Health Specialist 1-3

SALARY IS COMMENSURATE WITH EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

SUMMARY:

This evolving position is in the Operations Division with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD). The employee is primarily responsible for conducting inspections at regulated facilities including, but not limited to retail food service facilities (restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, etc.); lodging facilities; public bathing places; temporary food establishments; and public health nuisance complaints.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This is a summary of the duties and responsibilities commonly found within this classification. All employees must maintain a commitment to the OCCHD's mission, vision, and strategic goals. This summary is not meant to be all-inclusive, thus, other related activities or tasks may be assigned.

This position functions at the front line and program support responsibilities (level 1) as defined by the Council on Linkages Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals with a primary focus on the following Domains:

• Communication Skills
• Community Partnership Skills
• Public Health Sciences Skills

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Performing physical inspections and/or investigations in assigned program areas.
2. Collecting and recording data.
3. Preparing reports and correspondence.
4. Issuing citations for noncompliance with local, state and federal regulations and testifying in court.
5. Reviewing forms and permits.
6. Performing tests when necessary, in various program areas.
7. Providing technical assistance to enable customers to achieve compliance.
8. Develops and presents training or informative presentations.
9. Driving to off-site locations to perform job duties as needed.
10. Completes required training in support of duties and responsibilities of this position.
11. At the direction of OCCHD Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health Officer or designee, the incumbent will be assigned a variety of specific job duties and responsibilities as a member of the OCCHD Emergency Preparedness and Response Program Team (i.e., Bioterrorism Response Program). Also, as a member of the OCCHD Emergency Preparedness and Response Team, the incumbent is required to complete all necessary responder training and may be designated as a member of the first-responder team.
12. In accordance with our designation of a PHAB Accredited health department and explicit commitment to a culture of continuous quality improvement, employees will receive Quality Improvement (QI) training deemed necessary by their supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

-Knowledge of environmental issues and trends preferred

-Knowledge of environmental testing techniques preferred

-Valid Oklahoma driver license required

-Must become an Oklahoma Registered Professional Sanitarian-in-training within six months of hire as a condition of continued employment

-Must become an Oklahoma Registered Professional Sanitarian within two years and six months of hire as a condition of continued employment

-Level 1: Bachelor's or Master's degree in public health; environmental health; environmental, physical, natural, or biological science; or equivalent; with at least 30 semester hours in physical, natural and biological science required. Pay Grade 13, $2,259 per pay period.

-Level 2: Bachelor's or Master's degree in environmental health; environmental, physical, natural, or biological science or equivalent with at least 30 semester hours in physical, natural and biological science required. One year of post-graduate professional environmental experience required. Pay Grade 14, $2,442 per pay period.

-Level 3: Bachelor's or Master's degree in environmental health; environmental, physical, natural, or biological science or equivalent with at least 30 semester hours in physical, natural and biological science required. Two years post-graduate professional environmental experience required. Pay Grade 15, $2,636 per pay period.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

-Ability and willingness to perform inspections, investigations and tests

-Ability and willingness to calibrate and operate test equipment

-Ability and willingness to investigate complaints and make reports

-Ability and willingness to maintain confidentiality

-Ability and willingness to communicate with persons both orally and in writing using tact and diplomacy

-Ability and willingness to develop and maintain effective working relationships

-Ability and willingness to follow safe working practices and procedures

-Ability and willingness to assume responsibility for work product

-Ability and willingness to follow established policies, supervisory directions and procedures

-Ability and willingness to use or learn how to use a personal computer

WORKING CONDITIONS:

-Inside and out of doors in varying weather conditions

-Frequently exposed to toxic/caustic chemicals, aerosols, hazardous materials or emissions, or infectious agents

-No smoking or use of non-smoking tobacco products is allowed at any time while conducting OCCHD business or in OCCHD vehicles

-No use of cell phones or the use of electronic wireless communications devices used to write, send or read a text-based communication while driving a motor vehicle on OCCHD business

-May work in areas where diseases are communicable

-May be subject to working in cramped spaces, around hot surfaces and liquids, or around moving machinery when performing inspections

-OSHA category: performs tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues

-Position may require telecommuting from home

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

-Arm/hand steadiness and digital dexterity enough to operate testing equipment, a keyboard, and to write on a clipboard

-Vision enough to read computer printouts, instructions, hand- or machine-generated documents, labels, etc., as well as the print on a computer monitor

-Color acuity enough to distinguish colors of wires, chemicals, etc.

-Speech and hearing enough to communicate with others, either via telephone face-to-face, or in public

-Flexibility and coordination enough to operate a motor vehicle as needed

-Flexibility and coordination enough to bend, stoop, stand, and walk to perform inspection tasks

-Flexibility and strength, enough to lift and move equipment and supplies weighing up to 35 pounds

-Coordination and balance enough to climb up and down ladders

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

This position requires frequent contact with other OCCHD employees to exchange information. The employee has frequent external contact with local, state and county officials, clients, and various private owners and operators. The employee may be required to occasionally deal with temperamental people.

SUPERVISION GIVEN AND RECEIVED:

The employee is under the supervision of the immediate supervisor and the direction of the Administrator. Work product is subject to both specific and general review. The incumbent has no supervisory responsibilities and no accountability for budget, money, or materials. The incumbent is responsible for the field equipment he/she uses.

CONDITIONAL:

Employees who fall into the following categories are in conditional employment positions: a) Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health Officer; b) Senior Executive Team, Executive Team and Leadership Team employees who serve at the pleasure of the OCCHD Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health Officer; c) certain other OCCHD employees whose salaries, benefits, and/or overhead are based on available funds such as, but not limited to, revenue generating contracts, grants, or fee-for-service revenue. In other words, this means that if the funding or the program is terminated, cancelled, or non-renewed, your employment terminates automatically. This position may be partially or fully funded by a grant.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

-Must have an operating vehicle available for use when field duties are required.

-Will be compliant on recommended immunizations required by the CDC as a healthcare worker and as defined within the scope of Emergency Response within 30 days of hire. Exceptions accepted with documented medical or religious accommodation. OCCHD will provide vaccinations at no charge to employees.

-May be required to work outside of regular business hours or assigned shift hours due to job responsibilities

BENEFITS:

• As an employee of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, you will enjoy comprehensive benefits which consists of:
• 15 days per year of annual leave
• 15 days per year of sick leave
• 15 paid holidays annually
• A comprehensive health insurance package – medical, dental, vision, life insurance, dependent life insurance, and flexible medical spending account
• A generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Retirement plans: Defined Contribution Plan and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

Interested candidates should apply online at www.occhd.org. Select Careers at the top of the web page, select Current Jobs, select the position you are applying for, and select "apply". You will be directed to our Career Center. Get started by uploading your resume with your profile. Otherwise, click "skip" to continue. The first step is to register with the Career Center, again you will click on apply for an active position. You may search for open positions by name or select "show all positions." You may select "view" to read the details regarding the position. Again, you will click on "apply now". You will be directed to the second step of the application process. Please complete the entire application. Do not substitute a resume for your employment history. You may attach a cover letter, resume, and an official transcript, if applicable. You will save and complete your application. You will be directed to the final step of answering job specific questions, if applicable. Once you have finished the process, you should receive a message stating, "Successfully applied". You will also receive an email stating your application has been received for the position you selected. If you do not receive this message, then there has been a step not completed. You will need to review your record. The position will be open for 30 days or until filled. Please be advised that applications will periodically be considered, as such this position could be filled any time before the closing date.

Successful candidate subject to background check, reference verification and drug screening.

AA/EOE