Environmental Health Scientist - Health Department

Salt Lake County invites you to explore our exciting career opportunities. We seek highly enthusiastic individuals to enrich our County with your experience and talent. If you enjoy working in a team environment that is committed to changing the lives of its community, please keep reading.

At Salt Lake County our culture is woven into all aspects of our work and our employees’ lives, from the way we treat each other to the way we support the community.  To promote and foster a fun and healthy work environment, we appreciate employees through great benefits, a healthy work life balance and room to grow and develop.

Peers who are motivated to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. We serve Salt Lake County and envision a safe and beautiful place for all to live to work and have fun. Salt Lake County is about connecting people and championing our community.  Community is more than a place…. It’s our heart and service that bring us together.

Working for Salt Lake County is more than just a paycheck.  A career with Salt Lake County includes several benefits and perks.  We support our employees with 12 Holidays, up to 24 vacation days, 12 sick days and one personal day every year. 

Identifies problems and solutions to minimize or eliminate hazards that may harm the environment and the population. Inspects and monitors environmental health and safety conditions. Coordinates and implements health and safety programs. Enforces public and environmental health laws and regulations.

This position combines office and fieldwork throughout Salt Lake County. Responsibilities include inspecting regulated establishments, such as cosmetology, body art, massage, tanning, lodging, and schools; investigating complaints involving Housing and General Sanitation Regulations; and investigating methamphetamine-contaminated properties and overseeing decontamination projects. The work involves direct interaction with property owners, tenants, law enforcement, and code enforcement. A portion of the work includes inspecting temporary food establishments at mass-gathering events and responding to public health emergencies affecting the community. These assignments may require evening and weekend work.

Environmental Health Scientist I:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Health or a related area of study as required for Environmental Health Scientist licensure, plus must become licensed as an Environmental Health Scientist-in-training in the State of Utah within sixty (60) days of the date of hire and must become licensed as an Environmental Health Scientist within one (1) year of the date of hire.

Environmental Health Scientist II:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Health or a related area of study as required for Environmental Health Scientist licensure, current Licensure in the State of Utah as an Environmental Health Scientist, or must be eligible for license reciprocity as determined by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, or must obtain licensure within sixty (60) days from the date of hire.

Due to the nature of this position, the successful applicant must pass a required background check through fingerprinting and enrollment in the continuous RAP Back (Record of Arrest and Prosecution Back) program in accordance with current County Human Resources policy requirements.

A valid Driver’s License accepted by the State of Utah is required at the time of hire.  A valid Driver’s License issued by the State of Utah must be obtained within six (6) months of hire to operate a County vehicle.

This position may require additional certifications and training depending on the program assignment.

Considerable walking over rough terrain, bending and kneeling, exposure to adverse weather conditions, and difficult-to-access places. May be required to carry bulky equipment necessary for the performance of various tasks. May involve work around hazardous chemicals and unsanitary conditions.

• Conducts inspections and surveys, monitors and investigates places or individuals, and determines compliance with the laws. Issues notices and orders, initiates and negotiates compliance, and follows through with legal action. Delivers closure notices to businesses for non-payment of permit fees, when owners cannot be contacted, or for failure to pay after accruing late fees.
• Develops and maintains cooperative liaison with municipalities, counties, Utah Department of Agriculture, County personnel, and other groups/agencies.
• Acts as a consultant and provides technical assistance related to environmental health issues. Assesses program needs, formulates proposals for solutions and analyzes effects.
• Investigates disease outbreaks and determines nature, scope, and cause; takes appropriate action to ensure the cause is eliminated.
• Conducts studies and research into causes and solutions to environmental health problems, investigates methods and techniques, and develops and implements strategies for abatement and control.
• Develops and implements public education programs; trains and educates citizens. Works through and with community organizations, governmental agencies, and community leaders to implement and maintain environmental programs.
• Prepares and gives reports; proposes and drafts regulations and procedures dealing with environmental health programs.
• Collects and analyzes samples and specimens for field tests.
• Evaluates and approves plans and specifications, license and permit applications, and planning and zoning referrals.
• Maintains and operates specialized equipment and ensures the equipment is in good repair and properly calibrated and stored.
• Prepares and responds to emergencies for earthquakes, floods, chemical releases and spills, and biological and other threats.
• Works with legal counsel and testifies as an expert witness in court or administrative hearings.

• Accident/injury, noise, insect/rodent, and air pollution control, food protection, housing, and public lodging, lead, licensed, and permitted establishments, occupational and radiological health, public health nuisances and sanitation, recreational sanitation, school/institutional safety and sanitation, waste management, wastewater management, quality control, and Zoonosis
• Epidemiology and communicable diseases; causes of foodborne illness
• Biology, microbiology, and bacteriology
• Chemistry
• Geology and hydrogeology
• Pesticides
• Sampling, evidence collection, and laboratory procedures
• Legal, regulatory, and enforcement processes
• Implicit and explicit governmental and community organizations
• Federal, State, local, and Health Department laws related to environmental health
• Report writing and preparation
• Research and statistical methods, data collection and analysis, and data entry and retrieval
• Effective public relations and health education methods and techniques

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Effectively apply general principles to specific conditions
• Work effectively with people from a variety of social, ethnic, economic, educational, and professional backgrounds
• Defend and follow oral and written instructions, policies, and procedures
• Work with minimum supervision and act independently when appropriate
• Train and motivate others and effect change in ideas and attitudes
• Create and develop new concepts
• Plan and conduct research
• Design, organize, coordinate, and develop programs and policies
• Prepare material for media and community dissemination
• Operate a personal computer, noise meter, sampling and testing equipment, and other program-related equipment
• Respond adequately to problems and utilize problem-solving techniques
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public, government, private groups, and individuals
• Deal professionally and tactfully with angry individuals and diffuse hostile situations

May be required to obtain Lead Inspector Certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, obtain additional task-specific licensures or certifications, and be a designated agent for the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Utah State Tax Commission.

This position may require driving a County or personal vehicle to various work sites.

This position is subject to callback after normal work hours in the event of an emergency or special circumstance.

This position usually works Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. This position requires a minimum # of weekends for mass gathering field work.