ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

About the Department

Linn County is committed to creating a Customer-Center Culture placing our internal & external customers at the center of everything we do! Why do we do this? We get that question a lot. The answer is simple: We want our customers to have a positive experience. Our co-workers are customers too. Exceptional internal customer satisfaction leads to exceptional customer satisfaction for the public!

Why work at Linn County?

• Competitive wages with annual pay increases & annual cost of living increase (depending on budget) 
• Medical, dental, vision, short & long term disability, and supplemental life insurance 
• Iowa Public Employee's Retirement Pension Plan (IPERS) 
• Wellness program offering credit on insurance premiums to eligible employees 
• Free on-site fitness centers
• 100% County paid basic life insurance 
• 12 paid holidays per year 
• Training & professional development opportunities
  
  

Position Duties

• Inspects food service and retail food establishments, vending machines, temporary food stands, as well as lodging establishments within the contract area for compliance with state laws.
• Educates the public on food safety, protection, quality, and storage.
• Conducts investigations and inspections regarding possible food-borne illness outbreaks and collects available samples and transports to lab for analysis.  
• Assists in Food and Drug Administration food recalls.
• Conducts training programs for food handlers and managers of food establishments.
• Assists animal control agencies investigating animal bites.
• Inspects tattoo and tanning establishments as assigned. 
• Inspects public swimming pools and spas.
• Inspects housing and identifies hazards within the structure and outside of the structure. 
• Writes letters, reports, documents, notices, condemnations, hold orders, and detentions.  Testifies in court and administrative hearings.
• Participates in continuing education classes and conferences including food safety updates, swimming pool and spa regulations, private sewage systems, private nonpublic water supply wells, environmental sampling, pest control, epidemiology, incident command system training, radiation monitoring, and hazardous materials.
• Responds to and advises on hazardous and potentially hazardous materials spills, collects samples when necessary and recommends mitigation procedures to restore safe environment.
• Maintains a working knowledge of applicable codes and ordinances.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in environmental health or related field required. 
• Six (6) months to one (1) year of experience in working with the public, preferably in positions related to public health and sanitation work required
• An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the required knowledge and skills for this position may be considered.

Other Qualifications

Monday - Friday 
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Learn more about Linn County Public Health here: Public Health | Linn County, IA - Official Website