PROGRAM SPECIALIST 1, OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, CODE ENFORCEMENT

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under general direction of a supervisory official in the Department of Community Affairs, plans and directs activities of staff assigned to field units in the systematic investigation of occupational health hazards and their control; administers, supervises, and evaluates activities in environmental monitoring, particularly abatement projects involving lead and asbestos; supervises staff and first-line supervisors in work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the firing, hiring, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
• Supervises the field and office work involved in lead and asbestos monitoring of abatement sites; determines whether the work practices of licensed contractors are in compliance with applicable regulations to avoid the creation of hazardous conditions.
• Plans and directs investigations and cooperates with other federal and state agencies involved in occupational and environmental code enforcement, including the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the US Department of Labor, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Labor, Health, and Senior Services.
• Supervises the identification of lead or asbestos hazards.
• Develops, coordinates, implements and evaluates program specific occupational and environmental code enforcement information including related educational and community outreach.
• Correlates the findings of several reports to identify techniques and standards for control of occupational and environmental hazards.
• Supervises inspection of contractor documentation, equipment set up and adjustment, air sampling protocols, frequency and methodology, adherence to project specifications, and observation of clearance procedures prior to reoccupancy of work areas.
• Issues notices of violation, fines, suspensions, and revocations covering irregularities in reporting, records, and abatement job performance.
• Provides and coordinates assignments, training, and supervision to a staff of field personnel.
• Visits, consults, and provides technical assistance to government, corporate, and other public or private agencies.
• Provides technical and consultant services in planning and developing occupational health hazards prevention program grants from federal and state funds.
• Supervises the collection, collation and analysis of program related data.
• Develops educational material to promote program objectives.
• May participate in the development of standards for the control of lead and/or asbestos hazards.
• Supervises or performs the review of applications for certification of individuals and businesses responsible for the inspection of asbestos abatement work and businesses responsible for the evaluation and abatement of lead hazards.
• Supervises the preparation of clear, concise, technically detailed, accurate, and informative inspection reports and other program related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recordings and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree including or supplemented by thirty (30) semester credit hours in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science or other areas in the physical or biological sciences, engineering, nursing, or other subjects related to industrial hygiene.

Experience

Four (4) years of experience in the field of industrial hygiene or occupational, environmental, or public health involving occupational or environmental hazard prevention programs, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

License

Applicants must possess a license as a NJ Asbestos Safety Technician issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs AND a permit as a Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor, issued by the New Jersey Department of Health.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of interviewing and investigative techniques.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of environmental and occupational health enforcement.
• Knowledge of the rules, regulations, policies, procedures, methods and standards of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and their application to asbestos and lead abatement projects.
• Knowledge of consultative and advisory procedures to enhance collaboration with local health departments towards achieving program objectives.
• Knowledge of the functions and objectives of public and private agencies and institutions that provide environmental health information relating to lead and asbestos hazards.
• Knowledge of data collection, collation and interpretation for use in the attaining program objectives as it relates to occupational and environmental health hazards.
• Knowledge of supervisory techniques and practices.
• Knowledge of lead and asbestos environmental and occupational hazards.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and first-line supervisors and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to train field staff in methods of inspection processes, procedures, and effective monitoring of lead and asbestos abatement projects.
• Ability to plan, initiate and conduct field visits, field tests and analyses at asbestos and/or lead abatement sites.
• Ability to compile and interpret survey data.
• Ability to understand the procedures involved and if required, assists in budget preparation for program activities.
• Ability to understand the organizational structure and functions of local state and federal law enforcement and judicial policies and practices.
• Ability to read and interpret laws, rules and regulations and apply them to program specific situations.
• Ability to provide technical advice and consultation to public and private agencies involved in occupational and environmental health activities.
• Ability to present clear and concise program specific technical information.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with public and private agencies involved in occupational health hazards.
• Ability to supervise inspections, surveys, studies, and program specific environmental investigations.
• Ability to conduct asbestos and lead abatement inspections, audits and investigations and prepare reports therefrom.
• Ability to prepare correspondence and reports.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of records and files required for program activities and enforcement.
• Ability to effectively use respiratory protection during lead and asbestos abatement inspections and monitoring work as conditions require.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recordings and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

A valid Professional Engineers License issued by the New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree including or supplemented by thirty (30) semester credit hours in engineering.

A Master's degree in one of the above areas may be substituted for one (1) year of nonsupervisory experience.