ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR

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 direction, plans, develops, coordinates, directs and administers environmental health programs; does related work.

Examples of work

• Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
• As the director of the environmental unit, establishes its responsibilities, goals, and priorities, prepares and administers an operating budget, keeps close control upon all expenditures.
• Participates in the planning, development, administration and evaluation of environmental health policies.
• Formulates, implements, and directs varied environmental health programs.
• Supervises and evaluates the work of environmental program specialists as they function in the areas of program development, inspections, research and administration to determine their need and modification.
• Directs, reviews and analyzes environmental health related research, investigations and studies concerning water, soil, air, noise pollution, food surveillance, campgrounds, recreational bathing, youth camp sanitation, investigation of public health nuisances and other related environmental problems.
• Assigns and supervises the work of subordinate personnel engaged in the enforcement of environmental and/or health laws, regulations and ordinances through such enforcement actions as abatement letters, administrative hearings, summonses, court actions and condemnations in environmental protection and/or environmental sanitation matters.
• Ensures the proper training, assignment and evaluation of all personnel assigned to the unit.
• May recruit and select needed personnel.
• Develops and maintains liaison with various local, state, federal agencies, professional and public interest groups interested in preserving the environment and assists groups in developing environmental health projects.
• In conjunction with local health authorities, evaluates the environmental health needs and resources of the community or communities through surveys and data analysis and assists them in planning and developing programs to meet their needs.
• Lectures to groups concerning environmental health matters and explains the significance of planning and developing environmental health policies and programs.
• Oversees the publication of all news materials including press releases, newsletters, scientific articles or general information bulletins.
• May supervise the inspection of domestic water supplies, sewage disposal facilities, retail food establishments, food dispensing machines, food processing plants, recreational bathing facilities, swimming pools and bathing areas to insure compliance with public health laws.
• Prepares reports.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in one of the biological, environmental or physical sciences, public health, sanitary or environmental engineering.

Experience

Six (6) years of experience in work involving identifying, preventing, or eliminating environmental health hazards in one or more areas of environmental health, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

License

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 the essential duties of the position.

NOTE: Possession of a valid Registered Environmental Health Specialist license issued by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services will be required only for those positions whose responsibilities also include those environmental health functions prescribed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as recognized public health activities and minimum standards of performance for local boards of health, for example, recreational bathing, campgrounds, youth camps, food surveillance, occupational health and public health nuisances.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of supervisory techniques.
• Knowledge of responsibilities, programs, standards, policies, and procedures of the department relating to but not limited to solid waste, air, noise, and water pollution control and pesticides, radiation, hazardous materials, food surveillance, campgrounds, recreational bathing and youth camp sanitation after a period of training.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of environmental protection, environmental control, principles and techniques and of the techniques involved in the enforcement of environmental health laws.
• Knowledge of problems and techniques involved in the control of industrial wastes including chemical and other treatments designed to reduce environmental health related pollutants.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures involved in conducting environmental impact studies.
• Knowledge of sources, travel scope, and effects of environmental pollutants.
• Knowledge of the chemical, mechanical, electrical, and other electronic devices used in air, water, noise and solid waste pollution control.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures used in obtaining samples, preparing them for testing, and ensuring proper degree of accuracy in making tests.
• Knowledge of the methods, and procedures used to evaluate program activities.
• Knowledge of the problems and techniques involved in the control of environmental pollution, including chemical, physical and other treatments, and abatement technologies.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the use of the specific equipment and collection, recording, measuring, and testing devices used in the field and of the maintenance and field calibration of equipment and devices.
• Ability to plan, organize, coordinate and direct environmental programs and activities.
• Ability to discuss and explain the effects of contaminants on health and property.
• Ability to organize assigned technical and supervisory work, analyze technical problems and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to analyze and interpret laws, rules, and regulations relating to environmental health.
• Ability to plan and supervise field surveys and investigations for the determination of environmental hazardous conditions.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with the representatives of local governments, civic associations and others interested in or concerned with environmental health.
• Ability to compose technical correspondence.
• Ability to prepare reports based on data assembled.
• Ability to maintain records and files.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of the 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 the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. 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 Master's degree in any one of the above fields may be substituted for one (1) year of indicated non-supervisory experience.