LTE Environmental Health Technician in Hayward at Sawyer County; WI

Limited Term Employment Opportunity

Sawyer County Environmental Health Technician

Sawyer County Health and Human Services is accepting applications for a Limited Term Environmental Health Technician (EHT).

The EHT will perform paraprofessional duties that involve gathering water samples and conducting inspections to prevent the spread of disease and illness through public facilities.

Preferred qualifications for this position include an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in related fields such as environmental health, health science, environmental and occupational health (& safety), natural resources or environmental sciences, biology chemistry and experience in laboratory operations. Confidence dealing with the public, working in offices and conducting field work. Must pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen. Valid motor vehicle operator’s license and proof of insurance.

Beginning wage for the position is $22.92 per hour. Complete position description and application form may be obtained from the Sawyer County website at www.sawyercountygov.org, at the Sawyer County Human Resource Office in the Courthouse at 10610 Main Street, Suite13 Hayward WI 54843 or may be submitted electronically through the County website. Applicants must complete and submit the Sawyer County application form.

This position is open until filled and applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Sawyer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Sawyer County Position Description

Title: Environmental Health Technician

Department: Sawyer County Health and Human Services

Reports to: Health Officer

Hours per week: Variable (Limited Term Employee)

Position Purpose:

The Environmental Health (EH) Technician will perform duties that involve gathering water samples and conducting lodging inspections to prevent the spread of disease and illness and ensure the safety of our public facilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The EH Technician shall carry out technical work requiring a practical knowledge of basic environmental concepts, regulations, methods, and techniques. The technician will gather and test water samples from local establishments; perform routine field inspections on Transient Non-Community (TNC) private wells; conduct inspections on recreational facilities such as Tourist Rooming Houses (TRH); and document and file all records about samples, tests, inspections, and communications involved in the outlined duties.

The primary and essential responsibilities include:

• Establish and maintain cooperative, effective working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the general public using principles of good customer service.
• Report for scheduled work with regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.

• Become a functional member of the health department by working towards strategic goals.

• Comply with laboratory policies and procedures for drinking water testing.
• Complete Quality Assurance and Quality Control tasks, including records management.
• Collect water samples and conduct annual site visits/sanitary surveys by inspecting private wells for the WI DNR Transient Non-Community program.
• Analyze water samples for total coliform bacteria per the state code's requirements; collect Nitrate samples and send them to a certified lab for analysis.
• Submit TNC private well water sampling reports to WI DNR.

• Work with facility operators to achieve safe and compliant drinking water standards.
• Advise on licensing TRH applications; Schedule inspections; issue annual facility licenses.

• Carry out routine or unplanned TRH visits and inspections to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and act to improve conditions.
• Provide advice and assistance to TRH households and businesses.
• Take photos, collect samples, and conduct interviews during inspection.
• Perform other work as required.

Qualifications:

This is a paraprofessional class series in the environmental health field. Participants perform various technical and office activities. They deal regularly with the public and can learn much of their required technical knowledge on the job. Responsibilities include encouraging property owners and business operators to comply with health and sanitation regulations.

Must have a valid Wisconsin Driver’s License (or ability to obtain as a condition of employment), use of a reliable insured vehicle, and proof of vehicle insurance. A county fleet vehicle may also be used if available.

Education and Experience:

Associate's degree or Bachelor’s degree in related fields such as Environmental Health, Health Science, Environmental and Occupational Health, Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences, Biology, or Chemistry preferred, or related on-the-job experience.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, Traits, and Abilities:

• Ability to complete daily lab tasks.
• Ability to operate, monitor, and calibrate laboratory equipment, specifically ultraviolet light, incubator, and refrigerator.
• Ability to follow policy and procedures related to drinking water lab sampling, follow-up, and data reporting.
• Follow written and verbal directions and complete assigned tasks on schedule.
• Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes, and apply procedures using good judgment.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during work.

• Knowledge of the basic principles of environmental sanitation, microbiology, chemistry, and biological sciences.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret applicable statutes, regulations, ordinances, codes, policies, and procedures.
• Perform thorough investigations and inspections, and analyze and interpret them effectively to ensure public health.
• Ability to correctly interpret analysis results of samples collected.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with people at various levels within and outside the department.

• Good report-writing skills.
• Confidence in dealing with the public.
• Strong scientific ability and technical understanding.
• Ability to be assertive, diplomatic, and sensitive to other people's views.
• Good decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Methodical, careful approach to gathering facts and assessing evidence.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and under pressure.
• Good time-management and organizational skills, including managing your workload.
• Self-motivated. And have a flexible approach to work.
• Information Technology skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, Google Chrome, Google Maps, etc.)
• Operate an automobile safely.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

Ability to analyze data and information using established criteria to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, copy, record, and transcribe data and information. Ability to classify, compute, tabulate, and categorize data. Ability to counsel and mediate. Ability to persuade, convince, and train others. Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding applying policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations.

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while performing duties. Ability to drive. Ability to work in the field. Ability to perform physical demands such as seeing, hearing, and color perception to make judgments in the office and out in the field.

Ability to operate various office equipment, including a computer, a telephone, a fax machine, and a photocopier. Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in movements requiring moderate skill, such as typing. Ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration. Ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary light work may involve lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.

Environmental Adaptability

Ability to work under safe conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as repetitive computer keyboard use poses a minimal risk of injury.

CLOSING STATEMENT:

This description has been prepared to assist in evaluating the position's responsibilities, duties, and skills. The duties listed above are intended to illustrate the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the county and the employee and is subject to change by the county as the needs of the county and the requirements of the position change.

Selection Guidelines

Formal application, rating, education, experience, oral interview, and reference check. A state background check is required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change as the employer's needs and job requirements change.

Sawyer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with Sawyer County representatives.