POSITION: Environmentalist/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

DEPARTMENT: Health

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M - F

SALARY: $2,700.50 Biweekly

Incumbent serves as Environmentalist/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Tippecanoe County Health Department, responsible for enforcing federal, state, and local environmental health regulations and coordinating, planning and implementing target capabilities and activities associated with public health emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery, and assisting partner agencies during "all-hazards" emergency incidents as a supporting resource.

DUTIES :

Supervises and oversees assigned part-time staff, including .periodically analyzing workload, reviewing position documentation, interviewing candidates and making hiring recommendations, planning, delegating and controlling work assignments, establishing specific work goals, providing training and orientation, determining significant changes in job responsibilities, evaluating job performances, reviewing salaries, recommending personnel action, and maintaining discipline and recommending corrective actions as warranted. Keeps supervisor and assigned staff informed of organizational developments.

Inspects septic systems and public and private water supplies to ensure compliance with state and federal purity standards, including making site inspections, collecting, packaging, and sending water and soil samples to state laboratories for testing, and initiating action to resolve problems.

Receives and investigates environmental complaints as assigned, such as open burning, dumping, rodent infestations, housing conditions, hazardous wastes sites, and air quality issues. Prepares and mails code violation notices to property owners, responds to inquiries, and conducts follow-up inspections to ensure compliance.

Periodically makes environmental health presentations to community groups, food preparation personnel, and public classrooms.

Researches, creates and updates policies and procedures in local health department "all-hazards" emergency preparedness plans. Submits plans to the Emergency Management Agency for inclusion in the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) in accordance with Emergency Support Function 8-Health and Medical.

Serves as co-chair of the Tippecanoe County Emergency Support Function 8-Health and Medical (ESF-8), in coordination with hospital co-chair, to create and maintain "all-hazard" emergency preparedness plans with local hospitals, EMA, coroner and other supporting functions.

Represents Tippecanoe County Health Department by participating in emergency preparedness planning meetings.

Develops and maintains an all-hazard training and exercise plan (TEP) for the health department and participating ESF-8 partners..

Conducts regular stockpiling and pre-positioning of emergency supplies and equipment while maintaining an updated inventory.

Maintains NIMS/ICS certifications for health department staff and monitors and reports compliance.

Coordinates, monitors and prepares preparedness grant budgets, reports and deliverable documentation relating to public health emergency preparedness.

Serves as coordinator for the Tippecanoe County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) or supervises a grant-funded part-time coordinator to develop the MRC and complete grant deliverables as required.

Makes presentations on emergency preparedness subjects to organizations and the general public.

Performs related duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Baccalaureate Degree in biology, environmental science, life science, or related area.

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Possession of or ability to obtain certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist. Ability to pass all required National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses.

Working knowledge of state and local regulations and standard principles and practices of environmental health, including solid waste disposal and vector and rabies control.

Demonstrated ability to research, create and update policies and procedures in local health department "all-hazards" emergency preparedness plans. Submits plans to the Emergency Management Agency for inclusion in the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) in accordance with Emergency Support Function 8-Health and Medical.

Working knowledge of and ability to properly operate standard office, food and water testing equipment, including sanitizer test strips, computer, telephone/cellular phone, radio, chemical test kits, thermocouple, and calculator.

Ability to supervise and oversee assigned part-time staff, including .periodically analyzing workload, reviewing position documentation, interviewing candidates and making hiring recommendations, planning, delegating and controlling work assignments, establishing specific work goals, providing training and orientation, determining significant changes in job responsibilities, evaluating job performances, reviewing salaries, recommending personnel action, and maintaining discipline and recommending corrective actions as warranted.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, various local and state agencies, hospitals, local fire and police, schools, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to State requirements.

Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace and personal conduct.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present finding in oral or written form

Ability to inspect sites for potential code violations, conduct effective investigations of environmental complaints, and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

Ability to collect, record and analyze data and test samples, maintain accurate records, prepare reports, and make related arithmetic calculations.

Ability to use appropriate universal health and safety precautions to avoid contamination and/or infection in high-risk environments.

Ability to work on several tasks at the same time and work rapidly for long periods, occasionally under time pressure.

Ability to plan and layout assigned work projects and occasionally apply knowledge of people and/or locations.

Ability to read and interpret detailed prints, sketches, layouts, specifications, and maps.

Ability to occasionally plan and present public speaking presentations.

Ability to occasionally work extended, weekends, and/or evening hours, and occasionally travel out of town for training, sometimes overnight.

Ability to occasionally respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

Possession of a valid driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Incumbent performs duties which are relatively broad in scope, involving varying situations and conditions. Incumbent performs according to well-defined legal requirements and standard department policies and procedures, exercising judgment in applying guidelines and technical knowledge to specific cases and circumstances.

RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent monitors various sites for compliance with local and state guidelines governing public environmental health/sanitation, referring to supervisor unusual or unprecedented situations. Incumbent performs emergency preparedness duties in compliance with the accepted principles and practices of health related emergency response, with daily work requiring personal judgment to adapt to situational demands. Work is periodically reviewed for attainment of objectives and compliance with department policy and legal requirements.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains communication with co-workers, other County departments, various local and state agencies, hospitals, local fire and police, schools, and the public for the purpose of exchanging and explaining information, resolving problems, and sometimes persuading code violators to implement corrective procedures.

Incumbent reports directly to Administrator.

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs duties in a variety of settings, including standard office environment, in the field, and in a vehicle. During site inspections, duties may involve standing/walking for long periods, pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying objects weighing 25-50 pounds, crouching/kneeling, bending, reaching, close/far vision, color/depth perception, and hearing communication, and exposure to chemicals, inclement weather, and contamination. Safety/health precautions must be followed at all time to avoid infection. Incumbent occasionally works extended, weekends, and/or evening hours, and occasionally travels out of town for training, sometimes overnight. Incumbent occasionally responds to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.