CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

Salary : $92,633.52 - $124,831.68 Annually

Location : Los Angeles County, CA

Job Type : Full time

Job Number : PH5678F

Department : PUBLIC HEALTH

Opening Date : 11 / 06 / 2023

Closing Date : Continuous

Position / Program Information

EXAM NUMBER : PH5678F

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT :

Open Competitive Job Opportunity

FIRST DATE OF FILING :

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 8 : 30 A.M. (PT)

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

No out-of-class experience will be accepted.

DEFINITION :

Directs the environmental health program activities in a health district; or has immediate responsibility for a specialized County-wide environmental health program.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS :

Positions located in a district allocable to this class receive administrative and technical direction from an Environmental Health Services Manager and direct a staff who are performing a variety of environmental health activities directed toward the identification, solution, and prevention of environmental health problems. The staff takes appropriate enforcement action in accordance with State and local regulations governing retail food vending, multiple housing, sewage, etc. Positions located in the Bureau of Consumer Protection or the Bureau of Environmental Protection receive administrative and technical direction from the Director, Environmental Planning and Evaluation. They oversee a staff who are performing specialized environmental health activities directed toward the identification and solution of environmental health problems in such specialized consumer and environmental protection programs as food, dairy, water, sewage, multiple housing and institutions, garment industry, public swimming facilities, vehicle inspections, water pollution control, and plan check. The staff initiates appropriate enforcement actions in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations in these County-wide programs. As the chief environmental health law enforcement official of a district or a specialized County-wide program, the incumbent ensures that environmental health management policies and procedures are followed by the environmental health specialist staff and also are responsible for expediting inspection and enforcement action. Chief Environmental Health Specialists provide the final authority in achieving compliance with environmental health and consumer protection laws within their jurisdiction before criminal prosecution and court action are undertaken through city or the District Attorney. Incumbents serve as technical authorities and are instrumental in developing, revising, proposing, and analyzing environmental health legislation and designing programs to meet the needs of the community.

Essential Job Functions

• Directs and administers the conduct of environmental health programs activities within a health district or specialized County-wide program through the review of reports, coordination of work, and the resolution of problems.
• Interprets, clarifies, and resolves problems of field staff relating to Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Reviews and evaluates work of subordinate staff and prepares or reviews the performance evaluations of subordinate staff; recommends promotion and approves transfers of staff members to better use personnel; promotes individual growth and development; takes or recommends disciplinary action including verbal and written reprimands, suspensions, and discharges and replies to employee grievances.
• Conducts administrative office hearings attended by persons or firms cited for failure to comply with public health regulations, Environmental Health Specialist staff, and other interested persons where the problems which resulted in the citation are discussed and commitments are made concerning prompt corrective action.
• Evaluates evidence gathered by subordinate staff and authorizes criminal prosecution or environmental health cases of non-compliance with public health regulations.
• Develops, proposes, or revises special programs, legislation, policies, or procedures by analyzing their impact on the department, the community, and the Environmental Health Specialist staff.
• Directs research, special studies, and field evaluations to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of materials and equipment used by staff making specialized inspections and investigations in programs such as vector control, cross connection, and water pollution control protection.
• Provides technical expertise in a specialized technical area of environmental health by serving as a health agency representative to various local, State, and Federal technical committees or boards and by lecturing before technical societies, associations, and industry groups.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS :

Four (4) years of experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist

LICENSE(S) AND CERTIFICATE(S) REQUIRED :

1.

2. A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS :

Physical Class II - Light : This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION :

You must POSSESS and CLEARLY EXPRESS detailed years of experience performing relevant duties, related to the requirements within your online job application under the "Experience" area

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS :

Credit will be given to applicants who possess the following desirable qualifications :

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT :

Once we have determined that you meet our certificate and experience requirements described above, our examination process will consist of an evaluation of training and experience based on application information, desirable qualifications, and supplemental questionnaire information at the time of filing weighted 100% .

Applicants must meet the requirements described above at the time of filing and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be added to the Eligible Register.

Passing this examination and being added to the Eligible Register does not guarantee an offer of employment.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION :

The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be added to the Eligible Register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS .

Complete applications will be processed on an as received basis and promulgated to the Eligible Register accordingly.

VACANCY INFORMATION :

The Eligible Register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Public Health as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT :

Any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

Application and Filing Information

HOW TO APPLY :

Applications must be filed ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will NOT be accepted. Any required documents and / or additional information, if any, must be received with your application at the time of filing online or sent to within fifteen (15) calendar days from application submission.

Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button located on this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5 : 00 p.m. PT deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com / careers / lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. Fill out the application and Supplemental Questionnaire accurately and completely to receive full credit for any relevant education and / or job experience you include. In the space provided on the application for education, include names and addresses of schools attended, dates attended, degree(s) received, and degree major. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job / position title, start and end dates, the number of hours worked per week, and detailed description of work and duties performed. If the application and / or Supplemental Questionnaire is / are incomplete, the application will be REJECTED.

IMPORTANT NOTES :

Please note that ALL information supplied by applicants and included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES :

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Check the website for updated information at

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER :

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

DO NOT SHARE USER ID AND PASSWORD :

All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) :

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYER :

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY :

It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will follow all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.

Department Contact Name : Exam Analyst

Department Contact Phone : (213) 684-8726

Department Contact E-mail :

Exam Number : PH5678F

California Relay Services Phone : (800) 735-2922

ADA Coordinator Phone : (844) 914-1006

Teletype Phone : (800) 899-4099

Alternate Teletype Phone : (800) 897-0077

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity / Non-Discrimination Statement :

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit :

Testing Accommodations for Applicants :

The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit :

Fair Chance :

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Employment Eligibility :

Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.

Career PathFinder :

Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at

Veteran's Credit :

Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.

For more information on veteran's credit, please visit :

Revised September 2025

For detailed information, please click

01

Many important notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add hrexams@ph.lacounty.gov and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam / junk / clutter mail.

Applicants have the ability to opt out of emails from Los Angeles County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices. It is the applicant's responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence.

Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notifications to be a valid reason for a late test administration or rescheduling of an exam component (if applicable).

02

The information you provide on this supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the examination process. CHECK YOUR ANSWERS CAREFULLY. Any mistakes you make and / or any incomplete responses you provide in completing these questions will be used to disqualify your application even if you possess the qualifying experience or education.

Be specific as possible and include all information requested. Comments such as "see resume or application" will not be considered as a response.

All information is subject to verification at any time in the examination and hiring process. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or dismissal.

03

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENT : Do you have a certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) issued by the California State Department of Public Health?If YES , you must attach a legible copy of the original certificate or the pocket license to the application or submit to HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov within 15 calendar days of application submission.

If not received within the time line specified, your application will be considered incomplete and will be rejected.

04

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT :

Please describe in detail your experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.

If you do not have experience please indicate "Not Applicable".

NOTE : For each experience please indicate the following information :

You will not receive credit for your response if you have missing requested information.

05

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT :

Please describe in detail your experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist at the level of an Environmental Health Specialist III.

Experience at the level of Environmental Health Specialist III in the County of Los Angeles is defined as a registered environmental health specialist who performs specialized environmental health inspections and investigations of complex environmental health problems; or provides lead supervision to field staff who are enforcing environmental health and consumer protection laws by making inspections, initiating investigations and taking appropriate enforcement action.

If you do not have experience please indicate "Not Applicable".

NOTE : For each experience please indicate the following information :

You will not receive credit for your response if you have missing requested information.

Required Question