We offer a great benefits package including medical, dental, pension program, HSA, and generous time off. City residents will earn a 3% differential on top of the hourly pay range. Learn more and apply today!

INTRODUCTION:

The City of Racine Public Health Department, as an agent of the State of Wisconsin, is responsible for the inspection and licensing of all restaurants, taverns, caterers, hotels, motels, and public pools.

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Environmental Health Sanitarian performs diversified technical environmental health duties under the direction of the Public Health Administrator and / or their designee.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Investigate citizen complaints, answer inquires, and enforce local and state environmental health ordinances.
• Prevent and mitigate health and safety hazards.
• Inspect food and drinking establishments, temporary restaurants, and vending machines to determine compliance with local / state health and sanitation requirements.
• Review new construction or remodeling plans / blueprints for food and drink establishments, pet stores, rooming houses, tattoo parlors, schools, and other businesses regulated by local and state health ordinances.
• Conduct water quality testing; inspect public swimming pools, splash pads, and recreational water facilities for violations of local and state ordinances.
• Conduct housing inspections and issue written orders as necessary to mandate compliance with the minimum housing standards established by local ordinance, including plumbing, electrical, heating, and lead bearing paint violations.
• Conduct investigations and risk assessments in response to lead poisoned children.
• Inspect premises for the accumulation and storage of solid waste.
• Coordinate animal bite investigations and issue appropriate orders / warnings / citations for violations licensing and vaccination statutes.
• Conduct systematic neighborhood inspections to determine compliance with municipal housing code, animal control, and other ordinances.
• Conduct inspections of pet shops, adult oriented establishments, and rooming houses to determine compliance with local and state ordinances.
• Collect appropriate environmental samples for testing, such as water, ice, food, paint chips, and dust.
• Package rabies specimens for shipment and testing.
• Issue written orders / referrals, Municipal Court citations / fines, and summons / complaints for violations of local and state ordinances.
• Coordinate one or more environmental health specialty programs, including but not limited to pre-inspection, lead poisoning prevention, swimming pool inspection, environmental sampling, rabies and animal control, vending machine inspection, tattoo parlors, schools, radiation response, preparedness, temporary restaurants and foodborne illness investigations.
• Provide testimony in court and administrative meetings regarding environmental health violations.
• Teach safe food handling techniques in a classroom setting.
• Maintain HEPA vacuum rental service.
• Facilitate radiation monitoring programs.
• Coordinate epidemiological event responses, including foodborne illness outbreaks, to determine causes and corrective actions.
• Provide input at case management encounters, departmental meetings, conferences, evaluations, planning committees, and outreach activities.
• Complete activity / inspection / reports and enter into appropriate databases.
• Participate in peer review activities and evaluation of program effectiveness.
• Manage assigned grants and / or contracts, ensure that objectives and deliverables are met, and reports are completed on time / resubmit grant applications.
• Have working knowledge of the Division's budget.
• Collaborate effectively with agency administration to provide services for community emergency intervention.
• Maintain a consistent and reliable attendance record.
• Participate in team and general staff meetings.
• Acts as a first responder in a natural disaster or any public health, chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological event.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYEMENT:

Office and a wide variety of indoor/outdoor environments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor's degree or higher in environmental or public health sanitation from an accredited college or university or in a related field with academic credits in math and science, including physical, biological, and environmental science/studies.
• Current registration as a Sanitarian with the State of Wisconsin or national equivalent or able to complete the registration process within the first two years of employment is required. Once acquired registration must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• A minimum of two (2) years of employment in the field of environmental health with demonstrated expertise in all requisite areas; greater than two years' experience is desirable.
• A valid Wisconsin driver's license and reliable motor vehicle with mandatory levels of insurance coverage.
• Current CPR/AED/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain such certification within six months of hire. Certifications must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• Current Tuberculosis and blood borne pathogen training or ability to obtain such certification within one year of hire. Certifications must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• Current Category A/B packaging certification or the ability to obtain such certification within one year of hire. Certifications must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• Current NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800 certification, if applicable, or the ability to obtain such certification within one year of hire. Certifications must be maintained for the duration of employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Three (3) years' work experience with a governmental public health agency.
• Bilingual proficiency (Spanish / English).
• Experience working with various racial and ethnic groups.
• Enhanced familiarity / experience with statistical theory / methods.
• Experience in public speaking with the ability to present data and other program materials in Microsoft PowerPoint.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Working knowledge of community systems / ability to initiate referrals to community health care providers, social service, and advocacy agencies, and the ability to effectively refer clients as needed.
• Knowledge of HIPAA compliance standards and all aspects of client privacy practices.
• Knowledge / experience evaluating health trends and risk factors of target populations.
• Ability to establish professional relationships with clients, peers, supervisors and community organization members.
• Personal initiative combined with the ability to work independently and interdependently.
• Substantial working knowledge of and experience with current Microsoft Office suite or newer (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Publisher), desktop publishing, and the Internet combined with the ability to pass all required skills tests.
• Previous experience working with large / specialized databases and preparing data for analysis.
• Ability to analyze data and / or manipulate data in Microsoft Excel and / or applicable databases using established criteria to determine significance and assess outcomes. Must be able to compare, count, measure, copy, compute, tabulate, and categorize data combined with the ability to pass all required skills tests
• Ability to effectively acquire and utilize scientific / client data obtained from a variety of sources including patient records, lab reports, physician orders, maps, flow charts, and statistical reports.
• Ability to comprehend, utilize, and implement information from a variety of sources including personnel policies, employee performance evaluations, time study sheets, policy documents, nursing procedure manuals, scientific medical textbooks, and computer software operating manuals.
• Proficient oral / written English language skills including proper spelling, punctuation and grammar with the ability to pass required skill tests.
• Effective oral and written communication skills at all levels of responsibility including clients and their families, physicians, local / state / and federal personnel, pharmacists, hospital and jail personnel.
• Ability to develop, submit, and implement successful grant proposals.
• Ability to interpret, regulate, and enforce state, local, and federal laws, regulations, and rules.
• Ability to effectively train and coordinate activities of interns and visiting students.
• Ability to interpret, regulate, and enforce state, local, and federal laws, regulations, and rules.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE POSITION:

• Standing, walking, sitting, and stooping.
• Kneeling, crouching, climbing, balancing and bending/twisting.
• Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling (up to 35 lbs.).
• Handling, grasping, fingering, filing, typing, and writing.

EQUIPMENT USED:

Effective utilization and maintenance of computer workstations, associated equipment and software / database applications, copy center, fax machine, multi-line telephone system, cellular telephone, flashlight, digital / video camera, audio / visual and miscellaneous office / medical / inspection / laboratory equipment.

The City of Racine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.