Careers

DIRECTOR/ENGINEER OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Clinton County

Posted 9/30/2024

Responsibilities

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is an important administrative and engineering
position responsible for administering, planning, overseeing, implementing, and enforcing a variety of
environmental health programs, as well as involving responsibility for the technical environmental and
sanitation engineering duties within the Health Department. Functions as a member of Department’s
management team to develop strategies, plans and policies regarding departmental operations. Participates in
and takes lead roles in emergency preparedness drills, activities and events, using Incident Command System
(ICS). This position involves frequent contact with the legal, engineering, and medical staff, the Board of
Health, and other local and state officials to insure compliance with applicable laws, rules, codes, and policies.
The engineering duties are performed in accordance with established engineering principles, codes, regulations,
and local and state Public Health Laws with leeway allowed for the use of independent judgment in carrying out
the details of the work. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Public Health Director.
Supervision is exercised over subordinate professional, technical and clerical staff. The incumbent does related
work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative only)
– Oversees and advises on appropriate enforcement of provisions of Public Health Law, State, and Local Sanitary
code relating to the sanitary control of food, public water supplies, sewage and waste disposal, operation
of water treatment plants, qualifications of water treatment plant operators, swimming pools and bathing
beaches, camps, hotels, migrant farm worker housing, temporary residences, food service
establishments, realty subdivisions, mobile home parks, rabies, lead, smoking regulations, other
regulated facilities, public health nuisances, and related matters;
– Plans, supervises, and administers a variety of environmental health program activities, including all State
mandated core programs, locally adopted programs, and engineering programs to ensure compliance
with applicable standards of public health and safety;
– Reviews complex engineering plans, secures necessary modifications to the plans from engineers and architects,
completes inspection, and grants health department approval for projects such as sewage treatment and
disposal, water treatment at regulated public water supplies, swimming pools, temporary residences,
sewer and water supply extensions and realty subdivisions, and other regulated projects such as mobile
gatherings, etc, submitted by licensed professional engineers and/or registered architects for compliance
with local and state sanitary regulations and standards, and provides technical support to water treatment
operators;
– Provides technical assistance to communities that are seeking public water supply monies or other funding;
– Reviews existing “Disinfection Waivers” at community public water supplies;
– Provides guidance, technical supervision, and consultation to staff regarding activities relating to the sanitary
control of food, public water supplies, sewage and waste disposal, swimming pools and bathing beaches,
camps, temporary residences, restaurants, mobile home parks, rabies, lead, smoking regulations, other
regulated facilities, public health nuisances, and related matters;
– Formulates, implements, and directs programs for training of water treatment plant operators, environmental
health personnel, food handlers, restaurant proprietors, camp owners, and other classes of operating
personnel;
– Maintains relationships and cooperates with local, state, and federal agencies whose work or policies affect the
environmental health programs and represents the Health Department in matters related to
environmental health programs and environmental and sanitation engineering;
– Develops internal policy and procedural directives and establishes program priorities;
– Director/Engineer of Environmental Health
– Prepares and monitors the division budget;
– Develops and implements public relation materials and manuals to educate and enhance compliance with public
health programs;
– Attends meetings, conferences, and training seminars to keep abreast of changing laws and rules;
– Consults with other professionals on matters concerning legal and medical implications of environmental health
programs;
– Advises public officials on environmental problems/issues such as in the operation of garbage dumps, sanitary
landfills, public water supplies, wastewater disposal, air pollution, and hazardous waste disposal;
– Oversees environmental investigation of outbreaks of disease;
– Participates in and takes lead roles in emergency preparedness drills, activities and events;
– Researches, prepares, and supervises the preparation of electronic reports and specialized reports such as
environmental projects, engineering projects, code revisions, fee schedules, legal data, staffing
recommendations, cost studies, and other required program and data systems and reports;
– Trains, supervises, and evaluates subordinate professional, technical, and clerical staff.

Minimum Qualification

Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered
college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field; one (1) year of experience as a licensed Professional Engineer involved with the design and preparation of plans and specifications related to sanitary sewer systems, water pollution control, or sewage treatment plants and facilities, or as a licensed Professional Engineer involved with other environmental or related projects; and one (1) year of administrative or supervisory experience in environmental health or related field.