PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEER

Responsibilities

Distinguishing features of the class: This position exists in the County Health Dept. and involves responsibility for
the planning, administration and performance of public health engineering duties concerned with the execution of
one or more phases of environmental health program. The work entails advising public officials or individuals on
problems requiring professional public engineering expertise, including measures for improvement and compliance
with legal requirements, assisting in the promotion of public health through application of environmental health
practices, sitting in the enforcement of the provisions of local and state health matters and investigations of related
conditions and problems. The work is performed under general supervision of the Public Health Director with
leeway allowed for exercise of independent judgment I carrying out details of the work. Supervision may be
exercised over the work of subordinate technical and professional employees. Does related work as required.

Typical work activities: (illustrative only)
– Investigates, reports on and makes recommendations concerning public water supplies or sewage system, swimming
and bathing places, stream pollution, sanitary conditions of camps, hotels or boarding houses, food, restaurant and
general sanitation, air pollution and public health of environmental nuisances;
– Responds to and conducts investigations into hazardous material and oil spills, fish kills and other problems in
cooperation with the NYS DEC;
– Confers with local officials relative to the public health engineering problems;
– Interprets the results of laboratory examinations of air, water, sewage, industrial waste and other samples;
– Reviews subdivision plans to determine compliance with State environmental health standards;
– Assists in investigations of outbreaks of diseases as part of a public health team;
– Maintains relationships and cooperates with State and Federal agencies concerning environmental and sanitary
engineering programs and problems;
– Prepares a variety of technical reports including recommendations for correction of environmental engineering
problems;
– Develops, oversees, and administers various aspects of the County Health Engineering program;
– Performs special assignments relating to phases of public health engineering or environmental health as required;
– Represents the health department on matters and problems related to environmental and sanitary engineering;
– Prepares a variety of records and reports related to public health engineering programs;
– May instruct local plant operators in water and sewage chemistry and bacteriology as applied in controlling the
operation of water works and sewage treatment plants;
– Participates in investigations of environmental health factors related to disease outbreak;
– Confers with local officials relative to sanitary engineering problems;
– Reviews plans of water supplies and waste water systems and food service establishments submitted by consulting
engineers for compliance with local and state health codes;
– Provides technical assistance to technicians and sanitarians regarding engineering problems.

Full performance knowledge, skills, abilities and personal characteristics:
Good knowledge of the principles and practices and techniques of public health engineering and environmental
health related to air pollution, installations, water supplies and purification, sewage disposal, stream pollution, mild
and other foods, restaurants and public eating places, camps, hotels, lodging and boarding houses, swimming
pools, bathing beaches, schools and other places, insect and rodent control, public health nuisances and general
sanitation; working knowledge of the provisions of the Public Health law and State Sanitary Code related to the
above subjects; ability to prepare reports and correspondence; skill in public health engineering techniques and
practices; imitative and resourcefulness in solving public health engineering problems; ability to deal with public and
other officials and develop public relations; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

Minimum Qualification

Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a
license to practice as a professional engineer in New York State. Special Requirement: Possession of a valid New York State
driver’s license is required at the time of appointment.

Salary: $107,555

To Apply

Send your resume, cover letter, and three professional references to: [email protected]

PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEER
Columbia County Dept of Health
Victoria McGahan, Public Health Director
325 Columbia Street, Suite 100
Hudson, NY 12534
Applications will be accepted through January 9, 2026

https://humanresources.columbiacountyny.com/