Careers

Senior Environmental Health Specialist

Tompkins County

Posted 7/9/2025

Job Type: Full-time

Responsibilities

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:
This position involves responsibility for supervising and performing complex work in the application of the principles of the
physical, biological and social sciences for the detection, evaluation, control and management of those factors in the environment
which influence health. An employee in this class is responsible for planning, supervising, carrying out, and enforcing one or
more environmental health programs. The work is performed under the supervision of the Director of Environmental Health
Division. Supervision is exercised over Environmental Health Technicians and Environmental Health Specialists who are
responsible for one or more public health programs. The incumbent will perform all related duties as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:
Supervises all or part of one or more major environmental health programs such as: food service establishments, rabies
prevention, public water systems, and private sewage disposal. This supervision includes: interpreting codes, policies, and
guidelines; developing program goals and objectives; preparing statistical and narrative reports; initiating and following through
with enforcement actions (office conferences, compliance schedules, administrative hearings, etc.) with the Assistant County
Attorney, Hearing Officers and others. Supervises subordinate staff who are responsible for supervising and administering one or
more environmental health programs such as: private water systems, rabies control, bathing beaches and pools, summer camps,
hotels/motels, etc. This supervision includes: preparing written evaluations of staff; training and advising Environmental Health
Specialists and Technicians in technical and administrative matters; reviewing written reports and correspondence for
completeness, and adherence to division policies; Studies present and proposed local regulations to determine conformity with the
State Sanitary Code and confers with local officials regarding resolutions which do not conform. Develops program policies and
priorities with the Environmental Health Director and Whole Health Commissioner. Develops and maintains contacts with State
Health Department personnel, municipal Code Enforcement Officials, and other professionals to ensure overlapping services are
efficiently administered; Investigates communicable disease outbreaks, (food, water, etc.), which includes interviewing ill
persons, obtaining stool, vomitus, food, water samples; write epidemiological reports; and work with the Division of Community
Health Services during the investigation and education phases of such out breaks; Conducts epidemiological investigations
relating to injuries, illnesses and deaths at permitted facilities; Performs field investigations at potentially dangerous and
disagreeable areas such as construction sites, garbage and refuse disposal area, hazardous waste sites, chemical spill sites, failed
sewage systems, rodent and insect infestations. Educates community public action groups, regulated facilities, engineers and
attorneys about development and administration of codes, programs and/or Public Health practice; May be required to edit and
update web pages.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Thorough knowledge of environmental health principles and modern inspection methods;
Thorough knowledge of state and local sanitary codes, laws and regulations, and applicable portions of Environmental
Conservation Law and the Agriculture and Markets Law;
Good knowledge of natural science and mathematics;
Ability to plan and supervise the work of Environmental Health Specialists and Environmental Health Technicians;
Ability to develop and maintain good public relations and secure the cooperation of others;
Ability to work under pressure from frequent interruptions and conflicting deadlines and priorities;
Ability to communicate codes, rules, and public health practices to people under tense conditions, sometimes with sharp
disagreement, to facilitate abatement of public health nuisances and hazards;
Ability to prepare records and reports;
Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position which includes walking over rough ground carrying
environmental samples, test kits, tools, and climbing ladders;
Ability to use field test kits and meters for water and air analyses and collect environmental samples for precise laboratory
analyses;
Good professional judgement.

Minimum Qualification

1. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Master’s Degree in the
physical and biological sciences, public health, or a closely related field; AND completion of one year of experience in
environmental health or a related field or as a Public Health Sanitarian/Environmental Health Specialist; OR

2. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree
including thirty credit hours in the physical and biological sciences, AND completion of two years of experience in
environmental health or a related field or as a Public Health Sanitarian/Environmental Health Specialist; OR

3. Five years as a Public Health Technician PLUS two additional years of environmental health experience as deemed
satisfactory by the local Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director; OR

4. Any equivalent combination of training and experience equal to or greater than that defined in (a), (b) and (c) above.

Special Requirement

RESIDENCY: Candidates must have been legal residents of Tompkins County or one of the six adjoining counties (Cayuga,
Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga) for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application and maintain
residency. For Examinations: The eligible list resulting from the examination will be established in accordance with the final
earned numerical ratings of passing candidates regardless of residence. A municipality or district may exercise its right under
section 23-4-a. of Civil Service Law to request a certification of eligible candidates who have been residents of that municipality
or district for at least one month prior to appointment. After the names of residents have been exhausted, Tompkins County must
then certify the names of non-residents on the list.
This Sr. Environmental Health Specialist position is responsible for supervising Environmental Health staff. The successful
applicant needs to be or have the capability to become a regulatory and technical specialist for one or more EH programs. The
exact program areas that this position will be responsible for will be determined based on the expertise and experience of the
successful candidate and the needs of the Division. It is anticipated that this position may be responsible for the public water
supply, water resources, rabies prevention and/or mass gathering programs, in addition to other smaller EH programs. It is also
anticipated that this position will be part of the NYS HELP program. The Civil Service exam may be waived pending the
determination of the HELP program submission.

Appointees must satisfactorily complete a training course approved by the State Health Department within one year of
appointment.
Appointees must possess a valid New York State driver’s license at time of appointment and maintain such license for the duration
of employment

Salary: $41.73/hr 2025 Hire Rate, $45.24/hr 2026 Work Rate (after 9 months)