San Mateo County

Description

San Mateo County Health is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III. Current vacancies include two positions in the Land Use Program and one position in the Solid Waste, Medical Waste, and Body Art Programs within Environmental Health Services. All positions are based in San Mateo, CA, with travel throughout the County’s 20 cities and unincorporated areas.

The Environmental Health Services Division ensures a safe and healthful environment through education, monitoring, enforcement, and community services. This recruitment offers the opportunity to apply technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and community engagement skills across diverse program areas that directly protect the health and safety of County residents.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMS

Land Use Program

• Inspects and oversees water wells, septic systems, and related construction.
• Reviews soil percolation testing, hydrogeology, and system design.
• Conducts inspections of confined and exotic animal facilities.
• Advises builders, engineers, and contractors on compliance with environmental health laws.

Solid Waste, Medical Waste, and Body Art Programs

• Serves as the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) designated by CalRecycle for permitting, inspection, and enforcement of landfills, recycling facilities, and waste transporters.
• Enforces the California Medical Waste Management Act to ensure safe generation, storage, transport, and disposal of medical waste.
• Implements the Safe Body Art Act to ensure safe and sanitary operation of body art facilities and practitioners.

Responsibilities will vary depending on program assignment and may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform inspections, investigations, and enforcement activities in assigned program areas.
• Review and apply relevant laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Provide instructions for correction of violations.
• Investigate and resolve citizen complaints.
• Advise and instruct individuals, businesses, and contractors on environmental health requirements.
• Maintain records, prepare reports and correspondence.
• Work independently and collaboratively within a team to achieve program objectives.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Experience conducting regulatory, health-based inspections.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical issues in understandable terms.
• Skilled in preparing concise, well-organized reports and correspondence.
• Effective at balancing independent work with teamwork.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Land Use candidates: Knowledge of water well siting, construction, water treatment, soil science, hydrogeology, septic system design, and construction drawings.
• Solid Waste/Medical Waste/Body Art candidates: Knowledge of the California Health & Safety, California Code of Regulations, Public Resources Codes and County ordinances pertaining to these programs; experience using CalRecycle’s Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) portal is a plus.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Environmental Health Specialist I - Possession of a current "Trainee Certification Letter" from the California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Specialist Registration Program. (NOTE: An Environmental Health Specialist Trainee may be employed to work under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist, until he or she is qualified by examination as provided under Section 106670, for a period which shall not exceed three years.)

Environmental Health Specialist II and III - Possession of a California Certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS).

For more information on the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program, please visit the California Department of Public Health website at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/REHS/REHS.aspx

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Applicants must attach a copy of current "Trainee Certification Letter" from the California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Specialist Registration Program OR a copy of current California certificate as Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) when submitting online application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

I level ($43.73- $48.90/hour): A bachelor's degree which has included a minimum of 30 semester units of basic sciences.

II level ($51.25- $64.04/hour): One year of experience in general inspections and investigations in the environmental health field.

III level ($54.38- $67.95/hour): Two years of journey level experience in environmental health inspections and investigations.

Knowledge of:

• Principles of biological and physical sciences.
• Principles and practices of environmental health sanitation.
• Techniques of environmental health inspection, investigation and control.
• General community health problems and governmental programs designed to control or alleviate them.
• Research, evaluation and statistical methods.
• Laws, regulations and ordinances governing environmental health in California.
• Provisions of the Penal Code relating to public nuisances.

Skill/Ability to:

• Interpret laws, regulations and data.
• Define difficult problem areas, analyze complex data and make valid recommendations.
• Advise and instruct others in the principles of sanitation and environmental health.
• Enforce local ordinances and state law.
• Work independently and as a team member.
• Keep complex and accurate records.
• Prepare clear, concise reports and correspondence.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
• Speak effectively and communicate in situations requiring instruction and persuasion.
• Represent the division as an expert in area of specialty.
• Assist in the training and orientation of new personnel.

Licensure/Certification:

• EHS I - possession of a Letter of Approval as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee from the State of California Department of Health Services. A copy of the letter to be submitted with the application.
• EHS II and EHS III - possession of a California Certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist. A copy of the certificate to be submitted with the application.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions on the application must be submitted. When completing the application and the supplemental questionnaire, please note that neatness, clarity of expression, spelling, punctuation, grammar and completeness will be considered in the application review process. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of submitting the required application materials.

The examination process will consist of an application appraisal/screening (pass/fail) based on the candidates’ application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application appraisal/screening will be invited to a written exam (weight 100%). All tests will be held in San Mateo County, California. Applicants must participate at their own expense. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time and place of the tests. Applicants must adhere to the dates listed below. Applicant requests for alternate test dates and times will not be granted. Applicants successful on the written test will have their name placed on the eligible list which will be used to fill current and possible future vacancies.

Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the 'Apply' button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE

Final Filing Date: Friday, October 24, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST

First Round Application Screening: Week of November 3, 2025

Panel Interviews: Week of November 17, 2025

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo as an employer is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support, and retrain employees who reflect our diverse community.

We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Talent Acquisition Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (100325) (Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III - J048/J046/J049)

We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance (Download PDF reader) page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you’ll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.

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