Environmental Health Specialist -II-III - Land Use, Solid​/Med Waste & Body Art

Position: Environmental Health Specialist I-II-III - Land Use, Solid/Med Waste & Body Art
Location: California

Overview

Environmental Health Specialist I-II-III – Land Use, Solid/Medical Waste & Body Art

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

Base

pay range

This range is provided by County of San Mateo. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

San Mateo County Health is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III, with the following program assignments:

• Land Use Program
• Solid Waste, Medical Waste, and Body Art Programs

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Ideal candidate qualities

• 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; experience using Cal Recycle’s Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) portal is a plus.

Certifications and qualifications

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. A Trainee may be employed to work under supervision until qualified by examination (up to three years).
• Environmental Health Specialist II and III – Possession of a California Certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS).

For more information on REHS, visit the California Department of Public Health website.

Important information:
Applicants must attach a copy of current Trainee Certification Letter or REHS certificate when submitting online application. Failure to do so will disqualify the application.

Education and experience (typical qualifications)

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

• I level ($43.73 - $48.90/hour): A bachelor’s degree with at least 30 semester units of basic sciences.
• II level ($51.25 - $64.04/hour):
  One year of experience in general inspections and investigations in environmental health.
• III level ($54.38 - $67.95/hour):
  Two years of journey-level experience in environmental health inspections and investigations.

Knowledge and skills include: principles of biological/physical sciences; environmental health sanitation; inspection techniques; laws and regulations; report writing; and communication abilities. Licensure/certification requirements are listed above.

Application process

Open & Promotional. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of submitting the required application materials. The examination may include an application appraisal/screening (pass/fail) and a written exam. All tests are in San Mateo County, and applicants must participate at their own expense. The eligible list may be used for current and future vacancies.

Important:
Applications for this position will only be accepted online. Apply at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). before midnight on the final filing date.

Tentative timeline:
Final Filing Date Friday, October 24, 2025;
First Round Application Screening week of November 3, 2025;
Panel Interviews week of November 17, 2025.

Employment details

• Seniority level:
  Entry level
• Employment type:
  
  Full-time
• Job function:
  Health Care Provider
• Industries:
  Government Administration

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