Environmental Health Specialist I/II/III - Community Services

Salary : $60,368.09 - $111,745.42 Annually
Location : Ventura and may require travel throughout Ventura County, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 0943RMA-26AB (DS)
Department: Resource Management Agency
Opening Date: 11/02/2026
Closing Date: 11/23/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Description
THE POSITION:

Under immediate supervision (I), general supervision (II), direction (III), to general direction (IV), performs progressively complex professional environmental health activities involving investigation, inspection, data collection and analysis, enforcement action, report preparation and public contact; assists in environmental health program administration; and performs related duties as required.
Distinguishing Characteristics:

There are four levels (I - IV) in the Environmental Health Specialist series. Each level performs increasingly responsible public contact; interaction with public and private entities; conflict resolution; and a wider range of environmental health projects at a higher level of complexity (i.e., understanding concepts relating to environmental, biological, water, wastewater, etc.). Those at the Environmental Health Specialist IV level may act as project team leaders and program coordinators. Each succeeding step in the job series is expected to function at a higher level of individual initiative, creativity, self-direction, and independent judgment.
APPROXIMATE SALARIES:

Environmental Health Specialist I: $29.02 - $40.61 (hourly)

Environmental Health Specialist II: $2,760.32 - $3,854.44 (biweekly)

Environmental Health Specialist III: $3,063.54 - $4,297.90 (biweekly)
Environmental Health Specialist I is represented by the Services Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.
Environmental Health Specialist II/III are represented by the Services Employees' International Union (SEIU) and are not eligible for overtime compensation.
NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OPENING DATE: 11/2/2026

CLOSING DATE: 11/23/2026
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Performs inspections of various facilities and properties, including food facilities, public pools and community events to determine conformance with applicable State laws and County Ordinance Code sections.
• Prepares written reports related to food and pool facilities and makes recommendations for completion of environmental health projects.
• Researches, compiles, synthesizes, analyzes and interprets information and data necessary to meet environmental health objectives.
• Coordinates environmental health projects, defines problems and alternative solutions, and sets objectives.
• Provides general information to the public in response to questions about projects, environmental health programs, applicable ordinances, policies and procedures related to the community services, including food facilities, public pools and community events.
• Makes oral presentations to public groups and governmental bodies to provide food safety training and explain and clarify environmental health reports and recommendations.
• Coordinates and/or negotiates with other individuals, developers, groups, sections, divisions, departments and agencies on various technical or legal aspects of environmental programs, some of which may be controversial or politically sensitive.
• Conducts field investigations and complaint investigations of various sites in order to have first-hand knowledge of the location under study.
• May participate in enforcement activities which include civil or criminal cases and may involve issuance of citations, report writing, collection of evidence and court appearances.
• Performs other duties as required.

Typical Qualifications
These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST I:

Some experience in environmental health which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities. The required knowledge and abilities can be obtained by the completion of a bachelor's degree in Environmental Health Science OR a related field degree in Environmental Science and one of the following:

• Proof of eligibility letter (ONLY Options IV, or V), as determined by the California Department of Public Health, to take the state license examination for a Registered Environmental Health Specialist
• Proof of a bachelor's degree in environmental health from a program approved by the California Department of Public Health with the ability to obtain a letter of eligibility to take the required state license examination prior to appointment (ONLY Options IV or V accepted). The following is a list of programs approved by the California Department of Public Health:

1. California State University, Fresno.
2. California State University, Fullerton
3. California State University, Northridge
4. California State University, San Bernardino
5. San Diego State University-Graduate School of Public Health.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST II:

Some experience in environmental health which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities. The required knowledge and abilities can be obtained by the completion of a bachelor's degree in environmental health science or a related field and one (1) or more years of progressively responsible environmental health experience AND possession of the Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) in California.
Substitution: A Master's degree in environmental health science or a related field.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST III:

Considerable experience in environmental health which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities. The required knowledge and abilities can be obtained by the completion of a Bachelor degree in environmental health science or a related field and three (3) or more years of progressively responsible environmental health experience AND possession of the Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) in California.
Substitution: A Master's degree in environmental health science or a related field.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to obtain at time of appointment and maintain a valid California driver license.
• Candidates appointed as an Environmental Health Specialist I level in Community Services positions are REQUIRED to show proof of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist prior to completion of the probationary period.
• Depending on assignment, must be willing to work evenings, weekends, and holidays throughout Ventura County all year long may be required.

DESIRED

• Some experience in the Environmental Health field conducting inspections of retail food facilities, public swimming pools, or temporary food facilities, along with enforcement of state laws in these facilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed in an office environment and in the field and may require occasional exposure to hazardous conditions and moderate physical demands while making inspections.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

Some to comprehensive (depending on level in series) knowledge of:

• Chemistry, microbiology, foodborne illness pathogens and environmental health science.
• State, federal, local laws and regulations relating to environmental health programs, such as the Retail Food Code and the Pool Code.
• Interagency relationships.

Working to thorough (depending on level in series) knowledge of:

• Environmental research and statistical methods.
• Field tests and analytical procedures within environmental health program areas.

Working ability to:

• Perform inspections of various facilities and properties, including food facilities, public pools and community events by collecting, analyzing and interpreting data at public sites within program areas.
• Solve problems at increasingly complex levels and formulate recommendations. Speak and write technical reports clearly and concisely.
• Make oral presentations to public groups.

Recruitment Process
FINAL FILING DATE: Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23, 2026.
To apply online, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.
NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful p