Environmental Health Specialist I, II, III

Environmental Health Specialist I, II, III Salary $75,608.00 - $107,702.40 Annually

Location: Throughout Riverside County Job Type: Regular Job Number: 25-73531-03 Department: Environmental Health Division District: Environmental Service Opening Date: December 20, 2025 Closing Date: June 30, 2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description

A list of eligible candidates will be established to fill current and future vacancies throughout Riverside County. The recruitment will remain open until filled. The County of Riverside Environmental Health Department is currently recruiting for multiple Environmental Health Specialist - Levels I, II or III to be assigned to offices located in Riverside, Corona, Murrieta, Hemet and in the Coachella Valley - Palm Springs and Indio.

The candidates selected will conduct specialized studies, inspections, and investigations involved with the planning and enforcement of complex environmental health laws and regulations. Candidates selected can also expect to provide electronic reports on inspections. Divisions may include District Environmental Services, Hazardous Materials, Land Use/Water Resources, and Local Enforcement Agency.

To Qualify

Candidates for the Environmental Health Specialist position are required to possess the following:

• A valid Letter of Eligibility issued by the California Department of Public Health certifying qualification as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee
• A valid certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist issued by the California Department of Public Health (please attach to your application)

Work Schedule

This position requires office or field work with either a 5/40, 9/80 or 4/10 schedule. A 5/40 schedule offers five days a week. With a 9/80 schedule, youll work nine-hour days for nine days over two weeks, with one day off every other week. And, a 4/10 schedule offering four days at ten-hours with three-day weekends.

Career Advancement

The Environmental Health Specialist I is a natural progression to Environmental Health Specialist II, which in turn leads to Environmental Health Specialist III. To advance, employees need a satisfactory performance evaluation, meet experience and educational requirements, and pass the state-administered Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) exam. If these criteria arent met within 36 months, employees may return to their previous County position or be released before the end of their probationary period.

Meet the Team

The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health is a multifaceted department dedicated to protecting the health of people and the environment in Riverside County. Their mission, "to enhance the quality of life in Riverside County," is accomplished through a dedicated staff of professionals including licensed and/or certified inspectors overseeing and enforcing numerous programs, from food facility inspections to hazardous waste designed to protect both the public and the environment.

Essential Duties

• Conduct specialized, technical field inspections and investigations to determine compliance with relevant environmental health laws and regulations.
• Gather or lead in the gathering of evidence of violations and non-compliance with environmental health laws and regulations.
• Prepare inspection reports, legal notices, citations, notices of violations, and other investigative reports for the enforcement of environmental health laws and regulations.
• Issue official notices of corrective action and abatement; make follow-up investigations to ensure compliance.
• Act as a department liaison with various state, federal, and local agencies and partners.
• May serve in a lead capacity and provide assistance and technical guidance to entry or intermediate Environmental Health Specialists.
• Attend training sessions and participate in the development and implementation of staff training programs.
• Prepare reports and evidence for presentation at Administrative Hearings and to present cases to the court on behalf of the County.

District Environmental Services

In addition to the general essential duties listed above:

• Conduct regulatory inspections and investigations of retail food facilities, public pools and spas, mobile home parks, organized camps, tobacco retailers, and related facilities as required.
• Review and investigate public complaints of foodborne illness, recreational water illness, unpermitted food sales, drownings, mobile home parks, tobacco, and household trash and sewage issues.
• Collect food, water and/or sewage, and related samples for laboratory analysis.
• Instruct facility operators on health and safety methods and principles. Apply enforcement techniques as needed to gain compliance.
• Coordinate with other agencies to facilitate compliance on investigations as listed above.

Hazardous Materials

In addition to the general essential duties listed above:

• Conduct moderate to complex inspections and investigations of all types of hazardous waste and hazardous materials facilities including underground storage tank systems to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to waste storage, treatment, handling, transportation, disposal, and record-keeping.
• Perform hazardous materials mitigation or categorization evaluations in the field.
• Oversee the mitigation of hazardous substance releases during emergency or disaster situations under the authority of the Public Health Officer; assist in field supervision of hazardous waste clean-up operations.
• Handle detection and safety equipment and ensure that sufficient inventories of up-to-date equipment are available for use/deployment on a regular basis, and in the event of emergency responses.
• Prepare and maintain records of inspections and investigations.
• Make joint inspections with federal, state, and local agencies as required.
• May participate as part of the County Hazardous Materials 24-hour Emergency Response Team.

Land Use/Water Resources

In addition to the general essential duties listed above:

• Conduct moderate to complex compliance inspections and investigations of private drinking water wells and small water systems.
• Review plans submitted for the construction of on-site sewage disposal systems, water wells and small water systems.
• Assess the quality of drinking water in designated regions.

Local Enforcement Agency

In addition to the general essential duties listed above:

• Conduct routine compliance inspections and investigations of facilities and individuals performing tattooing, body piercing, and permanent make-up.
• Conduct routine investigations of complaints concerning improper disposal of garbage, rubbish, sewage, and other unsanitary conditions on private and public property.
• Conduct periodic inspections and complaint investigations of solid waste, liquid waste, and medical waste handling facilities and businesses.

Minimum Qualifications

• All levels:
• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university, which included coursework that enables the applicant to meet the Registered Environmental Health Specialist minimum educational standards prescribed by the California Department of Public Health.
• Possession of a valid Letter of Eligibility issued by the California Department of Public Health certifying qualification as an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee.
• Possession of a valid certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist issued by the California Department of Public Health.

Salary

• Environmental Health Specialist I: $61,102.76 - $94,580.15 Annually
• Environmental Health Specialist II: $71,693.00 - $98,363.00 Annually
• Environmental Health Specialist III: $75,601.00 - $107,711.00 Annually

Application Information

Veterans Preference: The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouses letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference.

Reasonable Accommodations: The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above.

Proof of Education: If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Work Authorization Requirement: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment: All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period: As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

Additional Information

Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies. Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job