Sanitarian / Environmental Health Specialist (EHS)

Not sure what being an EH Sanitarian is all about? Check out A-Day-In-the-Life of a Environmental Health Sanitarian to find out!

We need you to help businesses and families in our community.

Consider joining out experienced Environmental Health team and make a difference in the lives of residents and visitors in the beautiful Central Michigan area. The Central Michigan District Health Department need a full time (40 hours/week) Sanitarian/Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) in the Gladwin County Branch office to support environmental health activities.

A successful EHS will develop skills in problem solving for onsite wastewater treatment systems, water wells, food safety, and other environmentally related areas important to community members. Broad exposure to programs will result in an experienced individual who is recognized as an environmental health expert in the community. Strong verbal, public presentation, and written communications play a key role in promoting our mission and our belief that education is vital to effect long term change for the better.

An individual that has prepared for this challenge with a minimum a 4-year Bachelor of Science degree with a major in environmental health, chemistry, biology, geology, engineering, or closely related field is required. Advancement opportunities may be available to those with national (REHS) or State (RS) registration and that demonstrate attention to detail and strong customer service and leadership skills.

CMDHD offers a comprehensive benefit package including the ability for a flexible work schedule. Full benefits, including health/life/dental insurances, 12 paid vacation, and 12 sick leave days with additional days of personal time per year, 12 paid holidays, MERS defined contribution retirement with up to 10% employer contribution. Salary Range: Non-Registered $25.12 - $33.96/ hour, Registered Sanitarian / REHS $29.34 - $36.69/ hour. This position will remain open until filled with priority given to candidates that apply before April 28th, 2026

General Summary: Under general direction, conducts inspections of commercial, residential, and public locations to determine compliance with federal, state, and local district laws and ordinances; and to detect, prevent and resolve threats to public health and safety. Issues licenses and permits according to established standards. Duties vary by program assigned.

Essential Duties:

• Inspects premises and establishments and evaluates compliance with public health, safety and environmental regulations and codes.
• Advises owners, operators, contractors, environmental engineers, and so forth of issues or violations, and steps needed to achieve compliance and mitigate public health hazards.
• Investigates and evaluates complaints and public health nuisances.
• Completes forms, permits and reports required for documentation of inspections and findings.
• Provides environmental health education to individuals and groups.
• Performs on-site program duties as assigned which include:
  • Conducting field inspections at various locations such as public swimming pools, bathing beaches, dwellings, workplaces, childcare facilities, campgrounds, waste disposal facilities, private water supplies, and non-community public water supplies.
  • Issuing well construction permits and conducts final inspections.
  • Evaluating site suitability for septic systems, issuing septic permits, and conducting final inspections on installation of septic systems.
  • Collecting water samples for non-community water supplies, mortgage evaluations, long term monitoring program and Private/Type III program; and conducting Level II assessments for non-community water supply program.
  • Collect other environmental samples from indoor and outdoor environments for routine monitoring, compliance, or enforcement purposes while maintaining proper chain of custody.
  • Follow standard lab procedures for shipping, preparing, or analyzing samples.
• Performs food program duties as assigned which include:
  • Evaluating food service establishments to determine level of compliance with state law and model food code.
  • Providing consultation and education to both facility operators and the public on food safety, and licensing requirements.
  • Completing foodborne illness investigations
• Assists coordinator or supervisor in mentoring and training new employees.
• May issue and enforce notices to comply with state and local laws, ordinances, and regulations.
• Follows protocols for notifying division and agency leadership of serious or immediate threats to public health and safety.
• Performs office activities such as the preparing reports and correspondence, processing notices and licenses, writing permits, and responding to public record requests.
• Evaluates and issues temporary food service permits.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• Performs all other duties as assigned or in response to emergencies, workload or staffing shortages.
• Completion of National Incident Management System/Incident Command System courses based on current Public Health Emergency Preparedness requirements. Participates in Agency’s Emergency Preparedness Incident Command System (ICS) as assigned.
• Maintains up-to-date vaccines including flu (influenza,) in accordance with CDC guidelines: Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers, in which you allow CMDHD to access your current immunization status based on Michigan Improvement Care Registry (MCIR).

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental health or related field of science or engineering
• Ability to enter, retrieve and manage data and information in electronic forms, records and databases.
• Ability to plan and organize own work and accomplish multiple tasks in accordance with established practice and professional standards.
• Analytical abilities necessary to evaluate compliance and conduct comprehensive investigations; and measure and calculate temperatures, areas, distance and so forth.
• Communication skills necessary to gather and exchange information, and provide advice, guidance and instruction on public health and safety requirements.
• Ability to utilize environmental health equipment such as augers, probes, tape measures, GPS, thermometers, and so forth.
• Reliable transportation with valid Michigan driver’s license and certificate of insurance to travel to other locations for work, training, or meetings.

Core Competencies:

Professional Public Health Core Competencies Required:

Domain 1: Data Analytics and Assessment Skills

• 1.1 Describe factors that affect the health of a community.
• 1.3 Collects quantitative and qualitative data.
• 1.6 Uses quantitative and qualitative data.
• 1.7 Applies public health informatics in using data, information, and knowledge.
• 1.8 Assesses community health status.

Domain 2: Policy Development and Program Planning Skills

• 2.6. Engages in organizational strategic planning

Domain 3: Communication Skills

• 3.1. Determines communication strategies
• 3.2 Communicates with internal and external audiences.
• 3.3 Responds to information, misinformation, and disinformation.
• 3.4. Facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations

Domain 4: Health Equity Skills

• 4.1 Applies principles of ethics, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• 4.2 Engages in continuous self-reflection about one’s biases.
• 4.3 Recognizes the diversity of individuals and populations.
• 4.6 Contributes to achieving and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and competent public health workforce.
• 4.7 Advocates for health equity and social and environmental justice.

Domain 5: Community Partnership Skills

• 5.1 Describes conditions, systems, and policies affecting community health and resilience.
• 5.2 Establishes relationships to improve community health and resilience.
• 5.3 Maintain relationships that improve community health and resilience.
• 5.4 Collaborates with community members and organizations.

Domain 6: Public Health Sciences Skills

• 6.1 Describes systems, policies, and events impacting public health.
• 6.2 Applies public health sciences in delivering the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

Demonstrates Core Values: integrity, positive attitude, communications, customer service, responsibility, and accountability

Environment & Effort:

• Works both in general office setting, and at various locations such as construction or excavation sites, or interior facilities like commercial kitchens or cold storage units. Regularly exposed to adverse weather conditions, and extremes in temperature, humidity, odors, noise, or dirt.
• Physical effort includes climbing, reaching, walking over uneven surfaces, bending, stooping, kneeling, pulling, lifting, and pushing; and lifting and moving objects and tools weighing up to fifty (50) pounds.
• Visual effort in closely inspecting sites and surfaces, reading instruments for measures or temperatures, and viewing electronic records or reports using computer screens.
• Mental effort in comparing and evaluating data and information, conducting investigations, and completing permits and reports under strict deadlines.