Environmental Health Specialist IV - Hazardous Materials / Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)

Full Job Description

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package:

• General Salary Increase - 3.5% each year for 2026, and 2027.
• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level Ill).
• Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule – We support work life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80 workweek) and remote hybrid telework schedules for most positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance.
• Sick Leave - Full-time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Vacation Accrual - New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Vacation Redemption - After 10,400 hours of continuous County service (approximately five (5) years), an employee may elect to “cash in” or redeem up to 120 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Insurance - Full-time regular employees are provided an annual flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626.86 to help offset the cost of medical insurance for themselves and their eligible dependents.
  • Employee only - $463.99 per biweekly pay period
  • Employee plus one dependent - $834.32 per biweekly pay period
  • Employee plus family - $1,024.11 per biweekly pay period.
• Dental and Vision- Dental and Vision insurance is free for all employees enrolled in a County-sponsored dental and/or vision plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County’s defined benefit plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits -Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

THE AGENCY
The primary goal of the Resource Management Agency (RMA) is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public through administration and enforcement of County ordinances, Board policy, and state and federal laws regarding land use, and commercial and environmental regulation. RMA includes five divisions: Environmental Health, Planning, Building & Safety, Code Compliance, and Operations/GIS.

RMA recognizes the value of having a diverse and inclusive workforce at all levels of our agency to best serve our clients and be representative of the community we serve and is committed to being an active participant in removing barriers to ensure equitable access and opportunities for success. The agency is dedicated to attracting, hiring, developing, retaining and valuing quality employees fully empowered to protect everyone’s health, safety, and the environment, and committed to providing excellent customer service through the efficient, accurate, and consistent application of laws, ordinances, regulations, and policies.

THE DIVISION
The mission of the EHD is to protect public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to the following programs: food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, onsite wastewater treatment systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground storage tanks, and vector control.

THE POSITION:
Under general direction, performs progressively complex professional environment health activities within the Environmental Health Division's CUPA Program 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.

The ideal candidate will be able to act as a project team leader and program coordinator; able to work with a diverse group of stakeholders in challenging situations with a high degree of tact and diplomacy; be innovative and enthusiastic; and have strong communication and interpersonal skills. This person will also be highly motivated; self-directed and possess strong organizational skills; be able to identify and solve problems; interpret and administer various laws, regulations and ordinances, and exercise good judgment.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary, Extra Help, Intermittent, and Fixed-Term) vacancies for this position and similar positions within the Resource Management Agency.

There are currently two (2) Regular vacancies within the Environmental Health Division, Hazardous Materials/CUPA Program, specifically program lead positions in the following areas:

• Hazardous Waste and the California Accidental Release Program (CalARP)
• Aboveground storage tanks (APSA) and Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP)
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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
OPENING DATE: Monday, March 23, 2026
CLOSING DATE: Friday, April 10, 2026

Requirements

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Performs inspections of various facilities and properties to determine conformance with applicable hazardous materials and hazardous waste federal, state and local laws and regulations.
• Serves as the program team leaders and coordinator for one or more programs. Acting as the subject matter expert and primary trainer for each assigned program.
• Researches, compiles, synthesizes, analyzes, and interprets information and data necessary to meet environmental health objectives.
• Prepares written reports and makes recommendations for completion of environmental health projects.
• Coordinates environmental health projects, defines problems and alternative solutions, and sets objectives.
• Conducts field investigations of various sites to have first-hand knowledge of the location under study.
• 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.
• Provides general information to the public in response to questions about projects, environmental health programs, applicable ordinances, policies and procedures.
• May participate in enforcement activities which include civil or criminal cases and may involve issuance of citations, collection of evidence and court appearances.
• Makes oral presentations to public groups and governmental bodies to explain and clarify environmental health reports and recommendations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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:

Extensive experience in environmental health which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities.

The required knowledge and abilities also can be obtained by completion of a Bachelor’s degree in environmental health science or a related field and five (5) or more years of progressively responsible environmental health experience.

Substitution:

• A Master's degree in environmental health science or a related field, and/or registration as an Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) in California may each substitute for one year of experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid California driver license.
• Effective written communication skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
• Ability and willingness to work in Ventura and Simi Valley.
• A California Underground Storage Tank (UST) Inspector certification issued by the International Code Council is required within six (6) months of appointment.
• A passing score on the Above Ground Petroleum Storage Tank Act (APSA) course and exam, approved by the California Office of State Fire Marshall is required within six (6) months of appointment.
• Respond to emergency incidents involving hazardous materials.

DESIRED:

• Experience as project manager/lead Environmental Health Specialist is highly desired.
• Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) in California is highly desired.
• Experience with Environmental Health program development.
• Experience with developing, evaluating and updating policies and procedures.
• Experience in effectively communicating program goals, administrative policies, and technical information to staff and the general public.
• Experience with database maintenance and process development.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Comprehensive Knowledge of:

• Chemistry, microbiology and environmental health science.
• State, federal, local laws and regulations relating to assigned environmental health programs and functions.

Thorough knowledge of:

• Environmental research and statistical methods.
• Interagency relationships and program area.
• Field tests and analytical procedures within environmental health program areas.
• Investigative techniques and sample collection.

Working ability to:

• Perform inspections by collecting, analyzing and interpreting data within program areas, including data entry and creation of reports.
• Solve problems at increasingly complex levels and formulate recommendations.
• Speak and write clearly and concisely, including preparation of technical reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and staff of other agencies.
• Provide information and coordinate environmental health efforts.
• Coordinate projects and programs.
• Train staff and the public.

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. Also requires occasional climbing, crouching, kneeling, balancing and keyboard entry.

Additional Information

FINAL FILING DATE: Applications must be received by the County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026.

To apply on-line, 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 performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION – qualifying: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) may be used in lieu of an oral examination. A T&E evaluation is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E evaluation is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E evaluation is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E evaluation, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the Agency. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low and may result in them not advancing in the process.

NOTE: In a typical T&E evaluation, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience, and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See or Refer Resume" or "See Above" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further consideration.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related Oral Examination may be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

If there are three or fewer qualified applicants, an oral examination will not be conducted. Instead, a score will be assigned to each application based on established criteria. Such score will be considered the final score for placement on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies for this and similar positions within the Resource Management Agency.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record is required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Daisy Silva by email at Daisy.Silva@venturacounty.gov or by telephone at (805) 654-2479.