DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:  This is professional public health engineering work involving responsibilities regarding execution of one or more specialized phases of the environmental health programs of the Putnam County Department of Health (PCDOH) or the Putnam County Septic Repair Program (PCSRP). Work entails carrying out specific phases of the programs; performing specific assignments; advising public officials or individuals on problems requiring professional public health engineering knowledge and judgment, including measures for improvement and compliance with legal requirements; promotion of public health through application of environmental health practices requiring professional knowledge and skill; the enforcement of the provisions of all local and state public health laws and sanitary codes in relation to environmental health matters; investigations of conditions and problems requiring professional public health engineering knowledge and ability; preparation of complicated technical reports. Work is performed under general supervision of the Public Health Director, Director of Environmental Health Services or other higher-level supervisor. When assigned to the PCSRP, work is performed under general supervision of the Watershed Information Coordinator. Supervision may be provided to a small staff including Assistant Public Health Engineers, Public Health Engineer Trainees, Public Health Technicians, Environmental Health Aides and clerical employees. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:  (Illustrative only)

• Applies engineering principles for the detection, evaluation, control and management of those factors in the environment which influences human health;
• Investigates and makes reports and recommendations on public water supplies or sewage systems, private septic systems included in the PCSRP, swimming and bathing facilities, stream pollution, shellfish distribution, sanitary conditions of camps, hotels or boarding houses, food, restaurant and general sanitation, air pollution, x-ray installations and environmental health nuisances;
• Interprets the results of laboratory examinations of air, water, sewage, soil, industrial wastes and other samples;
• Instructs local water plant operators;
• Investigates environmental health factors related to disease outbreaks;
• Organizes municipalities and industries conducting surveys to detect illegal plumbing connections;
• Prepares design plans for on-site wastewater treatment systems included in the PCSRP;
• Consults (if assigned to PCSRP) with the PCDOH relative to on-site wastewater treatment system repairs;
• Confers special assignments relating to any phase of public health engineering or environmental health as required;
• Performs a variety of activities as required.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of public health engineering and environmental health as related to air pollution, x-ray installations, water supplies and purifica­tion, sewage and sewage disposal, stream pollution, milk and other foods, restaurants and public eating places, camps, hotels, lodging and boarding houses, swimming pools, bathing beaches, schools and other places, insect and rodent control, housing public health nuisances and general sanitation; thorough knowledge of the provisions of Public Health Law and State Sanitary code related to above subjects; ability to prepare satisfactory reports and correspondence; skill in public health engineering techniques and practices; initiative and resourcefulness in solving public health engineering problems; ability to deal satisfactorily with public and other officials and develop public relations; courtesy and tact.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Either

1. Master's degree in engineering and two (2) years experience in environ­mental health activities; or
2. Bache­lor's degree in engineering and three (3) years experience in environmental health activities; or
3. A license to practice as a professional engineer in New York State; or
4. An equivalent combination of training and experience as indicated in a), b) and (c) above.

PROMOTION:  One (1) year of permanent competitive class status in an Assistant Public Health Engineer position.

PLEASE NOTE:  Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:  Access to transportation may be required to complete possible field work assignments in a timely and efficient manner.

8/81; 8/85; 8/86; 8/96; 9/97; 11/04; 1/09

Competitive Class