Environmental Health Specialist Trainee

Overview

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range: $31.03 - $38.00 Hourly

Department: Health Department

Job Type: Regular Represented

Exemption Status: United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled If No Date Specified): January 25, 2026

THIS WORK MATTERS! Join us at Multnomah County Health Department, where we are seeking individuals who embody leadership, achievement, and action in a dynamic and ever-evolving environment. Our mission is to collaborate with communities, advance health equity, safeguard the most vulnerable, and foster health and wellness for all. Guided by our core values of Compassion and Care, Empowerment, Racial Equity, Creativity, and Integrity, we strive to create a workplace culture characterized by respect, trust, and understanding for the diverse populations we serve.

Multnomah County s Public Health Division is a vital resource for residents, working to promote physical and mental health, prevent disease and injury, and ensure access to essential health services. Some of our key functions include preventing and controlling diseases, supporting maternal and child health, addressing mental health and substance use, ensuring environmental health, and promoting health equity.

Environmental Health Services (EHS) programs protect the public from environmental health-related issues: food, water, vector borne diseases and environmental health threats and disasters. The work is complex due to numerous environmental health concerns and regulations. The EHS unit analyzes local environmental health issues from a public health perspective, regulates specified businesses and enforces state and local environmental health laws and rules.

The Environmental Health Specialist Trainee will perform a variety of inspection duties toward the promotion and maintenance of environmental health laws in licensed facilities, including food service operations, swimming pools and spa pools, tourist accommodations and schools.

As The Environmental Health Specialist Trainee, You Will

• Assist in the inspection of food, tourist, housing, school, institutional care and day care facilities, and public swimming and spa pools for compliance with state sanitation laws and regulations.
• Conduct health hazard surveys and assist in conducting public water system surveys; follow up on alerts.
• Assist in the investigation of communicable disease outbreaks implicating food or water or other environmental causes in public facilities or in a community; recommend necessary control measures.
• Assist in the review of building and mechanical plans and specifications of proposed or existing facilities for compliance with public health laws.
• Assist in the review of food trucks / food pod plans and specifications of proposed or existing facilities for compliance with public health laws.

Salary/Pay: The pay range listed provides general guidance on earning potential. Actual compensation will be determined in accordance with Oregon Equal Pay Law and factors such as experience and education. Initial offers are expected to be within the listed pay range and may not be at the top.

Benefits: Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; work-life balance; and more. Details are on our benefits website.

Diversity and Inclusion: Multnomah County values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As a Health Department employee you will promote a culture of respect, trust and understanding for the diverse populations served. All employees share responsibility for promptly addressing conduct that interferes with a work environment free of illegal discrimination and harassment.

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. Details about how we typically screen applications are on our overview of the selection process page.

Required

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree and at least 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent semester hours, in science courses relating to environmental sanitation from an accredited college or university as outlined by ORS 700.035; OR
• Have at least 15 quarter hours, or the equivalent semester hours, in science courses relating to environmental sanitation from an accredited college or university and at least five years of experience in environmental sanitation or related activities, as determined by the board, under the supervision of a registered environmental health specialist or a person possessing equal qualifications, as determined by the board, as outlined by ORS 700.035.

Training, Licenses, And Certifications

• Must meet Environmental Health Specialist…