Environmental Health Specialist Trainee - San Francisco DPH

Environmental Health Specialist Trainee - San Francisco DPH (9910)

Apply using Smart Recruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

The Department of Public Health prioritizes equitable and inclusive access to quality healthcare for its community and values the importance of diversity in its workforce. All employees at the Department of Public Health work to advance equity, inclusion, and diversity with a specific lens and focus on race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexuality, disability, and immigration status.

• Application Opening –
  October 10th, 2025
• Final date to receive applications – Application filing will close on or after October 24th, 2025
• Location: 49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA, 94103.

The Mission of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans. SFDPH strives to achieve its mission through the work of multiple divisions - the San Francisco Health Network, Population Health, Behavioral Health Services, and Administration. The San Francisco Health Network is the City’s only complete system of care and has locations throughout the City, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, and over 15 primary care health centers.

The Population Health Division (PHD) provides core public health services for the City and County of San Francisco: health protection, health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and disaster preparedness and response. Behavioral Health Services operates in conjunction with SFHN and provides a range of mental health and substance use treatment services.

NOTE:
The qualified applicant pool will be used to fill various positions located at different locations in the next six months.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health is accepting applications for temporary, full‑time Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) Trainee positions in class 9910 Public Service Trainee. The 9910 EHS Trainee will receive training required for taking the State of California Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) exam. This trainee program has a maximum duration of 36 months.

The primary program area in the Environmental Health Branch will be the Retail Tobacco and Smoking Program, and the trainee will be provided enough hours to qualify for the REHS exam.

Under the guidance of Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS), including the Program Manager and Environmental Health Staff, the 9910 Environmental Health Specialist Trainee will be trained to perform the following essential duties:

• Conduct surveys and assist with inspections of regulated facilities.
• Participate in projects involving databases used by the State Board of Equalization permits, local Health Department Permits and the San Francisco Tax collector.
• Conduct compliance checks and distribute regulatory information to the Department of Public Health permitted facilities.
• Compare data and generate reports.
• Provide office administrative assistance, such as processing permit applications, answering phone calls, and filing.
• Provide information to the public regarding Environmental Health Branch programs.
• Assist in the investigation of public health and safety hazards.
• Provide support for Environmental Health Branch programs as needed.

The Environmental Health Specialist Trainee Assistant performs other related duties as assigned/required.

Nature of Position:
These positions may require sustained physical effort involving continuous walking with some bending and stooping in conducting inspections with occasional exposure to health and safety hazards and other unpleasant conditions.

Education: A bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Ecology, Entomology, Geology, Hydrology, Climatology, Environmental Science (e.g., Food Science, Water Quality/Hydrology, etc.), or other related natural sciences *.

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Letter of Eligibility: Must possess a valid “Letter of Eligibility” issued from the CDPH, which affirms the applicant’s eligibility to work as an EHS Trainee. A legible copy of the “Letter of…