HEALTH OFFICER/REGISTERED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST, 
PUBLIC HEALTH

HEALTH OFFICER

DEFINITION:

Under direction, recommends local public health policies; 
plans, develops, coordinates, and directs the work program 
of a municipal health department or agency and directs the 
enforcement of public health within the municipality concerned; 
does related work as required.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Recommends to superiors the establishment of local health
policies and programs.

Plans and directs the measures required to control and
prevent communicable diseases.

Directs and coordinates the inspection, investigation, legal
and other measures required to carry out the provisions of
local and state health laws.

Supervises sanitation measures and inspections throughout
the municipality.

Plans and directs the measures required to abate nuisances
which may affect health and sanitation.

Ensures that an adequate program of child health service
is provided.

Directs the placarding of homes wherein cases of 
communicable diseases are reported.

Maintains a current, accurate record of all diseases reported
within the municipality.

Investigates and/or directs the investigation of contacts and
contagious diseases.

As is provided for in the health ordinance, issues certain 
licenses and permits.

Inspects and/or supervises the inspection of food and 
drug establishments to assure compliance with the law.

Takes samples of mold for testing purposes.

Supervises the vital statistics registration work of the
municipality.

Writes correspondence and prepares clear, sound, 
accurate, and informative statistical, and other reports 
containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Supervises the establishment and maintenance of
essential records and files.

May be required to learn to utilize various types of 
electronic and/or manual recording and information 
systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

REQUIREMENTS:

LICENSE:

Possession of a valid Health Officer License issued 
by the New Jersey Department of Health.

NOTE:  Under certain circumstances, or upon request,
eligibility may be restricted to qualified physicians only,
who possess a valid Health Officer's License issued by
the New Jersey Department of Health, or to individuals
who possess a doctor or master degree in a health
related field, such as medicine, osteopathy, veterinary
medicine, public health, environmental science, health
administration, social work, nursing, or health education
and a valid New Jersey Health Officer's license.

LICENSE:

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license
valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, 
rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform 
the essential duties of the position.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of federal, state, and local public health laws, rules.
regulations, ordinances, policies, standards and procedures.

Knowledge of the local sanitary codes.

Knowledge of modern techniques of public health administration.

Knowledge of record maintenance for a modern public health
program.

Ability to organize work, analyze problems, and develop effective
work methods.

Ability to read and interpret laws, rules, regulations and 
provisions, and to apply them to specific situations.

Ability to recoginize and identify contagious diseases.

Ability to maintain and establish effective working relationhips
on health matters with citizens, physicians, and others.

Ability to give suitable instructions and assignments to 
employees and supervise the performance of their work.

Ability to make efficient and effective use of available funds, 
personnel, equipment, materials, supplies, and space.

Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of clear, 
technically sound, accurate, and informative reports and 
correspondence containing findings, conclusions, 
and recommendations.

Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of 
essential records and files.

Ability to learn to utilize various type of electronic and/or 
manual recording and information systems used by the 
agency, office, or related units.

Ability to read, wirte, speak, understand, or communicate 
in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.  
American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered 
as acceptable forms of communication.

Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as 
long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after 
reasonable accomodation is made to their known limitations.  
If the accomodation cannot be made because it would cause 
the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

CODES:  LG - 01988         JMR          7/22/93

This specification is for county and municipal government use only.


REGISTERED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST, PUBLIC HEALTH

DEFINITION:

Under direction performs sanitary inspection work involved in 
enforcement of relevant public health laws within the concerned 
jurisdiction; does other related duties.

NOTE:  The examples of work for this title are for illustrative 
purposes only.  A particular position using this title may not perform 
all duties listed in this job specification.  Conversely, all duties 
performed on the job may not be listed.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Makes inspections to enforce relevant sanitary and health laws.

When violations of relevant sanitary and health laws are found, 
determines the cause and takes proper corrective action.

Periodically inspects restaurants and other eating-places.

Investigates nuisances and violations of the sanitary code.

Gives testimony in court cases.

Receives and reviews applications for licenses or permits pertaining to
food handling establishments, hotels, tourist areas, trailer and summer
camps, dairies and milk pasteurization and processing plants, private
water supplies, swimming pools, beaches, and sewage disposal plants.

Confers with Public Health Engineers, Public Health Veterinarians, 
and Sanitary Inspectors concerning improvements in public facilities 
and methods of sanitation.

Makes surveys and investigations of communicable diseases and
epidemics which may be traceable to lack of environmental sanitation.

Reviews and analyzes records/reports and makes recommendations 
as to laws/regulations which are needed for proper control of 
environmental sanitation and for methods of improving the operation 
of existing controls.

Assembles, reviews, and utilizes articls, bulletins, demonstrations, 
and other educational methods and materials concerning varied 
phases of environmental sanitation.

May act in a liaison capacity with local Boards of Health in all 
areas of environmental health.

Prepares reports.

Maintains records and files.

Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or
manual recording and information systems used by the agency, 
office, or related units.

REQUIREMENTS:

LICENSE:

Possession of valid Registered Environmental Health Specialist 
License issued by the New Department of Health.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in 
New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee 
mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of problems/procedures involved in sanitary inspection 
work, in the enforcement of relevant public health laws, and of the 
broad field of public health.

Ability to interpret relevant public health laws and apply them to 
specific cases.

Ability to work harmoniously with concerned persons.

Ability to establish and maintain proper relationships with 
physicians, business proprietors, housekeepers, and others 
interested in and/or concerned with maintenance of public 
health standards.

Ability to take a firm and correct stand.

Ability to prepare reports of inspections.

Ability to act as a convincing witness in court.

Ability to maintain records and files.

Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual 
recording and information systems used by the agency, 
office or related units.

Ability to read, write speak, understand and communicate in 
English sufficiently to perform duties of this position.  American 
Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable 
forms of communication.

Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long 
as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable 
accomodation is made to their known limitations.  If the 
accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the 
employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

CODES:  LG - 03097         DJ              11/30/00

This job specification is for local government use only.

DUAL TITLE CODE:  LG - 07852        MER      11/15/07

This dual title job specification is for local government use only.