Job Description

Posting number: 2025-0210

Department: Environmental Health

Job classification: Student Intern-Temporary

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community Services, Environmental Services, Food Services, Customer Service, Internship

This position will be hosted in the Nevada County Environmental Health Department and will report directly to the Environmental Health Manager or the Supervising Environmental Health Specialist IV.

Functions of Agency/Department:

The Nevada County Environmental Health Department is responsible for public health and safety of our community and visitors via the inspection, investigation and regulation of facilities. Some of the areas of focus are food facilities, swimming pools and spas, body art and tattoo facilities, school kitchens, organized camps, vector control, automotive shops, paint and auto repair shops, onsite wastewater systems (septic systems) and residential or commercial drinking water systems.

The Environmental Health Department is comprised of 3 Divisions: Consumer Protection (e.g., food, swimming pools, body art, drinking water, organized camps), Land Use (e.g., septic systems, residential wells) and Hazardous Materials. Each of the divisions has specific programmatic areas that require permits issued to business owners or property owners, with required inspections.

Intern Duties and Responsibilities:

Under general supervision, assists with inspection reports, site investigations, customer service calls and interactions, and learning the various software and data management systems. Intern duties will be assigned based on skill level and will be coordinated around Environmental Health inspection staff calendars and workloads.

Examples of duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Jointly inspect food facilities, temporary food booths, mobile food facilities, public swimming pools and spas, automotive repair and paint shops, hazardous material sites, transfer station inspections, onsite soils tests for septic systems, installation of septic systems, commercial drinking water systems and residential wells.
• Enter inspection reports and photographic documentation into the software databases that the EH Department utilizes daily.
• Communicate with owners and staff of permitted facilities during inspection activities.
• Researching property information and parcel files to prepare for land use projects such as onsite soils evaluations, septic tank installations, and leach field designs and installations.
• Keeps records, including uploading inspection reports and collating photographs as part of the inspection record.
• Assist the Department with community outreach.

Candidates selected for the position would be asked to perform a range of duties from very basic activities to those requiring higher skill levels to enhance interns' familiarity and skillset within Environmental Health.

Interns need to be able to stand or walk much of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects of 10-25 pounds. Any disabilities preventing these standards of work will be accommodated as we are able.

Educational Requirements, Skills, Training, or Qualifications:

This Internship is designed for any area of expertise, some areas that might be more pertinent could be students in science, biology or chemistry participating in the Nevada Union Joint High School District Career Technical Education Program. Must have a neat appearance, be detail-oriented, reliable, good written and oral communication skills. The County is a Microsoft Windows enterprise environment.

Time Commitment:

The intern would work approximately 2 hours per day Tuesday through Friday (2-3 days) each week. The overall internship could last up to 26 weeks during the school year (October – May, excluding Finals weeks and holidays). A typical schedule would require students to participate from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Friday. Monday of each week will be reserved for classroom instruction on the school campus.

Benefits of participating in an internship:

This program prepares interns to contend for environmental health careers after postsecondary education completion. Through participation in the program, interns will acquire hands-on knowledge and skills related to:

• Principles and practices about the varied focal areas within the oversight of the Environmental Health Department for Nevada County.
• Operation of inspection equipment such as temperature gauges, ambient air readers, field tablets, and development of communication skills.
• Safety and safe working practices and conditions when in the field conducting land use, hazmat or consumer protection related inspections.
• Diagnosing, troubleshooting, and obtaining the ability to assess permitted facilities for corrective action and compliance with current regulations.
• Understanding the public health and safety importance of required inspections and the benefits to the community and visitors.
• Use of computer programs related to inspection data, time tracking and investigations.
• Build their resume and explore career options and employment opportunities.
• Gain an understanding of the local government workforce and culture.
• Develop communication and interpersonal skills to aid in future job interviews.

Interns who are earning school credit through an educational program may be eligible for a $298.00 stipend per semester, no more than $599.00 per calendar year upon completion of the internship (Board Resolution 21-110).

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Other employment requirements:

• 14-18 years of age with the ability to secure a work permit and be enrolled in high school with guardian-signed approval.
• If 18, must consent to fingerprinting and be enrolled in high school for the 2026-2027 school year.