Entry Level Health Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $60,174.40 - $93,641.60 Annually
Location : Lake County, CA
Job Type: Full Time - Open to all applicants
Job Number: 26-108
Department: Health Services Administration
Division: Environmental Health - 4010
Opening Date: 08/26/2026
Closing Date: 9/9/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Job Details
Under general direction, assists with and learns to conduct sanitary inspections and investigations in environmental health conditions to enforce federal, state, county, and local environmental health, safety, and hazardous materials laws, ordinances, regulations, rules, and standards, obtaining compliance or corrective action, and educating the public concerning environmental health and safety; assists with program development and improvement; and performs related duties as assigned under direct supervision.
Minimum Qualifications
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST I
Licensing and Certifications:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California Driver's License.
Documentation showing application to the California Department of Health Services/Environmental Health Specialist Registration Program must be submitted with a County of Lake employment application.
Ability to obtain a valid Environmental Health registration issued by the State Department of Public Health within three (3) years of initial employment with the county.
Education and Experience:
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in biological or physical sciences, environmental health science, engineering, or a closely related field.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST II
Licensing and Certifications:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California Driver's License.
Possession of a valid Environmental Health registration issued by the State Department of Public Health.
Education and Experience:
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in biological or physical sciences, environmental health science, engineering, or a closely related field.
AND
One (1) year of full-time experience performing or assisting with environmental investigations and inspections duties comparable to that of the Environmental Health Specialist I with the County of Lake.
Additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST, SENIOR
Licensing and Certifications:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California Driver's License.
Possession of a valid Environmental Health registration issued by the State Department of Public Health.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or a closely related field.
AND
Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist performing a variety of environmental investigations and inspections.
Additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted.
General Recruitment Information
This is not exhaustive of all job responsibilities. For more details, please refer to the link provided below.
To view the complete job description, you have two options: Either visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lakecountyca/classspecsor simply click on this link.
The information presented in job postings, job descriptions, or recruitment materials does not form a legally binding contract, either explicit or implicit. Benefits may differ among different employee groups. The details provided in these materials are subject to change or cancellation without prior notification. Prospective employees of the County of Lake must undergo the County's pre-employment medical review program upon receiving a conditional job offer before assuming their position with the County.
Applicants may substitute relevant experience and/or education at a 2 to 1 ratio to fulfill minimum qualifications. For further details, individuals should reach out to the Human Resources department.
ADA Accommodations
Individuals in need of accommodation during the application and/or selection process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should reach out to County of Lake Human Resources at (707) 263-2213.
The County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer
Veteran's Preference
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST I
DEFINITION
Under direct supervision, assists with and learns to conduct sanitary inspections and investigations in the environmental health conditions to enforce of federal, state, and local environmental health, safety, and hazardous materials laws, ordinances, and regulations; obtains compliance or corrective action; educates the public concerning environmental health and safety; and performs related duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the trainee/entry level non-registered classification in the Environmental Health Specialist series. Incumbents in this class assist registered Environmental Health Specialists while learning to perform environmental health inspections and enforcement functions. Incumbents are expected to attain state registration within three (3) years of initial employment. After obtaining state registration as an Environmental Health Specialist, and as experience is gained, assignments become more varied, complex, and difficult.
This class is distinguished from Environmental Health Specialist II in that incumbents are working in a training and learning capacity.
Positions in the Environmental Health Specialist series are flexibly staffed. Incumbents may advance to higher classifications after gaining the knowledge, skill, experience, licenses, and certifications which meet the qualifications for and demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direct supervision from assigned supervisory or management staff. Exercises no supervision over staff. May provide technical and functional direction to assigned staff.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the scope of duties performed by employees in this class and are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

• Assists with inspections to secure compliance with federal, state, and local sanitation laws and regulations governing food handling establishments, sewage disposal systems, substandard housing, land use, swimming pools, recreational health facilities, water supply systems, solid waste management, public nuisances, toxic/hazardous waste materials, zoning, underground storage tanks, and other areas.
• Assists with recommending changes and provides instruction for deficiency and violation corrections.
• Assists with advising food handlers and restaurant operators on correct sanitation methods.
• Assists with special investigations of public complaints.
• Assists in conducting investigations of insect nuisances or infestations.
• Works with solid waste issues and problems, including illegal garbage dumping.
• Makes inspections of public and private recreational facilities and swimming pools.
• Assists with conducting a variety of health and safety compliance inspections.
• Inspects facilities to minimize future health threats.
• Takes water, soil, and waste samples and assists with interpreting data.
• Learns to interpret environmental health laws and regulations for the public.
• Reviews and assists with recommending changes in building plans to comply with environmental health regulations and standards.
• Conducts on-site evaluations of sewage disposal systems.
• Assists with reporting findings.
• Assists with the initiation of non-compliance legal actions, filing criminal complaints in court, or scheduling an administrative hearing, as appropriate.
• Learns to make abatement recommendations for environmental health problems.
• Learns to issue permits for wells, food handling establishments, septic systems, and hazardous and medical waste facilities.
• Develops technical reports.
• Prepares correspondence regarding a variety of issues.

• Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

• Chemical, biological, physical, and environmental sciences.
• Basic principles and practices of environmental health, including inspection, review, compliance, and consultation methods and practices.
• Basic knowledge of the functions and operations of state and federal environmental health agencies.
• Sampling techniques and standards.
• Basic investigative techniques and principles of evidence.
• Computers and software used in environmental inspections and investigations.

• Proper English spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Applicable business equipment and software applications.
• Customer service principles and techniques.

• Written and oral communications skills.
• Proper English spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software applications) to conduct research, assess information, and/or prepare documentation.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction.

Ability to:

• Learn the policies and procedures of the Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Department.
• Learn the laws, rules, regulations, requirements, and procedures governing environmental health inspection and enforcement.
• Assist with and learn to perform a variety of environmental health and hazardous waste investigations, inspections, and enforcement.
• Learn to conduct thorough routine and special inspections and investigations.
• Learn to use various test sampling, monitoring, measuring, and laboratory supplies and equipment, and specialized protective gear as needed.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data, reaching valid conclusions.
• Read, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures regarding environmental health inspections, compliance, and enforcement.
• Prepare a variety of technical reports.
• Perform research and analytical work.
• Effectively represent the Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Department in contacts with the public, other County staff, and other government agencies.
• Regularly work well under pressure, meeting critical deadlines.
• Utilize a computer, relevant software applications, and/or other equipment as assigned.
• Constantly demonstrate cooperative behavior with colleagues, supervisors, customers, clients, and the public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Licensing and Certifications:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California Driver's License.
Documentation showing application to the California Department of Health Services/Environmental Health Specialist Registration Program must be submitted with a County of Lake employment application.
Ability to obtain a valid Environmental Health registration issued by the State Department of Public Health within three (3) years of initial employment with the county.
Education and Experience:
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in biological or physical sciences, environmental health science, engineering, or a closely related field.
WORKING CONDITIONS, ADA, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The County of Lake is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Incumbents are subject to shift work as assigned, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Standby duty is also required.
Incumbents generally work partially in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions and partially in the field. As such, incumbents may have occasional exposure to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, and direct exposure to hazardous physical conditions. Incumbents may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
Positions in this class typically require: sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits