PRINCIPAL PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEER 2135

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

An employee in this class is responsible for the performance of professional public health engineering work involving responsibility for the planning, direction and supervision of the public health engineering and environmental protection program. Work involves furnishing advice and guidance to local officials and the general public in regard to public health engineering and environmental protection problems, and for the enforcement of the provisions of the New York State Public Health Law, the New York State Environmental Conservation Law, the New York State Sanitary Code, the Laws and Regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Suffolk County Sanitary Code in relation to environmental protection matters. Supervision is exercised over professional engineering and sanitary inspection personnel. Work is reviewed by means of conferences, periodic operational reports and appraisal of the general effectiveness of the public health engineering and environmental protection program of the department. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

Plans and directs the activities of the environmental quality division and its programs of public health engineering and environmental protection;

Supervises the enforcement of provisions of the public health law and sanitary code relating to public water supplies, toxic and hazardous materials storage facilities, sewage and waste disposal, operation of water and sewage treatment plants and public swimming pools;

Interprets to the staff and the general public Health Department policies and directives as they relate to sanitary and public health engineering;

Consults with district Public Health Engineers and advises them on environmental protection and sanitary engineering problems;

Reviews and approves plans and specifications for sewage disposal systems, water supply systems, industrial waste treatment systems, realty subdivisions plans and other sanitary engineering projects submitted by professional engineers and architects required by state and county sanitary codes; supervises inspection of completed projects to determine conformance for the approved plans;

Prepares technical engineering bulletins on specific sanitary and public health engineering projects;

Formulates and directs programs of training for water and sewage plant operators and environmental protection personnel;

Coordinates environmental review pursuant to the Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) with other agencies and groups, as appropriate;

Participates with other agencies in revising and/or drafting environmental regulations and legislation;

Develops and implements monitoring and programs to determine immediate and long-range effects of projects on the environment;

Presents talks to civic and other groups concerning the environmental protection program of the Health Department.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, techniques and practices of public health engineering and environmental protection as related to water supply and purification, sewage disposal, stream pollution, ground water pollution, toxic and hazardous materials storage, swimming pools and general sanitation; comprehensive knowledge of provisions of the Public Health Laws and state and local sanitary codes and New York State Environmental Conservation laws; ability to plan, develop, direct and administer public health engineering and environmental protection programs; ability to plan and direct the work of engineers and environmental protection personnel in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale; ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; ability to perform difficult engineering computations and to make comprehensive recommendations on engineering programs; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

OPEN COMPETITIVE

Graduation from a college with federally-authorized accreditation or registration by NY State with a Bachelor's Degree in either Engineering or Engineering Technology, and ten (10) years of sanitary, public health or environmental engineering experience, four (4) years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.

NOTE: A Master's Degree in either Engineering or Engineering Technology may be substituted for two (2) years of the non-supervisory experience.

PROMOTIONAL

Two (2) years of permanent competitive status as an Associate Public Health Engineer; or,

Three (3) years of permanent competitive status as a Senior Public Health Engineer.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must possess a Professional Engineer's License issued by the State of New York at the time of appointment. License must be maintained throughout employment in this title.

At the time of appointment, and during employment in this title, employees will be required to possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State.

R 6/29/18

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Competitive