Environmental Health Specialist

Salary

The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the pay ranges listed below. Base salary is localized according to an employee’s work location. Ranges are market-dependent and may be modified in the future.

For candidates living in Boston, MA, Denver, CO, New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, and Washington, DC, the pay range is $69,300 - $80,550.

For candidates living in the United States, besides Boston, MA, Denver, CO, New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, and Washington, DC, the pay range is $58,700 - $68,250.

Position Summary

PLEASE NOTE: This is a US-based role that requires the employee to reside within the 48 contiguous states.

The Specialist, Environmental Health, provides programmatic support for APHL’s environmental global health work focused on assessing and developing laboratory systems for blood lead testing, in multiple countries in Africa, in partnership with the CDC Foundation. The Specialist will identify existing sampling and testing resources, opportunities to fill knowledge gaps, and develop a tool kit for blood lead testing in low resource areas. In collaboration with APHL Global Health and Environmental Health teams, the specialist will contribute to the country-specific plans to build and sustain blood testing capability and capacity in program areas. Environmental lead pollution from past land use practices and waste mismanagement remains a considerable hazard to children and adults living in these environments. The aim of this project is to develop practical blood lead testing plans for countries to implement to identify individuals in need of specialized medical treatment and to initiate exposure reduction strategies.

The Specialist will work with the Environmental Health Senior Director, and other team members to implement project activities, develop resources, and facilitate project meetings.

At this time, this position is funded through May 2027 and is dependent upon continued availability of funds.

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to strengthen laboratory systems serving the public’s health in the U.S. and globally. APHL’s member laboratories protect the public’s health by monitoring and detecting infectious and foodborne diseases, environmental contaminants, terrorist agents, genetic disorders in newborns and other diverse health threats.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides project management, strategic thinking, and administrative support to assess current blood lead testing capabilities and analytical capacity in designated areas and develop country specific plans to meet jurisdictional needs.
  • Collaborates with subject matter experts, public health partners and APHL environmental and global health teams to achieve project goals and deliverables.
  • Provides technical input into the development of a landscape assessment of existing blood lead sampling and testing capabilities.
  • Develops a sampling, testing and quality management tool kit designed for low resource jurisdictions.
  • In collaboration with APHL marketing and communications department, develops communication materials (i.e, articles, blog and social media posts, guidance documents).
  • Shares timely lead testing and other environmental laboratory information through APHL’s communication platforms.
  • Connects this lead testing work to APHL’s domestic activities through connection with the Environmental Health Committee.

Tasks to successfully complete these activities include:

• Takes meeting notes, writes summary reports and articles for newsletters and other publications, and conducts research and analysis to develop survey, report, and other project drafts.
• Maintains communication with APHL staff and other partners by email, telephone, and direct meetings and represents APHL interests at meetings, trainings, workshops and site visits.
• Organizes and coordinates project activities, workgroup meetings, training, webinars, and associated staff and member travel.
• Enlists APHL member and staff experts and non-member experts to support implementation of activities, organizes project teams, monitors overall project performance and reports on project outcomes.
• Communicates program activities, award agreement reporting requirements with project officers and other partners.
• Other duties as assigned.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Occasional domestic travel (up to 15%). 

Employment Standards- Education and Experience

• Incumbents at this level typically have a specialty gained through a college degree, two to five years of relevant on-the-job experience or advanced technical training or experience. An advanced degree may be substituted for work experience. Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• The Specialist is responsible for providing professional support for programs or internal functional activities and typically performs analysis, research, writing, and project coordination, usually under the direction of a Senior Manager or Senior Director.
• Work at this level requires that the Specialist understand the concepts, practices and procedures of the area of specialization and can apply them to work that may be difficult in nature.
• Specialists work under supervision and have limited latitude and decision-making authority; but they have sufficient knowledge and experience that they can carry projects out fairly independently once a plan is in place.
• A Specialist may have frequent contact with outside organizations or internal customers that may involve project coordination, information sharing, or resolution of problems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Requires advanced knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education combined with experience. Typically has a University Degree (BA/BS) or equivalent experience or certifications and two to five years of relevant work experience.
• Chemistry, environmental health, public health, project management, and global health knowledge are strongly preferred.

Skills

Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook email systems, as well as an adaptive nature to new computer programs and other digital tools. Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills.

Abilities

Ability to establish working relationships with diverse groups, work independently, and switch between a variety of departmental activities, and organize work projects and complete tasks within assigned timeframes.

APHL Weeks:

APHL Week is a conference/convention that is held at the APHL Home Office (Bethesda, MD). While this has been an in-person event in the past, most recently it was conducted virtually. Employee attendance is mandatory.

Position Description Status:

The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are illustrative ones anticipated for this position. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required. Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) reserves the right to amend or change this job description to meet the needs of its programs. This job description and any attachments do not constitute or represent a contract.

Work Environment:

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a colleague to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. During the job, the colleague may need to sit for extended periods, use a computer keyboard to type, read information visually, and communicate orally through a computer monitor.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement:

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, protected veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.