Public Health Educator

Role Overview

The City of Racine Health Department is seeking a Public Health Educator / Environmental Health Specialist to support policies, systems, and interventions that improve the health of individuals, groups, and the wider community. The role operates under the direction of the Public Health Administrator or their delegates.

Core Responsibilities

This position combines environmental health work with public health education. It includes surveillance, case handling, investigations, education outreach, grant coordination, and community partnership building.

Environmental Health Duties

• Oversee environmental health surveillance and intervention work to ensure prompt and accurate reporting and case management for animal bites, appeals, follow-up activities, and related matters.
• Use intensive interviewing and investigation methods for reports involving animal interactions, housing concerns, and other complaints.
• Prepare, receive, and properly store investigative reports and related documentation.
• Review guidelines and requirements through research and evaluation to measure program quality and performance.
• Record and maintain public health data in the required databases while protecting confidentiality as required by law.

Health Education and Outreach

• Assess individual and community needs to identify priorities for health education.
• Design, implement, and manage health education strategies, interventions, and programs.
• Develop and share educational materials and serve as a resource for public health information.
• Support communication efforts through press releases, media outreach, and maintenance of program websites.
• Promote health education in schools, workplaces, and community organizations.
• Maintain mailing lists, contact databases, and telephone networks used for outreach.
• Contribute to case management meetings, planning sessions, evaluations, conferences, committees, and community outreach activities.

Grants, Coordination, and Program Support

• Help coordinate committees and coalitions to strengthen cooperation among public, civic, professional, and volunteer groups.
• Assist in identifying, applying for, and maintaining supplemental grant funding.
• Participate in peer review and help evaluate program effectiveness.
• Manage assigned grants, programs, and/or contracts so objectives, deliverables, and reporting deadlines are met.
• Support the resubmission of grant applications when needed and maintain working knowledge of the division budget.

Additional Duties

• Complete other tasks as assigned or required.
• Take part in team meetings and general staff meetings.
• Serve as a first responder during natural disasters or public health, chemical, biological, nuclear, or radiological incidents.

Benefits and Work Conditions

The role includes a strong benefits package with medical coverage, dental coverage, a pension program, an HSA, generous paid time off, and a flexible schedule. City residents receive a 4% pay differential on top of the hourly rate. The job also involves office work as well as indoor and outdoor community settings.

Physical Requirements

The position may require standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, climbing, balancing, bending, twisting, reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up to 35 lbs, and routine use of hands for handling, grasping, filing, typing, and writing.

Equipment and Tools

Work may involve computer workstations and related equipment, copy and fax machines, multiline and cellular phones, typewriters, flashlights, digital/video cameras, audio/visual tools, and miscellaneous office, medical, inspection, and laboratory equipment.

Certifications and Other Requirements

• Current CPR/AED/First Aid certification, or the ability to earn it within six months of hire; it must be kept current throughout employment.
• Current tuberculosis and blood-borne pathogen training, or the ability to obtain it within one year of hire; it must be maintained during employment.
• Current Category A/B packaging certification, or the ability to obtain it within one year of hire; it must be maintained during employment.
• Current NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800 certifications where applicable, or the ability to obtain them within one year of hire; they must be maintained during employment.
• Working knowledge of community systems and the ability to refer clients to healthcare providers, social service agencies, and advocacy organizations.
• Understanding of HIPAA compliance and client privacy practices.
• Experience evaluating health trends and risk factors in target populations.
• Ability to build professional relationships with clients, coworkers, supervisors, and community partners.
• Self-motivation with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong experience with Microsoft Office or newer tools, desktop publishing, and internet-based research, along with the ability to pass required skills tests.
• Experience working with large or specialized databases and preparing data for analysis.
• Ability to analyze and manipulate data in Excel or other databases using established criteria to assess significance and outcomes.
• Ability to compare, count, measure, copy, compute, tabulate, and categorize data, with successful completion of required skills tests.
• Ability to gather and use scientific and client data from patient records, lab reports, physician orders, maps, flow charts, and statistical reports.
• Ability to understand and apply information from policies, evaluations, time study sheets, manuals, textbooks, and software guides.
• Strong written and verbal English skills, including spelling, punctuation, and grammar, with the ability to pass required tests.
• Effective communication skills across all levels, including clients, families, physicians, government personnel, pharmacists, hospital staff, and jail personnel.
• Ability to support the development, submission, and implementation of successful grant proposals.
• Ability to interpret, regulate, and enforce state, local, and federal laws, regulations, and rules.
• Ability to train and coordinate interns and visiting students.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree or higher in health education, behavioral sciences, or biological sciences from an accredited college or university is required, along with academic credits in math and science, including physical and biological areas. Candidates must have at least two years of work experience in public health with demonstrated capability in the required areas. A valid Wisconsin driver’s license and a reliable personal vehicle with required insurance coverage are also required.

Preferred Background

• Three years of experience with a governmental public health agency.
• Bilingual ability in Spanish and English.
• Experience working with diverse communities.
• Stronger background in statistical theory and methods.
• Public speaking experience and the ability to present data and program materials in PowerPoint.

Application Note

Applicants must apply online through the employer’s hiring system.