Public Health Inspector

About the role

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Division of Environmental Health prevents and controls illness and injury linked to environmental and occupational health risks through outreach, education, surveillance and enforcement. Its Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation protects the public, including vulnerable citizens, from hazards to health and safety. The bureau is mandated to inspect 26,000 restaurants annually, school cafeterias, mobile food vending units, adult day care centers, senior centers, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other facilities.

Key responsibilities

• Make periodic inspections of commercial and social service establishments.
• Enforce provisions of the Smoke-Free Air Act and the Tobacco Product Regulation Act.
• Review menus and menu boards to check compliance with nutritional requirements that help reduce and combat chronic diseases and obesity.
• Prepare inspection reports using handheld computers.
• Prepare and serve court summonses when specific violations of City and State laws and regulations are found.
• Enforce anti-corruption control policies.
• Testify at the Office of Trials and Hearings and other courts when required.
• Travel throughout the five boroughs using mass transit.

Required profile

• Preferred: technical and scientific skills.
• Able to carry and use about 20 pounds of inspection equipment on a constant basis.

Required skills

• Effective communication skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Computer skills.