JOB TITLE: PUBLIC HEALTH TOXICOLOGIST

JOB CODE: 34590

DEFINITION: This is highly responsible professional and scientific work administering the statewide public health toxicology program.

The employee in this job provides program direction, subject matter expertise, and consultation on toxicological issues to protect the public from exposure to toxicological and environmental hazards. Work involves providing health assessments of the implications of environmental and toxicological exposures; developing and publishing technical toxicological guidance documents on environmental health threats; reviewing and commenting on environmental legislation, governmental reports, and technical materials; representing the department on governmental advisory boards, commissions, and workgroups; and providing expert testimony at state legislative hearings on toxicological issues. Work includes coordinating the identification of toxicological hazards with state and federal agencies, including preparing reports and providing technical support and coordination to state, county, and federal environmental health programs; providing consultation to commonwealth agencies, health care practitioners, pharmacists, and the public on the health effects of exposures to toxic substances; and recommending public health actions to control or prevent harmful exposures. Work is performed under the general direction of a higher-level administrator and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and evaluation of results.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Develops and publishes fact sheets on toxic chemicals of public health significance.

• Develops public health advisories and assessments about the health effects of environmental exposures.

• Develops and publishes action guidelines for chemicals that are not assigned an action level by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food and Drug Administration.

• Analyzes data, reviews reports and statistics, interprets findings, and prepares final reports on studies.

• Interprets animal studies and reviews epidemiological studies to assess human health effects.

• Writes health consultations for individuals potentially exposed to hazardous substances.

• Serves on interagency workgroups, such as the Pesticide Advisory Board and the Fish Consumption Technical Advisory Workgroup.

• Provides advice on environmental health toxicology issues to department executive staff and other executive branch agencies.

• Provides consultative services to other governmental entities, private industry, and local communities on toxicological hazards.

• Provides consultation to environmental health programs within and outside the state regarding the identification of chemicals for surveillance, the expansion of toxicological testing programs, and environmental health grant requirements.

• Evaluates data on the release of hazardous substances into the environment to assess public health impacts.

• Coordinates with state, federal, and other entities to plan and conduct responses to environmental emergencies, including planning with healthcare entities to secure resources that protect against, control, mitigate, or treat symptoms of environmental exposure.

• Coordinates with state and federal agencies to conduct post analysis following environmental emergencies and develop recommendations for impacted populations.

• Collaborates with healthcare practitioners to provide consultation and advice on medical precautions and clinical recommendations to state and federal agencies during toxic and environmental emergencies.

• Collaborates with healthcare practitioners to provide consultation and advice on the toxic and clinical effects of chemical and industrial hazards on humans.

• Develops policies and procedures for and directs special epidemiological studies as a follow-up to toxic environmental emergencies.

• Identifies studies or additional actions needed to further evaluate environmental exposures.

• Participates in news conferences, assists in preparing news releases, and prepares and delivers formal presentations to special interest groups.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public health toxicology.

• Knowledge of biology, chemistry, and pharmacology as related to environmental health.

• Knowledge of environmental health regulations.

• Knowledge of the clinical and physiological effects of toxic substances.

• Knowledge of public health laws and regulations.

• Knowledge of epidemiological research methodology.

• Knowledge of laboratory diagnostic techniques used in identifying and reporting environmental and toxicological hazards.

• Knowledge of interpretation and presentation methods of epidemiological data.

• Knowledge of the use and functionality of Microsoft Office Suite software.

• Ability to analyze and interpret data.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These will not be evaluated by the State Civil Service Commission or used for Civil Service examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.)

• Knowledge of applied public health epidemiology principles.

• Ability to develop and publish technical toxicological guidance reports.

• Ability to provide expert testimony on environmental health matters.

• Ability to provide recommendations on a case-by-case basis to health professionals and the public concerning environmental health or toxicological exposures.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Three years of post-doctoral experience in the field of toxicology or pharmacology, which includes two years of consultative experience in toxicology; and a doctoral degree in toxicology or a closely related field.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• This position requires board certification in general toxicology by the American Board of Toxicology or an equivalent international certifying body within eighteen months of hire.