Associate Specialist, Environmental Health

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 $57,700 - $67,100.

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 $48,900 - $56,850.

Position Summary

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

The Associate Specialist, Environmental Health, provides administrative and programmatic support for APHL’s US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists-funded work related to the National Wastewater Surveillance System, environmental microbiology outbreak response, and the Environmental Laboratory Science Committee. The goal of this work is to increase state and local environmental laboratory capability and capacity to provide reliable data that helps protect the public from infectious diseases and environmental microbiological and chemical contaminants. The incumbent of this position works with the Environmental Health Senior Program Manager, Environmental Health Senior Director, and other team members to implement project activities.

At this time, this position is funded through June 30, 2026 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.

Responsibilities

• Provides administrative and project management support to implement program activities related to environmental testing.
• 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 committees, CDC and other partners by email, telephone, and direct meetings and represents APHL interests at meetings, trainings, workshops and site visits.
• Organizes and coordinates logistics for committee and program activities including in-person meetings, workgroup calls, trainings, and associated staff and member travel.
• Writes scopes of work and requests for proposals, monitoring consultant and vendor contracts and reviews and evaluates technical and non-technical reports prepared by consultants and contractors.
• Enlists APHL member and staff experts and non-member experts to support implementation of activities, organizes project teams, administers communities of practices, monitors overall project performance and reports on project outcomes.
• Tracks financial activities and reports and writes corresponding reports for assigned projects.
• Communicates program activities and cooperative agreement reporting requirements with CDC project officers and other partners.
• Provides administrative support to the Environmental Health Senior Director in support of the full environmental health program, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Special Requirements: Periodic travel to conferences and meetings will be necessary to fulfill the job requirements – APHL Annual Conference, APHL Week, and an in-person team meeting.

Education and Experience

• This is either the entry level for staff members with a Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, in an area of specialization or a senior level administrative position that requires substantive, relevant experience. Master’s degree preferred.
• The work performed is typically routine in nature, following standard processes, procedures, and solutions, and includes basic project coordination (organizing, budgeting, and complex scheduling), research, analysis and writing.
• The Associate Specialist works under immediate supervision and incumbents must know the fundamental concepts, practices and procedures of a particular field of specialization.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

Wastewater surveillance, environmental microbiology, and/or chemistry, environmental public health, project management, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Skills

Skilled in the use of 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. This event is mandatory for all employees to attend. Travel and lodging will be reimbursed by APHL.

Please Note: Reimbursement for travel and lodging may not be possible for employees that are local to the APHL Home Office.

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.