Limited Term Environmental Health Technician (Public Health Intern)

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Summary

The Walworth County Public Health Department is seeking two motivated staff with science or environmental interests to join our Environmental Public Health team for summer 2026. 

Employees will perform a variety of tasks to support ongoing environmental health initiatives, with each position specializing in the below environmental health programs. 

Position 1: Private Well Water Quality
Support environmental health staff in private well water quality monitoring, water quality data analysis, and water laboratory analysis. Experience in laboratory and aseptic technique will be helpful.

Position 2: Vector Monitoring & Vectorborne Disease Prevention 
Support environmental health staff in completing a vector monitoring project designed to examine tick populations and conducting Lyme disease prevention efforts. A background or interest in entomology may be helpful. 

KEY DETAILS
Location:  Elkhorn, WI
Hours:  40 hours per week (Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, with some flexibility available). Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required depending on program needs.
Schedule:  Based in-office.  Regular travel throughout the county during work hours.  Some weekend hours may be necessary.
Duration:  Availability to work between Memorial Day and Labor Day is required. Both positions are required to be in office full-time during the month of July.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Both positions will provide general support for the Environmental Health team, as well as specialized duties aligned with each position’s focus area. Both positions will participate in routine beach monitoring, job shadowing, and support each other in the completion of their assigned projects. These positions will work as a team to enhance the quality of the environmental health services offered in Walworth County. Over time, staff will begin independently managing and implementing their respective projects, including assuming sample collection and coordination responsibilities for two important environmental health programs:

Private Well Water Monitoring (Position 1)
-Assist with the collection of environmental water samples from county water bodies. 
-Monitor and document water quality conditions in the county.
-Conduct laboratory analyses to determine bacterial presence, bacterial number, and nitrate level of water samples.
-Coordinate collection of drinking water samples from private residences.
-Educate residents/property owners on private well maintenance and water sample collection.
-Compile, organize, and input data for program assessments related to water quality.
-Complete a project examining changes in water quality in private wells over time in Walworth County.

Vector Monitoring & Vectorborne Disease Prevention (Position 2)
-Assist in the monitoring and collection of data on tick populations in county parks through regular tick sampling and identification.
-Collaborate with UW-Madison staff on a surveillance program to focused on detecting and monitoring Lyme Disease.
-Support the creation and delivery of vector borne disease communications.
-Conduct an educational campaign on vector borne disease prevention.
-Collect data on vector borne disease awareness and prevention practices within the county. 

Both positions will additionally:
-Support other Environmental Health projects and programs in addition to their primary focus area. 
-Participate in environmental health education and outreach.
-Learn how to use social media to promote public health messages.
-Gain job shadowing experience and explore potential career paths in other environmental health and public health fields.
-Collect beach water samples and assess beach health.
-Analyze beach water samples for E. Coli levels.

While performing the duties of these jobs, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers, talk and hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, carry, push, pull and reach out and overhead. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, and crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision. Access to a vehicle, a current valid driver’s license and proof of minimum automobile liability insurance coverage is required. Position will require driving within the county. A background check and drug screen will be required as part of the post offer hiring process.

Qualifications

Education
Minimum of a high school diploma and at least two years of college coursework in relevant subjects (biology, environmental science, public health, etc.). 80+ hours of laboratory experience (coursework may qualify).