Environmental Health County Manager

Georgia Department of Public Health•DeKalb County, GA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

DeKalb Public Health is hiring an Environmental Health County Manager to direct, manage, and evaluate countywide environmental health programs and personnel within the Division of Environmental Health. The role provides leadership and oversight of regulatory, permitting, inspection, enforcement, and public health protection activities, ensuring compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and policies. The manager serves as a technical expert, program administrator, and liaison to government agencies, regulated industries, community stakeholders, and the public. The position oversees programs that may include retail food service, onsite sewage management, and vector control. It supervises approximately three to four Environmental Health Specialists and provides staff direction, training, mentoring, performance feedback, and professional development. The role also oversees investigations and responses involving foodborne illness outbreaks, disease transmission, environmental health emergencies, hazards, nuisances, and complaints. Work is performed primarily in an office and field environment in DeKalb County. Field responsibilities may include visits to food service establishments, onsite sewage systems, and other environmental health sites. The position requires countywide travel and may involve exposure to outdoor weather, potentially hazardous environments, infectious or communicable diseases, chemicals, pests, and other environmental health hazards. Occasional evening, weekend, or emergency response duties may be required based on operational needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Engineering (Agricultural, Chemical, Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Sanitary), or a closely related field.
Four years of professional experience in environmental health, environmental enforcement, environmental protection, environmental monitoring, environmental research, or a related regulatory field.
Reliable personal vehicle, valid driver's license, and ability to travel throughout the county as required.
Thorough knowledge of environmental health programs, regulatory processes, and public health protection principles.
Thorough knowledge of applicable environmental health laws, regulations, codes, policies, and enforcement procedures.
Comprehensive knowledge of management, supervision, strategic planning, and program evaluation.
Knowledge of public health emergency response, outbreak investigation, and risk communication practices.
Knowledge of environmental health inspection, permitting, monitoring, and compliance activities.
Ability to interpret and apply complex laws, regulations, policies, and technical standards; analyze complex problems, develop solutions, and make sound administrative and operational decisions.
Ability to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate environmental health programs and personnel and promote compliance with public health laws, regulations, and standards.
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, community partners, public health officials, and other stakeholders.
Ability to interact professionally with people from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds.
Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and maintain accountability for program performance.

Nice To Haves

Experience administering environmental health programs, regulatory compliance activities, and enforcement actions.
Three or more years of supervisory or management experience in environmental health or public health regulatory programs.
Registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) or Registered Sanitarian (RS).
Certified Retail Food Safety Manager (CFSM or CFPM).
Standardized Food Service Establishment Inspection Officer (Standardized) or Standardized Food Service Establishment Training and Inspection Officer (District Standard Trainer).
Completion of CDC's Vector Control for Environmental Health Professionals (VCEHP) Training.
Certified Septic Level 2 Inspector.

Responsibilities

Direct, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate countywide environmental health programs and services, which may include retail food service, onsite sewage management, and vector control.
Develop, review, update, and implement program policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures.
Evaluate program performance, goals, and objectives and implement improvements to service delivery, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Assist with strategic planning, program development, resource allocation, and setting program priorities; monitor operations for consistent service delivery and adherence to standards.
Interpret, apply, and enforce local, state, and federal environmental health laws, regulations, codes, and policies.
Direct and oversee plan reviews, permitting, inspections, monitoring, complaint investigations, and enforcement activities.
Oversee administrative and legal enforcement actions, as appropriate, and provide guidance on complex regulatory matters and compliance issues.
Supervise and manage approximately three to four Environmental Health Specialists; provide leadership, training, mentoring, performance feedback, and daily work direction.
Conduct performance evaluations, set employee performance and development expectations, and oversee staff development, continuing education, and in-service training.
Participate in recruitment, selection, employee discipline, and other personnel management activities; promote accountability, teamwork, professional conduct, and consistent program standards.
Oversee investigations involving foodborne illness outbreaks, disease transmission, and other environmental health incidents.
Direct responses to environmental health emergencies, public health hazards, environmental nuisances, and citizen complaints; coordinate response activities with public health officials, healthcare providers, emergency management agencies, and state and federal partners.
Provide technical guidance and administrative oversight during incidents requiring coordinated public health intervention, and ensure investigations are documented, followed up, and resolved.
Provide technical guidance, regulatory interpretation, and consultation to staff, governments, agencies, regulated industries, consultants, and the public.
Represent the Division before community organizations, professional associations, governmental bodies, committees, and public meetings; develop and maintain effective stakeholder relationships.
Communicate regulatory requirements, program expectations, and public health recommendations to diverse audiences.
Oversee environmental health inspection, permitting, reporting, and data management systems.
Review and prepare program reports, recommendations, presentations, correspondence, and other administrative documents; monitor activities and documentation for accountability and compliance.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

13 paid holidays
Three weeks annual leave
Three weeks sick leave
Flexible schedules within core working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Pension plan
Employer 401(k) match
Payroll-deductible health benefits
Payroll-deductible flex benefits
Flexible spending accounts
Worksite wellness
Opportunities for growth
Hybrid teleworking option for eligible positions after probation