Environmental Health Director

Orange County Government•Health Department, NC

About The Position

The work is responsible for leading and managing the Environmental Health Division of the Orange County Health Department. An employee in this class protects and promotes public health by evaluating environmental conditions, administering environmental health programs, enforcing regulations, and coordinating services that support community well-being. The position provides strategic leadership, oversees daily operations, manages staff, and directs program development and evaluation. The employee develops and oversees environmental health programs involving budgeting, staffing, operational direction, regulatory compliance, education, outreach, and quality assurance. Responsibilities include direct oversight of the Healthy Homes Program and Public Health Preparedness activities, as well as ensuring compliance with Environmental Health requirements in the Consolidated Agreement for Quality Assurance. Work requires extensive coordination with federal, state, and local agencies, other Health Department divisions, and community and professional organizations. The position serves on the Health Department Leadership Team and plays a key role in emergency preparedness and response. In the incident command structure, the employee coordinates Environmental Health field operations and Environmental Health and Safety functions. The position is also a core member of the epidemiology team and serves as the lead field coordinator for foodborne disease investigations. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Health Director with considerable independence in planning and carrying out assignments within the framework of applicable laws, rules, and policies. The employee determines appropriate actions in responding to customer needs, addressing program issues, and completing project assignments. Overall objectives and resources are established in consultation with the Health Director, with the employee responsible for setting priorities and deadlines. Supervision is a responsibility of this class. The employee manages a division of the Health Department, exercising full authority over staff, programs, and operations. Related work is performed as required. A background check is required.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in environmental health, biology, or a related field that includes a minimum of 30 semester hours in physical or biological sciences (as required by NC GS 90A-53), AND six (6) years of experience in professional environmental health work at the environmental health specialist level or above in a health department, with three (3) years of public health administrative management and supervisory experience
OR Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in environmental health from a program accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Curricula of the National Environmental Health Association, AND six (6) years of experience in professional environmental health work at the environmental health specialist level or above in a health department, with three (3) years of public health administrative management and supervisory experience.
Must be registered as a Sanitarian by the North Carolina Board of Sanitarian Examiners.
Requires delegation of authority from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to administer state environmental health rules and laws in the applicable program areas.
Authorization to perform duties, acting as an agent of the state.
The authorization process includes attending Centralized Intern Training, passing exams administered by the Environmental Health Section, DHHS and demonstrating satisfactory field performance.
Experience at the environmental health specialist level or above means professional environmental health work performed in a position that requires registration or qualification under North Carolina General Statutes 90A. This includes duties such as conducting environmental health inspections, investigations, permitting, enforcement, program evaluation, and fieldwork in areas such as food protection, onsite wastewater, wells, lead investigations, public health nuisances, and other environmental programs.
“Or above” includes experience gained in advanced, supervisory, or managerial environmental health positions that build upon and expand the responsibilities of an Environmental Health Specialist.
Must possess or be able to obtain Registered Sanitarian certification by the North Carolina Board of Sanitarian Examiners.
Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid Driver License issued by the State of North Carolina for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
Successful clearance of a background check
Pre-employment drug testing

Nice To Haves

May be required to possess additional certification(s) as deemed necessary by the Environmental Health Director.

Responsibilities

Leading and managing the Environmental Health Division
Protecting and promoting public health by evaluating environmental conditions
Administering environmental health programs
Enforcing regulations
Coordinating services that support community well-being
Providing strategic leadership
Overseeing daily operations
Managing staff
Directing program development and evaluation
Developing and overseeing environmental health programs involving budgeting, staffing, operational direction, regulatory compliance, education, outreach, and quality assurance
Direct oversight of the Healthy Homes Program and Public Health Preparedness activities
Ensuring compliance with Environmental Health requirements in the Consolidated Agreement for Quality Assurance
Coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies, other Health Department divisions, and community and professional organizations
Serving on the Health Department Leadership Team
Playing a key role in emergency preparedness and response
Coordinating Environmental Health field operations and Environmental Health and Safety functions in the incident command structure
Serving as a core member of the epidemiology team
Serving as the lead field coordinator for foodborne disease investigations
Determining appropriate actions in responding to customer needs, addressing program issues, and completing project assignments
Setting priorities and deadlines
Managing a division of the Health Department, exercising full authority over staff, programs, and operations