Environmental Specialist II

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well‑being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Dept of Health and Human Services

Public Health

Environmental Specialist II (NS)

NC14

This Environmental Specialist II position serves as a Regional Soil Scientist within the Division of Public Health, providing technical oversight and regulatory support to local health departments across the southeastern region of North Carolina. The primary function is to ensure consistent and scientifically sound implementation of state laws and rules governing on‑site wastewater treatment and dispersal systems. The role involves training, authorizing, and advising Environmental Health Specialists, conducting site evaluations, and reviewing complex wastewater system proposals.

Work is performed independently and requires expert knowledge in soil science, environmental health regulations, and decentralized wastewater technologies. The position also contributes to policy development, legal proceedings, and statewide program improvements.

• Train and assess Environmental Health Specialist interns through classroom instruction, field exercises, and written examinations to determine readiness for delegation of authority.
• Authorize local Environmental Health Specialists to enforce state laws and rules governing on‑site wastewater systems in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Provide technical assistance and second opinions to local health departments on complex site evaluations, permitting challenges, and malfunctioning wastewater systems.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate soil and site conditions, recommend system modifications, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and rules.
• Review and verify private consultants’ soil and site evaluations and participate in consultative meetings with engineers, soil scientists, and local officials.
• Inspect manufactured wastewater system components to ensure compliance with approved design specifications and quality standards.
• Develop and deliver educational programs and technical training for environmental health professionals at regional and state levels.
• Serve as an expert witness in administrative appeals and legal proceedings involving violations or disputes related to wastewater system regulations.
• Participate in structured evaluations of local programs to assess effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and recommend corrective actions.
• Contribute to the development and revision of internal procedures, policies, and public health rules by serving on task forces and rule‑making committees.

Salary Range: $52,592.00 – $92,036.00

Recruitment Range: $52,592.00 – $69,628.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they have the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The following Management Preferences are not required, but applicants that possess these skills are preferred:

• Documented experience conducting detailed soil and site evaluations for on‑site wastewater systems, using field observations and technical data to determine system feasibility and design compliance with state regulations.
• Proven experience providing regulatory interpretation and technical consultation to local health department staff, resulting in consistent application of wastewater rules and resolution of complex permitting issues.
• Hands‑on experience reviewing engineered wastewater system proposals and verifying consultant‑submitted site evaluations through field inspections and rule‑based analysis.
• Demonstrated experience delivering structured training and field instruction to Environmental Health Specialist interns, including performance assessments…