ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST 1** - 11032026-82231

Tennessee Department of Health; Sevierville (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Tennessee Department of Health is seeking an entry-level Environmental Health Specialist to learn and perform environmental health compliance, inspection, and enforcement duties within the state’s health division.

The role involves training over a two-year period, with potential reclassification after successful completion. Responsibilities include inspections of food service, hotels, pools, and child care facilities, plus responding to public health emergencies.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's with 30 sem hrs in biology/chemistry/environmental science.
• Substitution: experience in environmental enforcement may substitute for education up to four years.
• Must have a valid driver's license; transcripts required for proper evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Investigates potential rabies exposures and manages rabies tag distribution.
• Conducts environmental health assessments and inspections in various programs.
• Ensures compliance with state environmental health standards and regulations.
• Responds to emergencies affecting public infrastructure and provides health guidance.

Skills

Decision Quality

Communicates Effectively

Situational Adaptability

Interpersonal Savvy

Active Learning

Reading Comprehension

Time Management

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in biology/chemistry/environmental science

Tools

Mobile Device

Computer

Pool Test Kit

Thermocouple

Scanner/Printer

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time: 11/03/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time: 11/09/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly): $4,098.00

Salary (Annually): $49,176.00

Job Type: Full-time

City, State Location: Sevierville, TN

Department: Health

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SEVIER COUNTY

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, including at least 30 semester hours in biology, chemistry, or any environmental science.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Any qualifying full-time work in the enforcement of an environmental program or any professional environmental program work may be substituted for the required education, on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of four years.

Necessary Special Qualifications: A valid motor vehicle operator's license may be required for some positions.

Note: A transcript is required for a proper evaluation for this class.

Overview

This is the entry level class in the Env Health Specialist sub-series. An employee in this class is assigned to learn a variety of environmental health compliance, inspection, problem identification, and enforcement duties in an environmental health division. This class differs from Env Health Specialist 3 in that an incumbent of the latter performs environmental program duties at the advanced working level under general supervision.

• An applicant appointed to this flexibly staffed class will be reclassified to Env Health Specialist 3 after successful completion of a mandatory two-year training period; inadequate or marginal performance during the training period will result in termination.

Responsibilities

• Investigates potential rabies exposures. Implements animal confinement procedures, facilitate the submission of a specimen for rabies testing, and manage the distribution of rabies tags to state veterinarians.
• Conduct or assist in conducting environmental health assessments when there is a potential outbreak concern. Conduct public health complaint inspections in the following programs: food service establishments, hotels, bed and breakfasts, public swimming pools, organized campgrounds, tattoo and body piercing studios, public school buildings, and child care facilities.
• Conduct regulatory inspections to ensure compliance with state environmental health standards in programs as mandated.
• Responds to local emergencies affecting public infrastructure, including but not limited to Boil Water Advisories, establishment of emergency shelters, and power outages. Provides public health consultation regarding safe operations during emergency operations.
• Learns to train and teach operators/owners and persons in charge how to manage food service establishments using a risk-based approach by offering a monthly food safety training class. Learns to conduct bi-annual/quarterly training of tattoo artists and body piercing technicians of the body art rules and regulations.
• Learns to collect information on foodborne outbreaks from various sources. Compares titrated water sample to ensure the pH levels, alkalinity levels, and chlorine levels are within state guidelines for public swimming pools.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Decision Quality
• Ensures Accountability
• Communicates Effectively
• Situational Adaptability
• Interpersonal Savvy

Knowledges

• Food Production
• Biology
• Law and Government
• Chemistry
• Customer and Personal Service

Skills

• Active Learning and Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Time Management
• Negotiation

Abilities

• Deductive Reasoning
• Vision
• Written Comprehension
• Hearing
• Physical Stamina

Tools & Equipment

• Mobile Device
• Computer
• Pool Test Kit
• Thermocouple
• Scanner/Printer

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.