Environmental Health Specialist 1, 2 or 3

Georgia Department of Public Health; Hartwell (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee retirement plan

Deferred compensation

13 paid holidays

Vacation & sick leave

Dental

Vision

Long term care

Life insurance

Job summary

Georgia Department of Public Health is seeking Environmental Health Specialists at District 2 Public Health to support inspections, compliance, and public health programs across 13 counties in northeast Georgia. The role requires front-line fieldwork, including inspections, interviews, and technical reviews, with enforcement actions as needed, and collaboration with local facilities and state agencies.

The position emphasizes serving as a liaison, providing education, and contributing to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health or related field with required lab science coursework.
• Experience with environmental health inspections and compliance.
• Knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations.

Responsibilities

• Assist with inspections, interviews, and technical reviews for environmental health programs.
• Investigate complaints and recommend enforcement actions as necessary.
• Provide inspection/permits/consultation for compliance of state regulations in Food Service, Body Art, Swimming Pool, and On-site Sewage programs.
• Investigate health-related complaints.
• Serve as liaison between public health agencies and facilities and other agencies.

Skills

Inspections

Interviews

Technical reviews

Enforcement actions

Compliance

Public health knowledge

Data entry systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health or related field

Tools

Digital Health Department system

GA EH training program

Job description

Location: 64 Reynolds Street, Hartwell, GA, 30643

Recruitment: This position is open to all qualified applicants

Pay Grade: I, J, K

Requisition: 2026-001102

When applying, please include your transcripts

Must be willing and able to work some weekends and other non-traditional hours.

Travel is also required of this position.

Who we are. We protect lives. The Georgia Department of Public Health is the lead agency entrusted by the people of Georgia to proudly protect lives and promote healthy lifestyles in diverse communities statewide. We are committed to preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing the State of Georgia for responding to disasters.

What we offer. As a member of the Georgia Department of Public Health team, you will join a passionate group of individuals who are dedicated to making an impact. No matter your role, you will individually contribute to protecting the lives of all Georgians while receiving a wide range of benefits, so you can:

• Make a Professional Impact – Build your career where it matters and protect lives in the community where you live, work, and play
• Enjoy Workplace Flexibility– Experience flexibility in how you work so you can be your best self for you and Georgia Residents
• Work with a Dynamic and Diverse Team– Collaborative and inclusive way of working where employees share ideas and leverage collective strengths
• Achieve Career Longevity – Countless opportunities for continuous learning/development that support a long-term career
• Take Part in a Hands-on Working Culture – Unique culture of active engagement and problem-solving, no matter your role
• Feel Pride in Where you Work – Be part of making an impact in public health alongside dedicated people just like you

As an PH Environmental Health Specialist 1, 2, or 3 within the District Two PH Environmental Health Services.

At District Two, Georgia Department of Public Health, you will join a dedicated group of public health professionals that help support the overall mission and vision of protecting lives of Georgian residents in a variety of ways.

District 2 Public Health serves 13 counties in northeast Georgia, including Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties. One of the fastest growing regions in the state, District 2 includes rural and urban communities with diverse public health challenges.

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package that includes employee retirement plan, deferred compensation, 13 paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, dental, vision, long term care, and life insurance.

EH Specialist 1: Under supervision, assists in performing inspections, interviews, and technical reviews for an environmental health program in a public health department. Assists in investigating complaints and recommending enforcement action as necessary. This is the entry level position for the Environmental Health Specialist job series. Incumbents in the job may require additional training or experience to attain full proficiency in some or all of the job responsibilities.

This is the entry level position for the Environmental Compliance/ Environmental Health Specialist job series. Incumbents in the job may require additional training or experience to attain full proficiency in some or all of the job responsibilities. Under supervision of the EH Manager:

• Learns to interpret regulatory issues, technical issues, and analytical data to properly enforce regulations and document compliance.
• Learns to evaluate programs for compliance with environmental laws/rules, and recommend monitoring and corrective/enforcement actions.
• Learns to conduct environmental evaluations, technical reviews, and inspections.
• Upon completion of adequate training under supervision of EH Manager as assigned will:
• Provide inspection/permitting/consultation for compliance of state regulations in the Food Service, Body Art, and Swimming Pool Programs.
• Provide inspection/permitting/consultation for compliance of state regulations for new or repaired on-site sewage management systems.
• Investigate health-related complaints

EH Specialist 2: Under general to limited supervision, performs inspections, conducts interviews and technical reviews and recommends enforcement actions as needed. Investigates complaints and provides environmental health education and technical assistance to the general public, regulated community and officials. Interprets regulatory and technical issues and analytical data to document compliance with State, Federal, and local environmental health laws and regulations. Implements countywide programs for compliance, monitoring, enforcement and corrective action in conjunction with environmental health laws, rules and regulations. Serves as a compliance officer and primary liaison between public health agencies and facilities, municipalities, institutions, organizations and county and state agencies.

EH Specialist 3: Under limited supervision, functions as a technical specialist for Environmental Health. Performs inspections, interviews, and technical reviews. Investigates complaints and recommends enforcement action as necessary. Provides Environmental Health education and technical assistance to the general public and regulated community. Implements local and district wide programs for compliance, monitoring, evaluation, enforcement, and corrective action in conjunction with Environmental Health laws, rules and regulations. Serves as the compliance officer and primary liaison between Public Health Agency, regulated facilities and other county and state agencies. Interprets regulatory issues, technical issues, and analytical data to document compliance with State, Federal, and Local Environmental Health laws and regulations. May serve as a technical specialist in a specific program area. May be a sole worker in a county or may work in a multi-county area. May be a lead worker for a large program within the county. May supervise professional and/or paraprofessional environmental health staff.

EHS I Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, which includes the completion of 27 semester or 40 quarter hours in laboratory sciences (e.g., chemistry, biology, geology, physics, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health
• Experience with data entry systems
• Experience with field electronic applications/software
• Experience with public relations

EHS II Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university which included the completion of forty (40) quarter hours (or 27 semester hours) in laboratory sciences (e.g., chemistry, biology, geology, physics, etc.) AND One year of experience at the lower level (RCP120) or position equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Attendance and completion of the GA EH training program
• Completion of Standardization on the Georgia Food Code
• Completion of level I and II Certification in the On-Site Sewage Management System Program if assigned duties include Onsite Sewage
• Experience with data entry systems and/or DHD

EHS III Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university which included the completion of forty (40) quarter hours (or 27 semester hours) of laboratory sciences (e.g., chemistry, biology, geology, physics, etc.) AND One year of experience at the lower level PH Envir Compl Specialist 2 (RCP121) or position equivalent AND attendance and completion of the GA EH training program.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years experience in Environmental Health
• Completion of all On-Site Sewage Management System Certifications
• Completion of NIMS courses 100, 200, 700, & 800
• Completion of Standardization on the GA Food Code
• ServSafe certified
• Experience with data entry (i.e. Digital Health Department system)

To be considered for employment at District 2 Public Health you must complete an online application. This job application can be found at www.dph.georgia.gov. Click on "About DPH" and then "Careers", locate position then click "Apply" to begin your application. Please make sure you have selected the specific job you are interested in and qualified for. You will receive an email or telephone call if you are selected to participate in the interview process. Please do not send hard copies of application materials. All information can be uploaded to the online system.

Applications must include an email address and daytime phone number where applicant can be reached. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner and leaders encourages all employees to engage in regular wellness activities and to make lifestyle choices that promote health and well-being.

The use of wellness breaks during the workday is authorized to support this philosophy and assist employees in meeting their wellness goals. A maximum of 30 minutes in a given workday may be used to engage in wellness activities, generally in the form of two 15-minute breaks or one 30-minute break.

The candidate selected for this position may be subject to pre-employment drug screening and a criminal records check (fingerprinting). In accordance with Georgia's Drug Free Workplace Act, it has been determined that certain positions warrant pre-employment drug testing.

As an employee of D2PH, in the event of an identified emergency you may be required, as a term and condition of employment, to assist in meeting the emergency responsibilities of the department.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for next steps in the selection process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.

This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.

District 2 Public Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information regarding employment with District 2 Public Health please visit our website at www.phdistrict2.org.