Job Description

This job posting expires at 11:59PM on September 25, 2026. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on September 25, 2026.

Job Title: Environmental Health Specialist III - Food & Lodging

Department: Health - Community Protection and Preparedness

External Hiring Range: $29.51 - $35.50

Compensation Grade: 2010

Posted Internally and Externally

Buncombe County offers in-office, hybrid, and remote positions. Employees in positions that are approved for remote work must work at a location within a 2-hour drive from the position's assigned Buncombe County facility.

This position performs routine inspections, visits, and critical violation visits to ensure that food and lodging facilities, swimming pools, institutions, childcare centers, schools, tattoo artists, and lead investigations are meeting standards as mandated by state laws and rules in order to reduce the incidences and threat of foodborne illness, lead hazards, and other communicable disease.

This position investigates environmental health-related complaints, nuisances, and reports of food-borne illness and contaminated food in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. It also conducts plan review for new construction of swimming pools, tattoos, childcare centers, and may aid with conducting plan review in food service establishments. This position is responsible for performing lead investigations and annual monitoring activities within the childhood lead poisoning prevention program and will perform quality assurance activities in conjunction with the state QA requirements for swimming pools, childcare and schools, and tattoo facilities.

Purpose of the position: The primary purpose of this position is to conduct state-mandated inspections of facilities under the jurisdiction of Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) Environmental Health division and to perform specialized programmatic functions to ensure compliance with public health laws and rules.

Minimum Education, Training, and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Bachelor’s degree or postgraduate degree in environmental health from a program accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council; or bachelor’s degree or postgraduate degree in another field with a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in the physical, biological, natural, life, or health sciences; or bachelor’s degree in public health AND two (2) years of Environmental Health experience in Food, Lodging, and Institutions in North Carolina.

Per NC Local Health Department Accreditation requirements, employees in this role must present their diploma, degree, or transcript to their supervisor/department upon hire.

Additional Training and Experience: Most work-related skills will be developed through in-service and on-the-job training. Educational requirements in accordance with Chapter 90A must be obtained each calendar year to renew registration in order to maintain Registered Environmental Health Specialist status.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation: Registration is required by the N.C. State Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners under the provisions of Chapter 90A of the General Statues of North Carolina. Required to attend and pass the centralized training provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, must be able to pass state authorization evaluations and test for specific program areas in order to perform duties. Also, must pass the REHS exam and NEHA within the timeframe established by the Board.

Physical Requirements: Lifting is considered medium work requiring exertion of up to 50 of force occasionally and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Position includes bending, reaching, squatting, manual dexterity, repetitive motion, and the ability to distinguish colors. Visual acuity is required, must have eyesight that allows distinction between an array of colors. This position involves significant standing, walking, and sitting for extended periods of time. The work is performed in an environment with crisis situations that require major decisions involving people, resources, and property.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Enforce compliance with state, local, and federal environmental and public health laws and regulations.
• Investigate environmental-related complaints, health-related nuisances, and reports of food-borne illness and contaminated food in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
• Perform routine inspections, visits, and critical violation visits to ensure that food and lodging facilities, swimming pools, institutions, childcare centers, schools, tattoo artists, and lead investigations are meeting standards as mandated by state laws and rules in order to reduce the incidences and threat of foodborne illness, lead hazards, and other communicable disease.
• Conduct plan review for new construction of food service establishments.
• Conduct plan reviews for swimming pools and childcare centers.
• Perform lead investigations and annual monitoring activities within the childhood lead poisoning prevention program.
• Perform continuous quality improvement activities to achieve program standards with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program.
• Seek corrective actions where needed and educate managers, operators, and staff of various facilities and establishments on safe handling processes and sanitation procedures.
• Keep accurate and detailed inspection records as mandated by the state that include the violation observed, food code citation, and method of correction.
• Assist the EPI team and other staff in the event of a food-borne outbreak.
• Seek legal remedies under the advice of the program supervisor and division director to abate health nuisances or prosecute individuals for failure to comply with public health laws and rules.
• Participate in On-Call rotation to respond to Environmental/Public Health Emergencies.
• May conduct quality assurance activities for public swimming pools, children’s environmental health, and tattoo programs in alignment with Buncombe County Environmental Health policies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures, as well as a complete understanding of the concepts of public health law.
• Extensive knowledge of regulations, inspection and investigation procedures, and applicable remediation techniques and procedures for assigned program area.
• Considerable knowledge of microbiology; biology, chemistry, food science, food sanitation, food borne diseases, communicable diseases, solid waste management, institutional sanitation, and entomology.
• Working knowledge of the design of on-site wastewater treatment systems, food sanitation, food borne diseases, communicable diseases, vector control, protection of water supplies, solid waste management, lead hazard remediation and institutional sanitation as applicable to area of assignment.
• Working knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies involved in environmental health work.
• Ability to plan and present educational workshops and planning programs for large groups in a professional and informative manner, utilizing the latest audio-visual aids and teaching techniques available.
• Ability to analyze and comprehend a variety of technical and administrative regulation, records, and reports.
• Ability to effectively communicate potential concerns and corrective measures to business and property owners and the consuming public in matters related to protecting and promoting public health.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal tactfully with a wide range of the public while enforcing public health laws and regulations.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.