Environmental Health & Safety Director

Job Description:

Environmental Health & Safety Director

Description

What You'll Be Doing

Join our award-winning Environmental Health & Safety Division within a nationally recognized department and lead strategic initiatives to protect public health and environmental quality. As the EH&S Director, you will drive electronic permitting advancements and identify new software solutions. You will lead risk factor assessments to maintain Wake County's status as one of the healthiest counties in NC. Additionally, you will oversee plan reviews, education, and enforcement to ensure compliance. Your role will involve providing strategic leadership in emergency preparedness and response, enhancing quality assurance and improvement through FDA Retail Program Standards, and improving customer experience in core functions like plan review, permitting and food-lodging-institution initiatives. You will collaborate with elected leaders and community groups on water quality and quantity efforts, and engage in process improvements to refine operations and enhance fiscal accountability.

Electronic Permitting: Wake County has made significant advancements in implementing an electronic permitting process based on the EnerGov platform. A recent challenge involves identifying a replacement software platform given the pending retirement of Tyler Technologies’ Digital Health Department software.

Risk Factor Assessment: Provide leadership to reduce health and safety risk factors for citizens and visitors of Wake County. This initiative is a key component in sustaining Wake County’s position as one of the healthiest counties in NC. This process will be accomplished through the following initiatives:

• Plan Review
• Education
• Enforcement

Emergency Preparedness and Response: The EH&S Division assisted in leading the county’s efforts as a front-line response to local emergencies and planning. The EH&S Director will provide strategic division leadership related to a county-wide response while simultaneously continuing to advance the Division’s core functions.

Quality Assurance and Improvement: Wake County actively participates in the Food and Drug Administration’s Retail Program Standards, which keeps the Food and Lodging programs focused on QA and improvement. The Program Standards encourage jurisdictions to periodically conduct Risk Factor Studies to determine where they are with compliance and to help them target areas that need the most work. This program is the impetus for a lot of our discussions about strategic planning, resource considerations, etc. Wake completed its third major risk factor study in the county (2010, 2015, 2020). Over the 10-year period we can track progress made on individual items as well as in the overall CDC risk factors.

Core Functions: Provide leadership to advance the customer experience in core functions such as plan review, permitting, and food-lodging-institution initiatives.

Essential functions:

• Direct the Environmental Health and Safety Division with a team of managers to assure alignment of operations with the division’s mission of reducing risk factors associated with health and safety and with that of the department
• Improve operations by analyzing current processes, implementing improvements and evaluating effectiveness of public health outcomes
• Develop the division business plan, strategic plan and budget requests, in coordination with other agencies within county government and within the Environmental Services Department to ensure optimal alignment of county resources
• Present justifications to county management and other stakeholders
• Present reports to county management and stakeholders after analyzing operational data and developing persuasive justifications that support the division’s mission
• Communicate within and outside the division and serves as a media spokesperson
• Develop policies and procedures that promote public health, reduce potential legal exposure and promote staff safety
• Collaborate with and make presentations to elected leaders and community groups about our various efforts related to water quality and water quantity
• Actively engage in various process improvements that focus on refining operations that enhance the customer experience while linking operations and fiscal accountability at a nationally recognized level

About Our Team

At the heart of the Wake County Public Health department is a dedicated team of professionals committed to protecting and improving the health of our community. We bring together expertise in communicable disease control, environmental health, health education, school health, clinical services, and population health to deliver responsive and equitable services. With a shared mission of promoting wellness, preventing disease and ensuring access to essential services, we work collaboratively with partners and residents to build a healthier, more resilient community for all of Wake County.

The Basics (Required Education and Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Environmental Engineering or Science, Business Administration or related field
• Six years of experience in environmental services or environmental programs including at least two years of supervisory experience
• Valid Driver's License and "safe" driving record
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted

• Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Beyond the Basics (Preferred Education and Experience)

• Advanced degree in a related field
• Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) certification

How Will We Know You're 'The One'?

• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills being able to succinctly communicate, market and sell practical Environmental Health and Safety solutions to all levels of company/business/and facility personnel
• Excellent knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services, including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services and evaluation of customer satisfaction
• Excellent leadership and people awareness to influence and engage in a matrix environment
• Ability to effectively lead and motivate teams engaging people acting as a role model
• Excellent presentation and written and verbal skills
• Analytical and problem solving skills are essential
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to successfully manage multiple projects and daily responsibilities
• Demonstrated proficiency in software applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access
• Advanced understanding of EHS regulations, management systems, regulatory agencies, trends and resources
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization

About This Position

Location: WCOB Raleigh, NC 27602

Employment Type: Regular

Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 8:30am - 5:15pm

Hiring Range: 99,333.00 - 139,063.00

Market Range: 99,333.00 - 178,793.00

Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Posting Closing Date: 7:00 pm on 8/5/2025

What Makes Wake Great

Home to the State Capital, Wake County is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation and the most populous county in the state, with more than 1.1 million residents. The County has received national and international rankings and accolades from publications such as Money, Fortune, and Time magazines as being one of the best places to live, work and play. The central location of the County allows for a short drive to the spectacular mountains or coast. Wake County Government is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, who are elected at-large to serve two-year terms. Wake County Government has a general operating budget of $1.874 billion, employs over 4400 employees, experiences minimal turnover, and is an award-winning leader in wellness and technology initiatives; such as offering employees and covered spouses free access to the Employee Health Center. Wake County Government offers a wide range of training and development opportunities, a stable career in public service with a balance of work and family life, flexible work schedules and a competitive salary and benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Wake County provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Background Check Statement

Position may require a background check that may include: criminal, credit, motor vehicle, education, and sexual offender registry or others based on job requirements. Unless required by state law, a record of conviction will not automatically exclude you from consideration for employment. Wake County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Emergency Service Worker Statement

In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations should be expected. Employee may be required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours and/or work location in preparation for, during and after the emergency. Employee may also be required to participate in relevant exercises and regular preparedness training.

Salary:

99,333.00 - 139,063.00