I’m excited to share that there is a new opportunity available with the Wake County Public Health Department! We’re currently recruiting for the position of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Director, a key leadership role focused on advancing public health through innovation, strategic planning, and community engagement. This position will provide visionary leadership for plan review, food and lodging programs, pool sanitation, childhood lead poisoning prevention, and much more. It’s an excellent opportunity for a seasoned public health or environmental health leader to make a meaningful impact in one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing counties.
Environmental Health & Safety Director position posting https://ewaketalent.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/3/home/requisition/8535?c=ewaketalent
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 and transitions to a replacement software platform CDP.
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) and is planning its 4th Study during the current NEHA grant cycle.
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 USA
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
Best regards,
Jennifer Brown, MPH, REHS
Deputy Director of Public Health – Community Health
Wake County Government
Wake County Public Health Department
Jennifer.Brown