Salary: See Position Description
Location : Island of Oahu
Job Type: Various
Job Number: OHHI-26022
Department: Various
Opening Date: 03/19/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
The immediate vacancy is with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Plant Industry Division, located in Downtown.
Salary: $6,728 - $8,187 per month (SR-26, Step D to I)
Note: Hiring rates will be based on availability of funds, the applicant's qualifications, and other relevant factors.
This continuous recruitment may be closed at any time. The notice of the last day to file applications will be posted on the State of Hawaii's Civil Service Job Opportunities Listing page of our website.
Duties Summary
The duties and responsibilities of the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) VI includes the following types:
Serves as a chief of a statewide program and directs a staff of specialists under broad divisional and departmental administrative guidelines and codes, standards and provisions of the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Laws. Work involves developing policies, procedures, methods and practices relating to occupational health assessment and enforcement and related matters. Review of work is limited to general conformance with administrative policies and objectives.
OR
Departmental staff specialist responsible for planning, developing, implementing and coordinating department wide plans, goals and objectives to ensure compliance with various applicable environmental health program laws, rules and regulations; and serving as the department's chief advisor on matters relating to environmental health regulatory compliance. Duties and responsibilities involve advising other departmental staff on environmental health program policies, practices and procedures; coordinating departmental inspections, investigations and other activities to ensure compliance; and representing the department in dealing with federal and State enforcement agencies on all matters involving environmental compliance.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
LEGAL AUTHORIZATION TO WORK:
The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States.
Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in chemistry, physics, biology, zoology, environmental science or other closely related field of science. The coursework must have included at least three semester credit hours in college algebra or higher.
General Experience: One (1) year of progressively responsible professional work experience which involved interpreting and applying principles, concepts and/or standards related to a chemical, physical, biological or related field of science; gathering, evaluating and analyzing facts and other pertinent information required to resolve problems and recommend appropriate courses of action. The work must have demonstrated the ability to identify problems and alternative solutions, use judgment in determining appropriate alternatives, and prepare clear and concise written reports and recommendations for action.
Specialized Experience: Three and one-half (3-1/2) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in a field of environmental/occupational health which demonstrated knowledge and understanding of environmentally hazardous substances (e.g., chemical, physical or biological substances) or pollutants and required knowledge and application of laws, rules, regulations, methods and techniques pertaining to an area of environmental/occupational health such as clean air, clean water, drinking water, solid and hazardous waste, oil spill, etc. The work must have involved gathering, analyzing and evaluating data related to environmentally hazardous substances; conducting inspections and/or investigations for hazardous environmental/occupational health conditions and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; approving and issuing permits to conduct activities and/or operations in accordance with environmental health regulations; and/or advising others on complying with environmental/occupational health program laws, rules, regulations and standards.
Applicants for the EHS VI must have two years of work experience comparable to the EHS IV level or one year at the EHS V level in the State service (see level IV and V duties summary below).
EHS IV reflects responsibility for complex to highly complex work involving interpreting/evaluating considerable or specialized technical data and/or a variety of duties involving diverse and complex technical problems; and considerable decision making and use of judgment. EHS IV are expected to resolve most of the conflicts that arise under general supervision of a higher level specialist or program supervisor.
EHS V involves supervising a staff of lower level specialists engaged in the performance of highly complex monitoring, inspection, investigation and/or enforcement case development activities to enforce compliance with pertinent environmental/occupational health program laws, rules and regulations. Duties and responsibilities include planning, organizing, directing and coordinating work of the unit; assigning, scheduling and evaluating work; and providing guidance and advising subordinates.
Supervisory Aptitude: Supervisory aptitude rather than actual supervisory experience may be accepted. This requirement will be considered to have been met when there is a strong affirmative evidence of the necessary supervisory abilities and/or potential.
Substitutions Allowed: Relevant substitutions as described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements, will apply.
Driver's License: Some positions require possession of a valid driver's license at the time of appointment. The immediate vacancy has this requirement.
The information provided above represents a summary of the complete Minimum Qualification Requirements. To view the Requirements in their entirety, please CLICK HERE.
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Other Information
The State of Hawai'i complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please call 808-587-1111 for assistance.
PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF) PROGRAM
The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please click:https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation
ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS
The Department of Human Resources Development (HRD) will use electronic mail (email) to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of their applications as part of our ongoing efforts to increase operational efficiency, promote the conservation of green resources, and minimize delays and costs.
Please ensure that the email address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails or fail to check your email-box in a timely manner. In addition, please be aware that you may no longer receive notification about applications submitted if you choose to disable the Job Application Emails feature in your Account Settings.
TESTING INFORMATION
The examination for this recruitment will be conducted on an unassembled basis where the examination score is based on an evaluation and rating of your education and experience. It is therefore important that your employment application provide a clear and detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of each position you held.
In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawaii may be required at the discretion of the hiring agency. If in-person interviews and/or further testing is a requirement, applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are referred to the vacancy must be available to participate in person and at their own expense in this required phase of the selection process.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. In addition to employment availability and score, the referral of qualified applicants may be based upon other factors including date of receipt of application.
CLICK HERE for further information about Equal Employment Opportunity, the Merit Civil Service System, Citizenship and other requirements, Reasonable Accommodation, Veterans Preference, Examination Requirements, and the State Recruiting Office's Levels of Review.
YOUR JOB BENEFITS WITH THE STATE OF HAWAI'I
The State of Hawaii offers its employees who are members of the civil service a range of benefits. Some benefits are offered as a result of collective bargaining agreements and changes may occur.
A summary of these benefits, which is based on full-time employment, is listed below.
Note: Benefits for NON-CIVIL SERVICE appointments will be provided by the hiring department at the time of interview.
With Civil Service modernization, effective July 1, 2002, employees appointed to temporary positions may also gain membership in the civil service upon satisfactory completion of an initial probation period of at least six months. As a temporary member of the civil service, you will be eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions. You may also enjoy other rights and benefits afforded to members of the civil service, with the exception of return rights and placement rights associated with a reduction-in-force of a permanent member of the civil service.
Paid Holidays
You may be eligible for 13 paid holidays each year; 14 holidays during an election year.
Paid Vacation
You may earn vacation leave at a rate that other employers find tough to match - 21 days each full year from the FIRST year of employment. This compares to an average of 10 days offered by private companies. You may accumulate up to a total of 90 days (720 hours) of vacation.
Paid Sick Leave
You may earn sick leave at the same rate as vacation - 21 days per year from the FIRST year, and there is no limit on the amount you can accumulate. Expectant mothers may also use sick leave for pre-natal or post-natal check-ups or any illness related to pregnancy. Plus, unused accumulated sick leave may eventually be used to increase your retirement benefits in certain situations.
Other Leaves
Reasonable time off with pay may be provided for jury or witness duty, a death in the family, some military duty, and donation to the Blood Bank. Leave sharing donations may be granted to eligible employees who have serious personal illnesses or injuries or need to care for a seriously ill or injured family member. Various leaves without pay may also be granted with full re-employment rights.
Health Insurance
The State pays a part of the premiums for each employee's enrollment in a State sponsored Medical, Drug, Vision, and Dental Plan. For more information, visit the Employer Union Trust Fund website www.eutf.hawaii.gov for coverage and options.
Group Life Insurance
The State provides a free life insurance policy for employees.
Retirement Plan
The State contributes to a retirement plan for eligible employees. Generally, employees under the Hybrid Plan with 10 years of credited service and who have reached 65 years of age or have 30 years of credited service and have reached 60 years of age may retire and receive benefits. To find out more about the options you have, go to http://ers.ehawaii.gov.
Premium Conversion Plan
Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct the cost of health care premiums before payroll taxes are withheld.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Eligible employees can reduce their federal and state income taxes and social security taxes through a tax-savings benefit program called Island Flex. This program allows employees to set aside money from their paychecks to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and eligible dependent care expenses on a BEFORE-TAX basis.
Transportation Benefits
Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct qualified
