JOB ANNOUNCEMENT SUPERVISING PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTORChicago Department of Public HealthHealth Protection BureauNumber of Positions: 2(additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
Starting Salary: $85,548.00/YearApplications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 10/16 /2026Under general supervision, supervises Sanitarians engaged in conducting inspections of establishments that process, prepare, and/or serve food to enforce food safety, sanitation codes and licensing requirements, and/or supervises Sanitarians engaged in conducting inspections of swimming pools and spas to enforce environmental health codes and licensing requirements
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:- Assigns inspections or complaints of sanitation violations to staff and monitors to ensure they are conducted thoroughly and efficiently
- Reviews inspection reports and citations issued for completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness of findings
- Provides assistance and instruction to staff on complex inspections and investigations
- Conducts field visits to observe inspections and ensure compliance with departmental protocols
- May assist in conducting inspections and investigations and in preparing reports on findings
- May issue citations for health code violations
- Testifies in Administrative Hearings regarding violations found
- Oversee the training of new staff on inspections, food safety and sanitation codes, environmental health codes and licensing requirements
- Prepare reports on inspection activities
- Supervises the maintenance of inspection documents and reports
- Responds to citizen complaints and inquiries on health code violations and compliance methods
- Serves as a liaison to City departments, public agencies, and the general public on sanitary codes and enforcement issues.
- May also be assigned to the Small Business Center at City Hall five days a week to provide health consultations required under the Municipal Code of Chicago.
- Monitors and reviews work performance and productivity of Sanitarians and administrative staff, administers disciplinary actions as required and conducts performance evaluations of staff.
- May supervise operations involving health code enforcement, licensing, and 311 service requests.
- May review plans for new or remodeled food establishments.
- Assist in collecting samples and taking swabs for laboratory analysis as required
- Participate in rotating on-call coverage, including additional hours as needed.
NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.
Performs related duties as required
Location: Chicago Department of Public Health - Food Safety & Regulatory Services, Health Protection BureauAddress: 2133 West Lexington, Chicago, ILDays: Monday - Friday (May include occasional SaturdaysShift: 8:30am - 4:30pm. ** Participate in a rotating on-call coverage, including additional hours as needed. ** Work in communities throughout the City of Chicago, as required. ** Work after hours and on weekends during Summer Special Events season.THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICEQualificationsGraduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Biology, the Natural Sciences, Environmental Health, or a directly related field, plus two (2) years of food sanitation experience, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher in Biology, the Natural Sciences, Environmental Health, or a directly related field, plus one (1) year of food sanitation experience
Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications • Must be licensed as an Environmental Health Practitioner by the State of Illinois within six months of hire
• A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required.
• Must have the permanent use of an automobile that is properly insured, including a clause specifically insuring the City of Chicago from accident liability.
Selection CriteriaThis position requires applicants to complete an
interview which will include a written exercise and/or a skills assessment test as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.
Desired Skills:• Currently possess a State of Illinois Environmental Health Practitioner License.
• Previous experience with conducting regulatory risk-based food inspections of a complex nature in an urban setting.
• Previous experience as a supervising public health inspector or equivalent in another local or state health department.
• Previous experience investigating suspected food poisonings and collecting food and water samples for laboratory testing.
• Certified Swimming Pool Operator with experience inspecting swimming pools and spas.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
For information about City of Chicago employee benefits, please click hereFor information about City of Chicago salaries and job titles, please click hereAPPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on the information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow all required employment/hiring plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and collective bargaining agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring processes please click here.
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