Environmental Health Specialist II - Kona, Hawaii ; Ohhi

Recruitment Information

Recruitment Number OHHI-26039

This recruitment is part of the Operation Hire Hawaii (OH-HI), an expedited hiring initiative to fast‑track qualified applicants into job opportunities throughout Hawaiʻi.

Applicants will be reviewed for legal authorization to work in the U.S. Those who pass this review will be referred to the hiring department for further consideration. Candidates who meet departmental review requirements may be called for interview. All candidates will be notified of selection or non‑selection by the department. A final review will be conducted by the Department of Human Resources Development.

The vacancy is with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity in the Plant Industry Division.

Note:

The starting monthly salary is at the minimum rate of pay advertised above.

The Environmental Health Specialist protects public and environmental health by ensuring compliance with federal and state laws, rules, and regulations related to environmental and occupational health hazards. The role involves on‑the‑job training in relevant laws and regulations, participation in investigations, inspections, and sample collection, and other related duties as assigned. Overtime may be required at the discretion of the department.

To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following:

• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. as required by the State of Hawaiʻi.
• Prerequisite knowledge of chemistry, biology, physics, environmental science, or a closely related science field; basic math, problem‑solving, research, and report writing.
• Ability to apply scientific principles, understand and apply relevant laws and regulations, conduct investigations, collect and analyze data, solve problems, perform mathematical calculations, and communicate clearly orally and in writing.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university with a major in chemistry, physics, biology, zoology, environmental science, or a closely related field of science, plus at least three semester credit hours of college algebra or higher.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license at the time of appointment (required for this vacancy).
• Ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted.

Relevant substitutions may apply as described in the full Minimum Qualification Requirements. For the complete requirements, refer to the official posting.

The State of Hawaiʻi complies with federal and state disability laws and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations for completing an application or participating in the selection process may be requested by calling 808‑587‑1111.

Applicants will be notified via email regarding application status. Please ensure that email addresses are current and accessible. Applicants should not disable the Job Application Emails feature in their account settings.

Testing for this recruitment may include an examination based on education and experience, and in‑person interviews or additional testing may be required at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants should be prepared to participate at their own expense if required. Applications are encouraged to be submitted promptly as selection may consider other factors such as date of receipt.

Equal Employment Opportunity information, the Merit Civil Service System, citizenship and other requirements, reasonable accommodation, veterans preference, examination requirements, and the State Recruiting Office’s levels of review are available from the official posting.