Food Safety Specialist Iii - Wailuku​/Kahului, Maui

Recruitment Number 26-0246

This vacancy is with the Department of Health.

Salary: $5,107 to $6,221 per month (SR-20, Step D to I) – Effective July 1, 2026.
Final date to receive applications: Continue until 20 applications received. Apply promptly.

Food Safety Specialists promote, protect, and maintain a healthy and safe environment for the public. Responsibilities include inspection, education, and enforcement activities to implement statutes, rules, and regulations relating to environmental sanitation, as well as safety programs concerning foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. Specialists identify, mitigate, and prevent disease transmission through improperly prepared foods, contaminated water, and adulteration or misbranding of food and related products.

Work is performed independently within an assigned geographic or specialty work area, applying sanitation sciences and interpreting sanitation laws, rules, and regulations with tact in enforcement and interpretation.

• Legal Authorization: Citizen, national, or permanent resident alien of the United States, or otherwise eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in one of the physical or biological sciences from an accredited four‑year college or university. Official transcripts must be submitted for verification.
• Professional Specialized
  
  Experience:
  
  One and one-half (1‑1/2) years of professional inspectional or investigational work experience in public health that demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of environmental health program principles, regulations, laws, bacteriology, chemistry, physics, vector control methods, and social sciences.
• Substitution: Relevant substitutions, where applicable, are described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements.

• Paid holidays: 13 paid holidays annually (14 during an election year).
• Paid vacation: 21 days per year starting the first year, with a maximum of 90 days (720 hours). Additional vacation may accrue after this limit.
• Paid sick leave: 21 days per year starting the first year; no limit on accumulation.
• Health insurance:
  State pays a portion of premiums for the State-sponsored medical, drug, vision, and dental plans.
• Group life insurance:
  Free life insurance policy provided.
• Retirement plan:
  State contributions to a retirement plan; eligibility depends on service years and age.
• Additional benefits include transportation benefits, flexible spending accounts, and voluntary pre‑tax retirement savings plans.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
  Eligible applicants may qualify for federal PSLF benefits; see the Department of Health website for details.

The State of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Employer.