Environmental Health Plan Review Engineer

Engineer II (NS)

The Environmental Health Plan Review Engineer position provides professional engineering support through the review, evaluation, and approval of plans related to food and lodging establishments to ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements. Work involves consultation with local environmental health departments, architects, contractors, and engineers to assess designs, layouts, and equipment specifications for construction and remodeling projects. This position functions within a technical regulatory environment that requires interpreting engineering principles, assessing environmental and safety impacts, and applying established rules and guidelines.

Responsibilities also include preparing instructional materials and delivering plan review training to Environmental Health Specialists to support consistency in statewide regulatory practices. The role requires independent judgment in managing technically complex assignments and providing technical guidance to stakeholders.

Key duties include:

• Review construction and remodeling plans for food and lodging establishments for compliance with applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate engineering designs, layouts, and equipment specifications to determine feasibility, completeness, and alignment with food service regulatory criteria.
• Consult with local environmental health departments, architects, contractors, and engineers to address technical questions and resolve plan review issues.
• Conduct detailed assessments related to environmental and safety impacts associated with facility design and operational workflows.
• Prepare training materials and present plan review instruction during Centralized Intern Training and State of Practice courses.
• Provide technical guidance during district and regional meetings to promote consistent plan review practices statewide.
• Review and update plan review applications, databases, and guidance materials to support accurate and efficient regulatory processes.
• Perform project evaluations that require application of engineering principles, including resolving non-routine or technically complex plan review matters.
• Develop and document recommendations related to project compliance, design modifications, and regulatory interpretations.
• Manage assigned work independently, applying professional engineering judgment to ensure accurate decisions impacting public health and safety.

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Demonstrated experience reviewing engineering plans and specifications for food and lodging establishments to verify compliance with state and federal construction and operational standards.
• Proven skill conducting technical assessments of environmental health plan review submissions, including evaluation of layout, design, and equipment installation details.
• Intermediate proficiency preparing and delivering technical training materials for Environmental Health Specialists in plan review processes and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated competency applying engineering principles to evaluate and interpret regulatory codes, including building code and FDA Food Code requirements for facility design.
• Documented experience updating and maintaining plan review applications, databases, and guidance materials to support consistent statewide regulatory practices.

• Repetitive motions, talking, hearing, typing/writing

About the NC Division of Public Health (DPH):
The NC Division of Public Health works to promote and contribute to the highest possible level of health for the people of North Carolina. Our entire statewide system of public health has dedicated professionals who carry out our mission every day through a wide range of essential and activities touching the lives of everyone in our state.

About Environmental Health:
The mission of the Environmental Health Section of the Division of Public Health is to safeguard life, promote human health and protect the environment through the practice of modern environmental health science, the use of technology, rules, public education and above all, dedication to public trust.

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid…