Title: Environmental Health Specialist, Senior

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $51,489.50 - $63,957.50

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: Dept of Health

Agency Website: vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Office of Drinking Water (ODW), is seeking an Environmental Health Specialist, Senior to join the Richmond Field Office team! This position is located in downtown Richmond and will assist in ensuring safe drinking water for citizens in the Richmond Field Office service area. If you like city living or if you like a more rural setting, the Richmond area has it all!

The primary responsibility of this position is to ensure safe drinking water to the counties of Louisa, Middlesex, Essex, and King and Queen (18). The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has “primacy” or primary enforcement authority for implementing and enforcing the federal drinking water regulations. These functions are initiated and monitored by the inspectors assigned to various regions and are of critical importance to sustaining a program of inspections to ensure continued compliance with state and federal regulations.

Critical duties include:
(1) Conducting inspections and sanitary surveys of groundwater source waterworks.
(2) Interpreting federal and state regulations applicable to waterworks’ owners and operators.
(3) Providing guidance to owners and operators to ensure they achieve compliance with health and safety standards.
(4) Providing assistance to help waterworks return to compliance in cases where they violate the drinking water standards.
(5) Training operators in the operation and maintenance of waterworks.
(6) Providing information about drinking water quality to the public.

Join a team of professionals committed to protecting public health associated with treatment and delivery of drinking water to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave!

Minimum Qualifications

•Working knowledge of biology, microbiology, chemistry & math.
•Knowledge of technology associated with provision of drinking water.
•Ability to express facts clearly, verbally & in writing.
•Effectively orally communicate interpersonally & before groups in English; & to address public meetings.
•Ability to interpret regulations & technical documents.

Additional Considerations

•Graduation from an accredited college with major studies in environmental sciences or a related field.
•Experience in provision of drinking water and related activities in the areas of enforcement and compliance.
•Licensure as Class III, II or I Waterworks Operator by Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation may be substituted for education.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the job closing date. Resume may be submitted in lieu of fully completed application. Please be sure all pertinent work experience is included on your resume.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHS IG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, or other background checks prior to employment may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) organization. VDH honors the Commonwealth’s veteran’s hiring preference. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The availability of funding is scheduled for review annually and periodically thereafter (continuous renewal). Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

State agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Contact Information

Name: Phyllis Lawson

Phone: N/A

Email: phyllis.lawson@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.