Title: Environmental Health Specialist (Food Protection)

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $44,125 - $46,350

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: CRATER HQ

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Join Our Team at Crater Health District: Exciting Opportunity in Environmental Health Services!

Are you passionate about fostering healthy and resilient communities? Crater Health District, part of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), is seeking a dedicated individual to join our Environmental Health Services team. This is a fantastic opportunity to serve the public, make a meaningful impact, and build your career in public health!

As an Environmental Health Specialist Trainee, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that local restaurants, hotels, motels, and campgrounds meet health and safety standards through inspections and assessments. Your work will involve investigating food safety concerns, evaluating general environmental complaints, and developing monthly work plans based on data analysis. You’ll also gain experience in a variety of areas, including food sanitation, rabies abatement, communicable disease investigation, and more!

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct inspections of restaurants, hotels, motels, and campgrounds to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Investigate food-related and general environmental health complaints.
• Develop monthly work plans based on inspection data and findings.
• Provide recommendations to address identified issues.
• Participate in formal and on-the-job training in multiple environmental health areas, including the VDH Soils Program, VDH Food Program, and more.

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in environmental health services.
• Opportunities for career advancement, with successful completion of training leading to the Environmental Health Specialist Senior position.
• Qualifications and credentials in areas such as VDH Standardized Food, DPOR Soil Evaluator, or National Shellfish Sanitation Program Inspector.
• Exceptional Recruitment and Incentive Options to support your professional growth.

Requirements:

• Ability to interpret and apply local, state, and federal regulations.
• Completion of required training programs within 18 months.
• Valid State Driver's License required for vehicle operation (state or personal) within the district.
• Willingness to travel within the Crater Health District, which includes the Cities of Hopewell, Emporia, and Petersburg, and the Counties of Sussex, Greensville, Surry, Prince George, and Dinwiddie.

Crater Health District is committed to building healthy communities, and we need passionate, motivated individuals like you to help us achieve that goal! If you’re ready to serve the public and grow your career in environmental health, apply today and take the first step toward making a difference in the lives of others!

Crater Health District – Your Opportunity to Make an Impact!

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge and/or experience of environmental health science and public health principles in the areas of food protection and sanitation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public, internal/external partners and staff, proficient in basic computer software.
• Ability to provide direction to appropriate leadership in targeted areas, present education programs to adults; customer-service oriented and works effectively as a team member.
• Time management skills in order to meet workload demands; Skills in problem solving essential with analyzing information and making recommendations.
• Ability to interpret and apply regulations.

Additional Considerations

•Experience in environmental health, such as experience gained as an Environmental Health Associate

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.

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. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.

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. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!
Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration and diverse work force.

VDH Welcomes Veterans: We are committed to hiring and retaining Veterans and their families. Equal Opportunity Employer

Contact Information

Name: CraterHR

Phone: N/A

Email: CraterHR@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.