Title: Environmental Health Technical Specialist

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $63,000-$70,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: Dept of Health

Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only - A

Job Duties

The Division of Shellfish Safety and Waterborne Hazards (Division) is seeking an individual to serve as an environmental health technical leader, with an emphasis on improving the Plant Program. The selected individual will perform plant standardization inspections with Division staff, assist and work collaboratively with the Division’s Plant Program Manager and Technical Specialist, provide education and outreach to Division staff, regulatory partners, and the regulated industry, and perform routine job duties in the plant program, growing area program, and shoreline program independently.

Perform plant standardization inspections with Division staff according to established procedures, specifically:

-) Successfully complete and maintain standardization by a US Food and Drug Administration Shellfish Specialist, as a State Standardization Officer.
-) Maintain expert knowledge of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) and other applicable laws and regulations.
-) Perform both formal standardization inspections and joint inspections with field staff periodically to ensure uniformity in inspection practices.

Assist and work collaboratively with the Division’s Plant Program Manager and Technical Specialist, specifically:

-) Provide input and interpretation on issues with direct public health implications.
-) Develop and update Division policies, procedures and forms.
-) Continuous improvement activities to the Environmental Health Database (EHD).
-) Draft and provide technical input on proposals for consideration at the Interstate Shellfish Shippers Conference (ISSC).

Provide education and outreach to Division staff, regulatory partners and the regulated industry, specifically:

-) Collaboratively develop, with the Division's Plant Program Manager and Technical Specialist, training courses, resources, and materials for stakeholders.
-) Provides in-person and virtual training to stakeholders.

Perform routine job duties in the Division’s plant program and growing area program independently, specifically:

-) Provides in-field training to newly hired Division staff.
-)Conducts routine, certification, follow-up, and pre-operational inspections according to NSSP and Division-specific standards, practices and procedures.
-) Operation of small boats to perform field assessments and sample collection in shellfish growing areas.
-) Conduct near-shore surveys to assess potential pollution sources that may adversely affect shellfish growing areas.

Minimum Qualifications

-) Advanced technical knowledge of food safety and factors that
contribute to foodborne illness, the NSSP, and Hazard Analysis
Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles and their application in
shellfish plants.
-) Extensive knowledge gained through training or experience in food science,
biology, chemistry, environmental health, or related scientific discipline.
-) Fundamental knowledge of computer applications.
-) Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
-) Ability to effectively communicate, both written and orally, with
Division staff, regulatory partners, and the regulated industry.
-) Basic technical knowledge of environmental sanitation related to the
classification of shellfish growing areas.
-) Basic skills in the trailering, launching, landing, maneuvering, and piloting of
outboard powered boats. Ability to navigate and pilot an outboard powered
boat to specific locations.

Additional Considerations

-) A combination of related education, training, and professional experience
indicating possession of the preceding knowledge, skills and abilities at the
government level.

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 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications 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.

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.

Contact Information

Name: Isis Romero

Phone: (804) 864-7000

Email: isis.romero@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.