Title: Environmental Health Associate
State Role Title: Direct Service Associate III
Hiring Range: $23.00-$25.00
Pay Band: 3
Agency: Virginia Department of Health
Location: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH-KILMARNOC
Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
Working under the direction of the EH Manger performs work of routine difficulty in support of water sampling and near shore sampling conducted by EH Specialists (EHS) who exercise regulatory authority and provide technical guidance. Assists field staff in sampling from vessels in shellfish growing areas.
Aids in field work logistics including sample collection preparation, watercraft readiness, boat trailering, and water sample collection. Assist laboratory specialist in receiving and preparing samples of analyses.
Join the Division of Shellfish Sanitation Team! Help promote and protect public health and safety by ensuring the quality of Virginia’s shellfish resources.
The Virginia Department of Health – Division of Shellfish Safety and Waterborne Hazards is seeking a dedicated Environmental Health Associate to join our Kilmarnock Field Office. This position supports public health programs designed to minimize risks associated with the consumption of shellfish and crustacea.
Key Responsibilities:
• Assist in the operation of small boats to perform field assessments and collect samples from shellfish growing areas.
• Support near-shore surveys to identify and evaluate potential pollution sources that may impact water quality and shellfish safety.
• Help with laboratory sample preparation, handling, and receiving.
Why Join Us?
• Contribute to the protection of public health and Virginia’s coastal environment.
• Work outdoors and gain hands-on experience in environmental field operations.
• Join a collaborative, mission-driven team committed to science and safety.
Wage employees are subject to the following conditions of employment:
• Wage employees serve at the will and pleasure of the appointing authority.
• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.
• Wage employees are not covered by the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act. Therefore, they are
not eligible for benefits which are provided to salaried employees, such as leave credits, holiday pay, insurance, access to the grievance procedure, etc.
• Wage employees are paid only for the hours they actually work.
• Virginia state law currently requires that agencies not permit wage employees to work in excess of 29 hours per week on average over the course of a year. Wage employees may not work for VDH beyond 1,500 hours during the period of May 1 – April 30 of the following year (the Standard Measurement Period).
• Once a wage employee works the maximum of 1,500 hours during the Standard Measurement Period, the employee may be rehired as a wage employee of VDH only after the next Standard Measurement Period has begun.
• Wage employees are eligible to apply for all classified positions for which recruitment has been initiated, including those limited to State Employees Only.
• If a wage employee becomes employed in a classified position, he/she will be eligible to purchase retirement credit for the time worked as a wage employee.
• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.
Minimum Qualifications
· Basic skills in trailering, launching, and retrieving boats
· Basic knowledge of or experience with boat safety requirements and procedures
· Ability to work outdoors and perform moderately strenuous physical labor in all seasons and weather conditions
· Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
· Ability to work effectively as part of a team and communicate clearly both orally and in writing
Additional Considerations
· Basic knowledge of and/or experience in water sample collection techniques for bacterial analyses and field parameter collection
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. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the 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!
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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 Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800- 552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.
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.