Title: Environmental Health Specialist Sr.
State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I
Hiring Range: $45,113.00-$47,000.00
Pay Band: 4
Agency: Virginia Department of Health
Location: CHESAPEAKE HQ
Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/chesapeake/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
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.
What We Do:
Become a part of a dynamic Environmental Health team and make a difference in the community! The Chesapeake Health Department is recruiting for an Environmental Health Specialist to perform a variety of duties including inspecting permitted facilities such as restaurants, campgrounds, summer camps, hotels and motels, recreational pools, migrant
labor camps, body art and massage facilities; performing private well inspections; educating the public on food safety and general environmental health related topics; investigating communicable diseases and general environmental complaints; and rabies investigations and abatement.
What You'll Do:
Program Support
• In consultation with EH Supervisor/EHS Sr. assures that all elements of program are conducted according to VDH regulations, state and local policies
• In consultation with EHS Sr. and EH Supervisor, responds to reports using epidemiological research (interviews, case histories, sample collection), on-site evaluation, field testing, interpretation of laboratory results
Environmental Health
In consultation with EHS Sr. may perform the following EH duties:
- Food related field duties, as required, to ensure state and local mandates are met; records, submits and updates establishment profile and risk data; issues permits and monitors permit status; conducts plan reviews for new and existing facilities
- Protects public health from disease transmission and groundwater pollution associated with raw or partially treated sewage by ensuring the proper location, evaluation, design and construction, and operation and maintenance of Sewage Disposal Systems and Private Wells
- Prevents human illness and disease transmission from rabies; understands the virus; comprehends and implements the Virginia Guidelines for Rabies Prevention and Control and all other applicable laws, regulations and policies
- Monitors swimming pools, child and adult care facilities, hotels and motels and migrant
labor camps
• Documents observations and corrective actions on the appropriate inspection report
• Conducts EH sanitary inspections upon request
Environmental Health Complaints
• Conducts general environmental complaint investigations for assigned program area(s) with follow-up enforcement action taken when necessary
• Responds to environmental complaints to include but not limited to rodents, insects and general environmental concerns
• Achieves resolution of complaints within reasonable timeframe
Special Assignments
May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency
or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
May be required by VDH to adjust work hours, location, and job duties and participate in
Revised 7/6/2006 3
training to meet public health business needs, including emergencies. If this position is designated as a mobile worker, this includes both working in the field and teleworking at an alternate location when not in the field or during an emergency closing. You may be required to periodically come into your assigned office to attend meetings or training.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum KSAs:
•Basic knowledge of biology, epidemiology, chemistry, mathematics, and statistics
•Ability to interpret complex federal, state and local environmental health policies, regulations, and laws
•Skill in communication, both oral and written; ability to deal with the public and resolve conflict in a regulatory setting
•Experience preparing thorough documentation and reports of regulatory activities
•Skill as an educator/trainer of environmental health principles
•Ability to interpret and enforce laws and regulations governing environmental health programs
•Ability to analyze information and make recommendations; to receive, understand and perform tasks as instructed by supervisor; to perform physically demanding tasks
•Must be DPOR licensed master alternative onsite soil evaluator or master conventional onsite soil evaluator, VDH standardized in food or National Shellfish Sanitation Program State Standardized Inspector to qualify as EHS Senior
•A valid State Driver's License is required to operate a state vehicle or if operating a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the agency
Additional Considerations
•Degree in public health, environmental health or a degree related to the duties of the position or equivalent experience in environmental health, such as experience gained as an Environmental Health Associate or Environmental health Internship
•Computer software knowledge preferred
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. HHS IG Exclusion List check, employment reference check, and E-Verify. The selected candidate must complete a Statement of Personal Economic Interests as a condition of employment, if applicable (Va.Code § 2.2-3114). Other financial, credit, driving, or other background checks prior to employment may be required for certain positions.
VDH employees have shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website at www.vdh.virginia.gov. VDH is an equal opportunity employer by both policy and practice, therefore prohibits discrimination on basis of sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, or disability in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of our workforce. As a V3 organization, VDH honors the Commonwealth’s veteran’s hiring preference.
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: Natalie Newby
Phone: please refer to email
Email: CHD_Recruiting@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.