Title: Public Health Engineer Regional Director

State Role Title: Architecture / Engineer Manager II

Hiring Range: $105,000 - $115,000

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: DRINKING WATER-LEXINGTON

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is actively recruiting a Field Director for the Lexington Field Office of the Office of Drinking Water. The ideal candidate will be an experienced leader in public health and possess demonstrable abilities in program, performance, and resource management and possess a history of advancement with increased responsibilities. The position supervises a team of up to 13 staff consisting of district engineers, environmental specialists, and administrative support professionals located in Lexington, Virginia. The position works closely with the ODW central office as well 5 other regional office directors to ensure consistency and continuity of operations in regulation of waterworks across the state. The position routinely provides technical assistance to ensure proper implementation of federal grant requirements, applicable regulations, and improving treatment and infrastructure for water utilities.

The Lexington Field Office serves the west central region of the state including all counties extending west from Fluvanna County, counties as far south as Roanoke County, Craig County and Amherst County, and as far North as Shenandoah County and Page County. For a full list of Counties in the Lexington Field Office region please go to Contact Us - Drinking Water (virginia.gov).

The Field Director ensures responsive customer service and accountability of staff. The position eliminates inconsistencies, identifies, and advocates for resources, and ensures teams meet or exceed program metrics. The position responds to media inquiries, gives presentations, resolves conflicts, prepares reports, leads facilitated discussions with stakeholders, sits on regulatory and stakeholder panels, and actively communicates with legislators and key stakeholders.

Directs, supervises and manages the operations and staff of a field office, supervising engineering and support staff, establishing policies and procedures, allocating resources and evaluating ongoing operations. Functions as the primary responsible charge engineer for all engineering activities of the field office. Serves as quality control point and liaison with local, state, and federal offices.

The successful candidate will listen to stakeholders and staff, identify process improvements, reduce vacancies, and build team spirit for operational success. The ideal candidate will have experience with human resources, procurement, federal grant implementation, public drinking water regulations, leading teams, providing technical assistance to waterworks, and using MS Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word). The position reports directly to the Chief of Field Operations at the Office of Drinking Water.

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

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Public Water Supply Supervision (PWSS) grant. The availability of funding is scheduled for review annually and periodically thereafter (continuous renewal). Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

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

•Ability to pass a pre-appointment criminal record check and background investigation.
•Extensive experience in supervising technical and administrative staff.
•Ability to manage engineering regulatory program/staff.
•Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in technical writing.
•Ability to address/conduct meetings and hearings.
•Ability to read, interpret, and independently apply laws, regulations, and policies.
•Extensive knowledge and experience in business management, administration, and supervision of diverse staff.
•Ability to delegate activities and responsibilities to effect optimal business operations.
•Ability to monitor staff to ensure performance and accountability.
•Knowledge and experience in operations planning, budgeting, continuity development and program development.

Additional Considerations

•Extensive knowledge of sanitary engineering related to drinking water (advanced math, water chemistry, physics, microbiology, hydraulics, hydrology, design of drinking water facilities, drinking water laws, regulations, public health objectives and practices, etc.).

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: 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.