Title: Environmental Engineer

State Role Title: Architect/Engineer I

Hiring Range: $65,000 - $70,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: NORFOLK HQ

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

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Public Water Supply Supervision Grant, for a fiscal year period ending June 30, 2025, but renewable annually. The availability of funding is scheduled for review before the grant expiration date and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Office of Drinking Water (ODW), is seeking an Assistant District Engineer (Environmental Engineer) to join the Southeast Virginia Field Office team! This position is located in Norfolk and will assist in ensuring safe drinking water for citizens in the entire Southeast Virginia Field Office service area.
The service area is a mix of rural, suburban, and urban areas. Localities served include the counties of Accomack, Dinwiddie, Gloucester, Greensville, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Northampton, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, and York, and the cities of Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, Emporia, Franklin, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg. There are a variety of sizes and types of waterworks in the service area, including small groundwater systems and large, complex municipal systems with advanced treatment technologies.
Under Section 32.1-167-176 of the Code of Virginia and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is required to provide safe drinking water regulations. The position will perform sanitary surveys of waterworks, review operating reports, investigate citizen complaints, assist in evaluating engineer design reports, evaluate results of compliance or other sampling, and prepare notices of alleged violation as needed.

Critical duties include:
(1) Conducting inspections and sanitary surveys (comprehensive assessments) of waterworks.
(2) Interpreting federal and state regulations applicable to waterworks owners and operators.
(3) Providing guidance to owners and operators to ensure they achieve compliance with health and safety standards.
(4) Providing assistance to help waterworks return to compliance in cases where they violate the drinking water standards.
(5) Performing evaluations of engineering documents associated with the design and construction of new or expanded waterworks to ensure construction will meet appropriate public health standards.
(6) Training operators in the operation and maintenance of waterworks; and
(7) Providing information about drinking water quality to the general public.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge in biology, microbiology, chemistry, engineering principles and practices sanitary engineering pertaining to drinking water; advanced math, physics, water chemistry, fluid mechanics, hydraulics, hydrology, geology, design of drinking water facilities, and epidemiology
• Engineering knowledge in the water aspects of civil, sanitary, environmental, or chemical engineering.
• Effectively communicate (written/verbal) in English, including addressing the public.
• Demonstrated ability to write and orally present personal communications and technical reports
• Effectively read and interpret law, regulations, policies, and technical documents.

Additional Considerations

• Experience in design or operation of waterworks treatment and/or distribution systems.

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

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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 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.