Title: Environmental Health Specialist

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $44,000 - $48,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: CHICKAHOMINY-NEW KENT

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The position will support the environmental health functions of the Food Safety Program within the Chickahominy Health District by ensuring regulatory compliance, minimizing public health risks, and promoting consistent, science based food safety practices across the district’s four localities. The EHS plays a vital role in the protection of community health by providing oversight of food establishment inspections, plan reviews, and complaint investigations; ensuring adherence to the Virginia Food Regulations and applicable FDA Retail Food Program Standards. This position also contributes to the district’s mission by fostering collaboration with food operators, local governments, and public partners, while supporting education and outreach initiatives that advance food safety awareness and continuous program improvement. This role also provides key support to the district’s rabies response program by guiding staff on rabies control protocols, coordinating with local animal control officers, and ensuring timely follow-up and reporting of animal exposure incidents.

Please note that this is a critical and hard to fill position; a hiring incentive such as leave or a bonus may be considered.

Key duties include:
• Evaluates food safety at permitted food establishments to verify compliance with applicable local, state and federal codes
• Enforces, implements and maintains knowledge of the rules and regulations governing food establishments
• Maintains knowledge and proper implementation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Board of Health, current policies, environmental health program, sewage handling, disposal regulations and private well regulations
• Inspects swimming pools and spas to prevent disease, promote safety and ensure compliance
• Enforces, implements and maintains knowledge of regulations and policies governing hotels/motels, campgrounds, summer camps, swimming pools and migrant labor camps
• Obtains standardization credential in accordance with policies and procedures
• Implements and promotes quality assurance plans by complying with applicable standards established by regulations and policy
• Provides key support to the district’s rabies response program by guiding staff and the public on rabies control protocols, coordinating with local animal control officers, and ensuring timely follow-up and reporting of animal exposure incidents.
• Reviews temporary food vendor and coordinator applications. Conducts inspections of food vendors at temporary events as assigned.
• Conducts environmental health and safety inspections as requested by Dept. of Education and Dept. of Social Services.

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 communicate effectively with the public as well as other internal/external partners and staff; proficient in basic computer software programs
• Ability to provide services in professional, courteous manner, present educational programs to adults; uses a customer-service oriented approach to assignments and works effectively as a team member
• Time management skills necessary to meet workload demands
• Knowledge and/experience in assigned program area
• Ability to influence behavior of foodservice employees/management, provide services in professional, courteous manner, present educational programs to adults; uses a customer-service oriented approach to assignments and works effectively as a team member
• Must be able to complete training in the VDH Soils program, VDH Food program or VDH Shellfish program and be able to obtain credentials in one of the following within 18 months: VDH Standardized in Food, DPOR Conventional Onsite Soil Evaluator (COSE), DPOR Alternative Onsite Soil Evaluator (AOSE) or National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) State Standardized Inspector
• 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

• Experience in environmental health, such as experience gained as an Environmental Health Associate

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.

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: Karri Markle

Phone: 804-365-4336

Email: karri.markle@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.