Title: Environmental Health Specialist Consultant

State Role Title: 

Hiring Range: $60,000 to $80,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: Dept of Health

Agency Website: vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (EPA), which is a continuous revolving grant. The availability of funding is scheduled for review annually. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

Implementation of Central Office program that focuses on deployment of resources, training and assistance to the regulated community to assist waterworks in obtaining and/or maintaining technical, managerial, and financial capacity necessary to comply with federal, state, and local laws and VDH policies and procedures. Provides technical support, capacity development project planning, and consultation on actions associated with the Office of Drinking Water mission. These duties will focus on the implementation of the Virginia Capacity Development Strategy, implementation of outreach programs that support the EPA Capacity Development approach (including materials, training, and outreach), technical assistance to waterworks owners/operators, and development of materials for the purpose of promoting the ODW mission to various audiences. Collaborates with Waterworks owners, VDH staff, and Technical Assistance providers to improve the sustainability of waterworks in Virginia. Management of the DRSRF Planning and Design Fund and Small Project Engineering Services projects. Duties may include presentations to public and technical audiences, reviews of technical, managerial and financial documentation, and support to other VDH offices.

1. Program Management
• Ensures supervised programs comply with EPA and VDH requirements.
• Maintains a list of priority systems at risk for lack of technical, managerial, or financial capacity.
• Provides technical assistance aimed at increasing technical, managerial, or financial capacities of priority and other small waterworks through direct contacts and/or on-site one-on-one visits, small event training, development of written or electronic resources, or through presentations at conferences.
• Uses surveillance data to make well-reasoned recommendations to the Capacity Development Manager that exhibit the ability to convey and substantiate conclusions.
• Provides technical assistance to waterworks completing a Waterworks Business Operations Plan, and tracks progress of waterworks participation in Waterworks Business Operations Plan program to support field staff.
• Provides technical assistance to waterworks completing an asset management plan, and tracks progress of waterworks completing asset management plans.
• Assists the Capacity Development Manager with the preparation of the annual Capacity Development Report per EPA guidelines.
• Collaborates with other VDH divisions, Technical assistance providers i.e. VRWA, SERCAP, EFCN, VT, AWWA, EPA, and outside partners such as Planning District Commissions, DEQ, and DPOR.
2. Resource Management
• Ensures monetary resources are used for their intended purposes in support of the agency’s fiscal responsibilities and that no resources are used for purposes disallowed by law, regulation, or policy.
• Identifies strategies and other methods to maximize revenue and resources to improve the ODW fiscal status.
• Confirms projects completed as part of DWSRF Planning and Design funds and Small Project Engineering Program Services (SPES) funds are used for their intended purposes.
3. Strategic Activity
• Collaborates with the Capacity Development Director and other Sustainability Coordinators during each performance cycle to identify a strategic programmatic need/activity under the current Capacity Development Strategy.
• Provides specific goals that address increasing the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of waterworks in Virginia.
4. Leadership
• Serves as an example of engaged leadership to VDH, staff, and community. He or she is actively engaged in supporting the agency’s mission by collaborating to create a division vision for his/her assigned program area; coordinating and balancing the program needs between all stakeholders; and serving when appropriate, as a team member to both VDH and community teams.
5. Staff Engagement
• Staff meetings.
• Waterworks assistance.
• Seeking feedback as needed to foster a collaborative team oriented environment.
• May be required to perform other duties; may include functions in support of an emergency declaration.

Minimum Qualifications

· Working knowledge of drinking water regulations, project management, and knowledge of technology associated with provision of drinking water.
· Ability to perform independent research, develop analytical results from independent data sources.
· Present information directly and clearly to both technical and public audiences.
· Ability to interpret and evaluate federal and state regulations, to address public meetings.
· Ability to interpret technical documents.
· Ability to work with stakeholders (Technical Assistance providers or small waterworks).
· Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Additional Considerations

Degree from an accredited college with major studies in hard sciences (geology, biology, chemistry), civil or environmental engineering, or a related field.

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.
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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: Cassandra Diclaro

Phone: 804.573.1158

Email: cassandra.diclaro@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.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 13 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.