Title: Environmental Health Specialist

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $46,093 - $47,096

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: BLUE RIDGE HQ

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov/blue-ridge

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) is seeking to hire an Environmental Health Specialist for the Food Safety program. BRHD is one of 35 health districts within the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). We encompass the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson along with the City of Charlottesville and serve over 250,000 people.

Are you passionate about public health? The Blue Ridge Health District's (BRHD) Environmental Health team is looking for a dedicated and innovative environmental health professional with significant food safety experience, to support both VDH's and BRHD's initiatives and mission. The BRHD, which includes the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson, as well as the City of Charlottesville, is at the forefront in accomplishing the VDH mission "to protect the health and promote the well-being of all people of Virginia." We accomplish this through collaboration and strategic initiatives with both our state and local community partners. If you are passionate about public health and the environmental health needs of your community, we want to hear from you!

The purpose of the position is to provide direct service to owners and patrons of regulated food service establishments, including both permitting and inspections. It supports the objectives of the VDH strategic plan to inspect 100% of all food service facilities on an annual basis (minimum frequency), as well as temporary event permitting and inspections. Additional duties of the position include animal exposure (rabies) investigations, inspections of pools, tourist establishments, migrant camps and general environmental investigations.

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

• 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

• VDH work experience related to the area of environmental health specialization 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.

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. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the 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!

Contact Information

Name: Tammy Richardson / Richard Bolden

Phone: 434-422-4556 / 434-972-6271

Email: tammy.richardson@vdh.virginia.gov / richard.bolden@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.