Title: Environmental Health Specialist Senior

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $51,426 - $63,909.50

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: NORFOLK HQ

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Office of Drinking Water (ODW), is seeking to fill an Environmental Health Specialist, Senior position in the Southeast Virginia Field Office team! The position is located in Norfolk. This is an exciting opportunity to work in an office filled with passionate public health professionals dedicated to ensuring safe and reliable drinking water for citizens in the Southeast Virginia Field Office service area.

The service area is a mix of rural, suburban, and urban areas. Localities included in the service area are 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. The position will be assigned primarily to a subset of these localities.

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Fund for a one-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

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. These functions are initiated and monitored by the inspectors assigned to the office and are of critical importance to sustaining a program of inspections to ensure continued compliance with state and federal regulations. The position provides technical assistance to primarily groundwater waterworks.

Critical duties include:
(1) Conducting inspections and sanitary surveys of groundwater source 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) Training operators in the operation and maintenance of waterworks; and
(6) Providing information about drinking water quality to the general public.
(7) Ability to read and interpret law, regulations, policies, and technical documents.

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


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

• Working Knowledge of biology, microbiology, chemistry, and math.
• Knowledge of technology associated with provision of drinking water.
• Ability to express facts clearly, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively communicate (written/verbal) in English and present at public
meetings.

Additional Considerations

• Experience in provision of drinking water and related activities in the areas of
enforcement and compliance.

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 online 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: Erica Taylor

Phone: 804-339-7665

Email: erica.taylor@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.