Environment Health Specialist I

DHRM; Gloucester (VA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Retirement plan

Leave benefits

Job summary

Virginia Department of Health in Gloucester seeks an Environmental Health Specialist I to begin training in environmental health disciplines including food sanitation, private wells, rabies abatement and more.

You will work under close supervision, evaluating operations, inspecting facilities, and assisting with public health protections in the Three Rivers district.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and internal/external partners.
• Customer-service oriented approach to assignments and teamwork.
• Time management skills to meet workload demands.
• Knowledge/experience in environmental health program areas.

Responsibilities

• Protect public health from disease transmission and groundwater pollution.
• Evaluate operation and maintenance of Sewage Disposal Systems and Private Wells.
• Prevent human illness and disease transmission from rabies.
• Monitor pools, childcare facilities, hotels, and migrant labor camps.

Skills

Public health communication

Customer service

Time management

Team collaboration

Program area knowledge

Training readiness

Job description

Title: Environment Health Specialist I

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $45,739 - $46,350

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: THREE RIVERS-GLOUCESTER

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Previous Applicants Need Not Apply

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of Virginians. The VDH is made up of a statewide Central Office in Richmond and 33 local health districts. Three Rivers Health District serves the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula region which includes the counties of: Richmond, Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, Essex, Middlesex, Mathews, Gloucester, King & Queen and King William.

Do you have a passion for the environment and serving your community? If so, join our dynamic team of professionals within our group of Environmental Health Specialist.

The position of Environmental Health Specialist I performs environmental health duties at the entry level as a trainee. Employees are typically new hires in formal and on-the-job training in one or more areas such as food sanitation, on-site soils evaluation, private well inspection, rabies abatement, communicable disease investigation, and migrant labor camp inspection, classification of shellfish growing areas and investigation of general environmental complaints. Employees receive close supervision and guidance.

What you’ll do:

• Protect public health from disease transmission and groundwater pollution
• Evaluate operation and maintenance of Sewage Disposal Systems and Private Wells
• Prevent human illness and disease transmission from rabies
• Monitor swimming pools, child and adult care facilities, hotels, and migrant labor camps

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 30 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

Additional Considerations

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

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

Special Instructions

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!

Inclusion and Alternative Hiring Process

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.

Contact Information

Name: Carolyn Gibson

Phone: Please email inquiries to:

Email: [e-mail]

Advertised: 02 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: 16 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time