Environment Health Specialist I

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 paid holidays

Medical insurance

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Retirement plans

Leave

Job summary

Commonwealth of Virginia Careers is seeking an Environment Health Specialist I in Virginia Beach. You will join an entry-level trainee program and gain hands-on experience across food sanitation, soils evaluation, wells, rabies control and disease investigation.

Training is both formal and on-the-job to build public health expertise. The role includes potential advancement to Environmental Health Specialist Senior after training, with a salary range of $46,575 to $48,682.50 and a robust benefits

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of biology, epidemiology, chemistry, mathematics and statistics.
• Ability to interpret complex environmental health policies and regulations.
• Strong written and oral communication; able to handle public interactions.
• Experience preparing regulatory documents and reports.

Responsibilities

• Perform entry-level EH duties such as food sanitation and soil evaluation.
• Assist in private wells, rabies abatement and disease investigations.
• Conduct EH inspections and participate in complaint investigations.

Skills

Biology knowledge

Epidemiology knowledge

Communication skills

Documentation skills

Regulatory interpretation

Job description

Title: Environment Health Specialist I

State Role Title:Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $46,575.00 - $48,682.50

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location:VIRGINIA BEACH HQ

Agency Website:jobs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Become part of a dynamic Environmental Health team and make a difference in the community! The Virginia Beach Health Department is recruiting for an Environmental Health to perform 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. You will acquire hands-on experience in Public Health and play an active role in implementing meaningful initiatives to improve the environment.

Benefits

• The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays; medical, dental; vision; life insurance; optional flexible spending accounts; disability (short and long); Employee Assistance Program; Public Student Loan Forgiveness; retirement plans (including 401(a) Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan); as well as sick, family/personal, annual, parental, and military leave!

Diversity

• We’re proud to build a diverse and inclusive team, and we value the perspectives that come from people of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Whether you speak one language or multiple, we encourage you to apply. If you’re bilingual or have additional language skills, they’re a meaningful asset that can help us better connect, collaborate, and serve our communities together.

Program Requirements

• Must be able to complete the applicable 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), and National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) State Standardized Inspector.
• Employees are moved to the Environmental Health Specialist Senior position upon successful completion with a 10% increase.

Program Support

• In consultation with EH Supervisor/EHS Sr. assures that all elements of program are conducted according to VDH regulations, state and local policies
• Implements/promotes quality assurance plans by complying with all applicable agency standards established by regulation and policy
• In consultation with EHS Sr. and EH Supervisor, responds to reports using epidemiological research (interviews, case histories, sample collection), on-site evaluation, field testing, interpretation of laboratory results

Environmental Health

• In consultation with EHS Sr. may perform the following EH duties:
  • Food related field duties, as required, to ensure state and local mandates are met; records, submits and updates establishment profile and risk data; issues permits and monitors permit status; conducts plan reviews for new and existing facilities
  • Protects public health from disease transmission and groundwater pollution associated with raw or partially treated sewage by ensuring the proper location, evaluation, design and construction, and operation and maintenance of Sewage Disposal Systems and Private Wells
    
  • Prevents human illness and disease transmission from rabies; understands the virus; comprehends and implements the Virginia Guidelines for Rabies Prevention and Control and all other applicable laws, regulations and policies
    
  • Monitors swimming pools, child and adult care facilities, hotels and motels and migrant labor camps Documents observations and corrective actions on the appropriate inspection report Conducts EH sanitary inspections upon request
    

Environmental Health Complaints

• Conducts general environmental complaint investigations for assigned program area(s) with follow‑up enforcement action taken when necessary
• Responds to environmental complaints to include but not limited to rodents, insects and general environmental concerns
• Achieves resolution of complaints within reasonable timeframe
  

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

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

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.

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.

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: Cydnee Stuckey
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

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.