Environment Health Specialist I

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

Job summary

The Virginia Beach Health Department, part of the Virginia Department of Health, is hiring an Environment Health Specialist I trainee. You will receive formal and on-the-job training across areas such as food sanitation, on-site soils evaluation, private wells, rabies abatement, and disease investigation while gaining hands-on public health experience.

This entry-level role offers growth toward the Environmental Health Specialist Senior, with progression and credentials upon program completion,

Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of biology and epidemiology; ability to interpret health policies and regulations.
• Strong written and oral communication; ability to document regulatory activities clearly.
• Must be able to obtain specified credentialing within 18 months and travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Perform entry-level environmental health duties across programs such as food sanitation, soils evaluation, and shellfish inspection.
• Assist in investigating environmental health complaints and maintaining inspection records.
• Complete required training and progress toward EHS Senior credentials.

Skills

Biology basics

Epidemiology knowledge

Communication skills

Regulatory language interpretation

Documentation/reporting

Public health understanding

Valid State Driver's License

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

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.

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!

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion.

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.

Advertised:

Advertised: 02 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: 12 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Contact Information

Name: Cydnee Stuckey

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]