Environmental Health Associate

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Health seeks an Environmental Health Associate for the Three Rivers district. The role involves drafting water, well and septic system permits using CAD, preparing complete permit packages, and reporting findings from field inspections.

The position requires outdoor work, strong problem-solving ability, and good communication with diverse communities. Wage position with funding through PHIG until 11/30/27; provide background checks as required.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in composing clear reports and data entry.
• Strong communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Ability to perform inspections in outdoor environments.
• Problem solving and critical thinking essential.
• Valid State Driver's License required for vehicle use.

Responsibilities

• Drafts schematic drawings for water, well and septic system permits using CAD.
• Completes permit/certificate packages for EHS review and signature.
• Explains permit or certification requirements to others.
• Performs on-site monitoring of wells and checks compliance.
• Monitors sites and collects soil and water samples.
• Investigates animal bites and handles samples for rabies testing.
• Transports samples to labs as needed.
• Conducts routine environmental health investigations in response to complaints.

Skills

Report writing

Data entry

Effective communication

Field inspections

Diversity awareness

Driver's license

Tools

CAD

Job description

Title: Environmental Health Associate

State Role Title: Direct Service Associate III

Hiring Range: $18.62-$19.57

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: THREE RIVERS-RICHMOND CTY

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

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.

Note: This positing is for Richmond County, located in Warsaw, Virginia, not the City of Richmond.

As a wage position Wage employees are subject to the following conditions of employment:

• Wage employees serve at the will and pleasure of the appointing authority.
• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.
• Wage employees are not covered by the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act. Therefore, they are not eligible for benefits which are provided to salaried employees, such as leave credits, holiday pay, insurance, access to the grievance procedure, etc.
• Wage employees are paid only for the hours they actually work.
• Virginia state law currently requires that agencies not permit wage employees to work in excess of 29 hours per week on average over the course of a year. Wage employees may not work for VDH beyond 1,500 hours during the period of May 1 – April 30 of the following year (the Standard Measurement Period).
• Once a wage employee works the maximum of 1,500 hours during the Standard Measurement Period, the employee may be rehired as a wage employee of VDH only after the next Standard Measurement Period has begun.
• Wage employees are eligible to apply for all classified positions for which recruitment has been initiated, including those limited to State Employees Only.
• If a wage employee becomes employed in a classified position, he/she will be eligible to purchase retirement credit for the time worked as a wage employee.
• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.

This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the PHIG grant until 11/30/27. The availability of funding is scheduled for review annually. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

What you will do

• (1) Drafts schematic drawings for water, well and septic system construction permits; takes field notes or EH Specialist (EHS) field notes and information from plat and application; develops schematic for the permit package using CAD software.
• (2) Completes various permit/certificate packages for EHS review and signature.
• (3) Explains permit or certification requirements to others.
• (4) Performs on-site monitoring of completed wells in uncomplicated situations; determines compliance of well location within permitted area and compliance with well constructions techniques; reporting results to EHS.
• (5) Monitors sites and collects soil and water samples in support of the sewage, swimming pool and marina programs.
• (6) Performs routine investigations of animal bites, monitors confined animals to observe conditions, removes animal heads for rabies examination and packages for transport.
• (7) Transports rabies, soils and food specimens/samples.
• (8) Performs other routine environmental investigations of low technical complexity in response to public health complaints such as verifying excessive grass height, observing open trash, confirming the ongoing presence of standing water, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

Skills in composition of reports, data entry and effective communication

Proficient in basic computer software programs

Ability to conduct inspections and investigations in all areas of environmental health, to work outdoors and perform moderately strenuous physical labor during all seasons

Skills in problem solving essential

Ability to work with diverse cultural backgrounds

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 support

Compliance and EEO Statements

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.

VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Contact Information

Name: Carolyn Gibson

Phone: Please email inquiries to:

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.