Environmental Health Specialist I

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Paid holidays

Job summary

Virginia Department of Health seeks an Environmental Health Specialist I focused on food establishments. This entry-level role performs evaluations, inspections, and permitting to enforce food establishment regulations while receiving training in soils, food, and shellfish programs.

Employees enter a trainee phase with close supervision, aiming to obtain credentials within 30 months and transition to Environmental Health Specialist Senior.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and partners.
• Customer-service oriented approach with ability to present educational programs.
• Time management skills to meet workload demands.
• Knowledge of FOOD ESTABLISHMENT REGULATIONS.
• Ability to influence behavior of foodservice employees/management.
• Must complete training in VDH programs and obtain credentials within 30 months.
• A valid State Driver's License is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct evaluations, inspections, and permitting for food establishments.
• Undergo entry-level training in areas such as food sanitation, soils evaluation, shellfish, and disease investigation.
• Obtain required credentials within 30 months.
• Receive supervision with path to Environmental Health Specialist Senior.
• Benefits include holidays, health, dental, vision, life insurance, and retirement plans.

Skills

Communication

Customer service

Time management

Food regs

Influence skills

Credential training

Driver's license

Job description

Title: Environmental Health Specialist I

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $45,739 - $47,108

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: RAPPAHANNOCK-EH

Agency Website: vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This is an entry-level Environmental Health Specialist position that is focused primarily on food establishments. This position performs evaluations, inspections, and permitting activities related to the enforcement of the food establishment regulations.
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. 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 30 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.
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 (FOOD ESTABLISHMENT REGULATIONS)
• 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
• 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

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!

Contact Information

Name: Abriel Lane

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.