Environmental Health Specialist I

Virginia-Department-of-Healt; Suffolk (VA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid holidays

Job summary

Virginia Department of Health is hiring an Environmental Health Specialist I in the Western Tidewater area. The role focuses on food safety and tourist establishment programs across Suffolk and surrounding counties.

The trainee position includes on-the-job training in multiple areas and progression to EH Specialist II after certification. Expect supervision initially, with duties covering inspection, enforcement, and service to facilities, camps, hotels, and events.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and partners.
• Strong time management to handle inspection workloads.
• Knowledge/experience in environmental health program areas.
• Ability to influence foodservice employees and management through professional education.
• Willingness to complete required trainings and certifications within 18 months.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, enforce, investigate, and implement environmental health regulations.
• Provide oversight to food establishments, camps, hotels, and district events; inspect ~100–120 establishments.
• Conduct rabies investigations and respond to environmental complaints.
• Travel to district offices as needed and work under supervision during trainee period.

Skills

Communication

Time management

Program knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Training readiness

Education

Related degree

Job description

Title: Environmental Health Specialist I

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $45,800 - $48,682.50

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: WESTERN TIDEWATER -TW

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Do you enjoy working with the public? The Western Tidewater Health District is currently seeking a qualified Environmental Health Specialist who will primarily work in the food safety and tourist establishment programs. The district services the City of Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, and The City of Franklin. This is a multi-hire recruitment. The positions will be based in the Suffolk and Southampton Count Health Departments.

We are seeking a highly motivated employee to join a team of professionals committed to providing Environmental Health protection within the Western Tidewater Health District. The successful candidate will be self‑motivated and able to work independently by scheduling inspections and providing oversight and compliance of all assigned facilities. Must be able to communicate effectively and positively with customers and team members.

Environmental health duties are performed 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 Food program and be able to obtain VDH Standardization in Food within 18 months: Employees are then moved to the Environmental Health Specialist II position upon successful completion.

Duties for this opening include:

• Inspection, enforcement, investigation, and implementation of regulations in all areas of environmental health.
• Provide oversight and direct service to food establishments, migrant labor camps, campgrounds, hotels, daycares, marinas, their owners, and their patrons. This position will inspect approximately 100 - 120 food establishments in addition to campgrounds, hotels, and district‑wide temporary events.
• This position will perform rabies investigations.
• This position will also respond to general environmental complaints and emergency response situations.

Enforcement activities are carried out under close supervision, pending completion of required knowledge, skill and abilities training and certification. Work assignments may be narrow or broad and may require travel to other district offices and occasional weekend duties.

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.
• Time management skills necessary in order 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 18 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

Graduation from college with a degree related to the duties of the position preferred or equivalent experience in environmental health, such as experience gained as an Environmental Health Associate

Contact Information

Name: Priscilla Crocker

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.

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!

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.