Environmental Health Technical Specialist

Virginia AG; Virginia, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability benefits

Flexible spending accounts

Public Student Loan Forgiveness

Retirement plans

Paid leave

Job summary

Virginia Department of Health is seeking an Environmental Health Technical Specialist to serve as the VDH Certified Food Safety District Standardization Officer (DSO). The role will act as the environmental health technical leader and mentor for the agency in Food Safety, performing complex environmental health functions and providing training to staff.

Training must be completed within 24 months to obtain the DSO certification.

Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of environmental health principles and practices.
• Knowledge of microbiology and epidemiology as related to communicable disease.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and enforce laws, regulations and policies.
• Must be able to complete training within 24 months and obtain the following certification: VDH Certified Food Safety District Standardization Officer (DSO).

Responsibilities

• Manages caseload of assigned area in a professional manner and according to state guidelines
• Conducts inspections, collects required product samples and oversees equipment tests; stays current in responsibilities of assigned program
• Keeps required records in accordance with current regulations and department procedures and policies
• Advise appropriate leadership of issues related to their respective areas.
• Records results of inspections in data system, describing deficiencies and required corrective action
• Maintains knowledge of state laws and regulations, policies, and procedures
• Responds to and investigates complaints and complex EH functions
• Organizes and conducts educational presentations to improve awareness of new technology, emerging health concerns, instruction in assigned program(s) and innovative regulatory or educational techniques
• Provides initial and ongoing training to program staff to ensure standardization and consistency in inspections and enforcement
• Participates in meetings and in-service training activities
• Provides technical expertise in assisting with administrative enforcement to include hearings
• Assists, consults, and negotiates compliance in highly complex, sensitive, and urgent technical aspects of the EH program
• Serves as the technical expert and consultant and resource/mentor to staff
• Provides technical expertise in assisting with development and implementation of quality assurance programs; implements and promotes quality assurance by complying with applicable agency and district standards established by regulation and policy
• Reviews inspections conducted by staff and associated paperwork; provides guidance concerning technical inspection issues, problem and complaint resolution
• Serves as the lead EH staff member during outbreak and illness investigations
• Serves as the subject matter expert in assigned program area(s) and is the program expert in a specific environmental program(s), provides initial and ongoing training to EH staff to ensure standardization and consistency in inspections and enforcement
• Ensures staff standardizations are current and maintained
• Provides status report to management on standardization status as requested

Skills

Environmental health principles

Microbiology

Epidemiology

Interpret laws and policies

Train and mentor staff

Job description

Title

Environmental Health Technical Specialist

State Role Title

Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range

$58,000 - $80,000

Pay Band

4

Agency

Virginia Department of Health

Location

CHICKAHOMINY HQ

Agency Website

www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type

State Employee Only - E

Job Duties

The Chickahominy Health District is seeking an Environmental Health Technical Specialist to serve as the VDH Certified Food Safety District Standardization Officer (DSO). Your experience and credentials will position you to be the environmental health technical leader, mentor and subject matter expert as an advanced practitioner for the agency in Food Safety. This position will perform complex environmental health functions, provide consultation and training to staff, assist in conducting training and may provide formal input into performance evaluations of staff.

We are only accepting applications from current state employees for this recruitment.

Training: Must complete training within 24 months and obtain the following certification: VDH Certified Food Safety District Standardization Officer (DSO).

Benefits: The Virginia Department of Health offers 13 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!

A hiring incentive such as leave or a bonus may be considered for qualified candidates.

Program Support

• Manages caseload of assigned area in a professional manner and according to state guidelines
• Conducts inspections, collects required product samples and oversees equipment tests; stays current in responsibilities of assigned program
• Keeps required records in accordance with current regulations and department procedures and policies
• Advise appropriate leadership of issues related to their respective areas.
• Records results of inspections in data system, describing deficiencies and required corrective action
• Maintains knowledge of state laws and regulations, policies, and procedures
• Responds to and investigates complaints and complex EH functions

Training & Technical Duties

• Organizes and conducts educational presentations to improve awareness of new technology, emerging health concerns, instruction in assigned program(s) and innovative regulatory or educational techniques
• Provides initial and ongoing training to program staff to ensure standardization and consistency in inspections and enforcement
• Participates in meetings and in-service training activities
• Provides technical expertise in assisting with administrative enforcement to include hearings
• Assists, consults, and negotiates compliance in highly complex, sensitive, and urgent technical aspects of the EH program
• Serves as the technical expert and consultant and resource/mentor to staff
• Provides technical expertise in assisting with development and implementation of quality assurance programs; implements and promotes quality assurance by complying with applicable agency and district standards established by regulation and policy
• Reviews inspections conducted by staff and associated paperwork; provides guidance concerning technical inspection issues, problem and complaint resolution
• Serves as the lead EH staff member during outbreak and illness investigations

Standardization

• Serves as the subject matter expert in assigned program area(s) and is the program expert in a specific environmental program(s), provides initial and ongoing training to EH staff to ensure standardization and consistency in inspections and enforcement
• Ensures staff standardizations are current and maintained
• Provides status report to management on standardization status as requested

Minimum Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of environmental health principles and practices related to the assigned program(s)
• Knowledge of microbiology and epidemiology as related to communicable disease
• Skill in evaluating the operation of assigned program area(s) and applying laws, regulations, and policies
• Skilled in proper use of instruments and equipment required for testing related to the assigned program area(s)
• Ability to interpret, apply, and enforce laws, regulations and policies governing environmental health
• Ability to explain and interpret detailed and complex rules and regulations
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Ability to train and mentor program staff
• Must be able to complete training within 24 months and obtain the following certification:
• VDH Certified Food Safety District Standardization Officer (DSO)

Additional Considerations

• Experience related to the area of environmental health specialization
• Prior experience training and mentoring staff preferred
• Holds a current standardized Food EHS certificate

Employment Eligibility and Policies

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.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

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 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.

Contact Information

Name: Karri Markle

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]