Environmental Health Specialist, Senior

Title: Environmental Health Specialist, Senior

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $51,489.50 - $63,957.50

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: Dept of Health

Agency Website: vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Office of Drinking Water (ODW), is seeking an Environmental Health Specialist, Senior to join the Richmond Field Office team! This position is located in downtown Richmond and will assist in ensuring safe drinking water for citizens in the Richmond Field Office service area. If you like city living or if you like a more rural setting, the Richmond area has it all!

The primary responsibility of this position is to ensure safe drinking water to the counties of Louisa, Middlesex, Essex, and King and Queen (18). The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has “primacy” or primary enforcement authority for implementing and enforcing the federal drinking water regulations. These functions are initiated and monitored by the inspectors assigned to various regions and are of critical importance to sustaining a program of inspections to ensure continued compliance with state and federal regulations.

Critical duties include:
(1) Conducting inspections and sanitary surveys of groundwater source waterworks.
(2) Interpreting federal and state regulations applicable to waterworks’ owners and operators.
(3) Providing guidance to owners and operators to ensure they achieve compliance with health and safety standards.
(4) Providing assistance to help waterworks return to compliance in cases where they violate the drinking water standards.
(5) Training operators in the operation and maintenance of waterworks.
(6) Providing information about drinking water quality to the public.

Join a team of professionals committed to protecting public health associated with treatment and delivery of drinking water to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

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

•Working knowledge of biology, microbiology, chemistry & math.
•Knowledge of technology associated with provision of drinking water.
•Ability to express facts clearly, verbally & in writing.
•Effectively orally communicate interpersonally & before groups in English; & to address public meetings.
•Ability to interpret regulations & technical documents.

Additional Considerations

•Graduation from an accredited college with major studies in environmental sciences or a related field.
•Experience in provision of drinking water and related activities in the areas of enforcement and compliance.
•Licensure as Class III, II or I Waterworks Operator by Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation may be substituted for education.

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. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the job closing date. Resume may be submitted in lieu of fully completed application. Please be sure all pertinent work experience is included on your resume.

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. HHS IG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, or other background checks prior to employment 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 affiliatio