Title: Environmental Health Specialist (04650)

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $45,000 to $48,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location:ROANOKE HQ

Agency Website:www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Consider joining the Virginia Department of Health as we foster healthy and resilient communities. This is your opportunity to serve the public in the Environmental Health Program at the Roanoke City/Alleghany Health District.

The Roanoke City/Alleghany Health District is currently seeking an Environmental Health Specialist to join our team dedicated to protecting and promoting public health. The Roanoke City/Alleghany Health District is comprised of the Cities of Roanoke, Salem and Covington and the Counties of Roanoke, Alleghany, Craig and Botetourt. This position will be located in the Roanoke City office. Primary responsibilities include: performing periodic sanitary inspections of food services for the Food Safety Program (documenting violations and recommending corrective action), inspecting and permitting tourist establishments (hotels/motels), pools, campgrounds, migrant labor camps and temporary food booths at festivals and fairs, investigating animal bites following established guidelines for confinement and quarantine of animals or testing for rabies and investigating/documenting public health complaints. The person selected for the position will be required to obtain VDH Standardization in Food within 18 months of hire.

The Environmental Health Specialist:
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 18 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.

1. Program Support
• In consultation with EH Supervisor/EHS Sr. assures that all elements of program are conducted according to VDH regulations, state and local
policies
• Implements/promotes quality assurance plans by complying with all applicable agency standards established by regulation and policy
• In consultation with EHS Sr. and EH Supervisor, responds to reports using epidemiological research (interviews, case histories, sample collection), on-site evaluation, field testing, interpretation of laboratory results

2. Environmental Health
• In consultation with EHS Sr. may perform the following EH duties:
o Food related field duties, as required, to ensure state and local mandates are met; records, submits and updates establishment profile and risk data; issues permits and monitors permit status; conducts plan reviews for new and existing facilities
o Protects public health from disease transmission and groundwater pollution associated with raw or partially treated sewage by ensuring the roper location, evaluation, design and construction, and operation and maintenance of Sewage Disposal Systems and Private Wells
o Prevents human illness and disease transmission from rabies; understands the virus; comprehends and implements the Virginia Guidelines for Rabies Prevention and Control and all other applicable laws, regulations and policies
o Monitors swimming pools, child and adult care facilities, hotels and motels and migrant labor camps
• Documents observations and corrective actions on the appropriate inspection report
• Conducts EH sanitary inspections upon request

3. Environmental Health Complaints & Other Duties
• Conducts general environmental complaint investigations for assigned program area(s) with follow-up enforcement action taken when necessary
• Responds to environmental complaints to include but not limited to rodents, insects and general environmental concerns
• Achieves resolution of complaints within reasonable timeframe
• May be required to perform other duties; may include functions in support of an emergency declaration

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 35 local health districts.

Who We Are: The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD) are two health districts in the Commonwealth of Virginia under the Virginia Department of Health and employ approximately 140 staff. RCAHD encompasses the cities of Covington, Roanoke, and Salem and the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, and Roanoke.

What We Do: RCAHD, which provides services from nine office locations, serves a combined population of over 278,400 people throughout both rural and urban environments and works to promote and encourage healthy behavior, protect the public against environmental hazards, prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, respond to disasters, assist communities in recovery and assure the quality and accessibility of health services for all members of the communities.

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

• Experience in environmental health, such as experience gained as an Environmental Health Associate

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 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include
relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.

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!

Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this
application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to
respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

Contact Information

Name: Darlene Smith

Phone: 540-283-5034

Email: darlene.smith@vdh.virginia.gov

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.