Environmental Health Specialist (Food Protection - Floater)

Title: Environmental Health Specialist (Food Protection - Floater)

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $45,320 - $47,720

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: CRATER-DINWIDDIE

Agency Website: vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

🚀 Join Our Team and Make a REAL Impact in Your Community! Environmental Health Trainee – Crater Health District 🚀

Are you passionate about protecting public health and building healthier, stronger communities? The Crater Health District is looking for motivated, enthusiastic individuals to jumpstart their careers in Environmental Health Services!

Why Join Us?
Crater Health District covers the vibrant Cities of Hopewell, Emporia, and Petersburg plus the scenic Counties of Sussex, Greensville, Surry, Prince George, and Dinwiddie. As part of the Virginia Department of Health, we’re on the frontline of environmental protection—ensuring safe food, clean water, and healthy environments for thousands of residents every day. This position is designated as a floater role, requiring regular travel throughout the district.

What’s In It For You?
Exceptional Recruitment Incentive Options available!

Comprehensive paid training in specialized VDH programs: Soils, Food Safety, and Shellfish Inspection.

Earn professional credentials within 18 months—and advance to Environmental Health Specialist Senior!

Hands-on experience in areas like food sanitation, rabies control, communicable disease investigation, migrant labor camp inspections, and more.

Full state benefits including 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and retirement plans (401a, Cash Match, 457 Deferred Compensation).

Opportunity to travel and serve across multiple communities within the district.

Your Role:
As an entry-level Environmental Health Trainee, you’ll receive expert supervision and guidance while learning to interpret and enforce local, state, and federal environmental health regulations. You’ll conduct inspections, investigate environmental complaints, and help keep our communities safe and thriving.

Requirements:
Valid State Driver’s License (to operate state or personal vehicles on agency business).

A passion for community service and environmental health.

Commitment to completing training and certification within 18 months.

Ready to Make a Difference?
This is more than just a job — it’s a chance to protect public health, grow your skills, and serve your community in a meaningful way.

Apply today and join the Crater Health District family! Together, let’s create healthier, safer communities across Virginia.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge and/or experience of environmental health science and public health principles in the areas of food protection and sanitation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public, internal/external partners and staff, proficient in basic computer software.
• Ability to provide direction to appropriate leadership in targeted areas, present education programs to adults; customer-service oriented and works effectively as a team member.
• Time management skills in order to meet workload demands; Skills in problem solving essential with analyzing information and making recommendations.
• Ability to interpret and apply regulations.

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.

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: CraterHR

Phone: N/A

Email: CraterHR@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.