Environmental Health Specialist Sr.

Title: Environmental Health Specialist Sr.

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $48,000 - $64,010

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: RAP-RAP-CULPEPER

Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock-rapidan/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The position will support the environmental health functions of the Food Safety Program within the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District (RRHD) by ensuring regulatory compliance, minimizing public health risks, and promoting consistent, science-based food safety practices across the district’s five localities. The EHS Senior plays a vital role in the protection of community health by providing technical leadership and oversight of food establishment inspections, plan reviews, and complaint investigations; ensuring adherence to the Virginia Food Regulations and applicable FDA Retail Food Program Standards; and mentoring staff in accurate, risk-based enforcement. This position also contributes to the district’s mission by fostering collaboration with food operators, local governments, and public partners, while supporting education and outreach initiatives that advance food safety awareness and continuous program improvement. This role also provides key support to the district’s rabies response program by guiding staff on rabies control protocols, coordinating with local animal control officers, and ensuring timely follow-up and reporting of animal exposure incidents.

A. Environmental Health Services

• Evaluates food safety at permitted food establishments to verify compliance with applicable local, state and federal codes
• Enforces, implements and maintains knowledge of the rules and regulations governing food establishments
• Maintains knowledge and proper implementation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Board of Health, current policies, environmental health program, sewage handling, disposal regulations and private well regulations
• Inspects swimming pools and spas to prevent disease, promote safety and ensure compliance
• Enforces, implements and maintains knowledge of regulations and policies governing hotels/motels, campgrounds, summer camps, swimming pool water quality postings and migrant labor camps
• Maintains standardization in accordance with procedures and policies
• Implements and promotes quality assurance plans by complying with applicable standards established by regulations and policy
• Consults with appropriate personnel on EH exposures/other pertinent matters in compliance with established policies and procedures
• Provides key support to the district’s rabies response program by guiding staff and the public on rabies control protocols, coordinating with local animal control officers, and ensuring timely follow-up and reporting of animal exposure incidents.
• Reviews temporary food vendor and coordinator applications. Conducts inspections of food vendors at temporary events as assigned.
• Conducts environmental health and safety inspections as requested by Dept. of Education and Dept. of Social Services.
• Conducts bed & breakfast inspections as assigned.
• Reviews assigned plan reviews for new and regulated establishments, conducts courtesy inspections and pre-opening inspections.

B. Training & Special Project

• Develops and maintains technical KSA’s needed to perform duties as an Environmental Health Specialist Senior
• Works on special projects and other duties as assigned
• Participates in public outreach events on behalf of the EH Division
• Promotes public health and safety
• May provide guidance and/or mentorship to EH Specialists

C. Environmental Health Complaints

• Resolves environmental health complaints
• Protects the health, safety and welfare of the public by investigating, evaluating, advising and educating based on technical and professional knowledge of public health
• Initiates enforcement actions as needed; complaint investigation reports are accurate and thorough
• Provides complete documentation of all program activities by accurate and timely use of state Environmental Health database

Minimum Qualifications

· Basic knowledge of biology, epidemiology, chemistry, mathematics, and statistics

· Ability to interpret complex federal, state and local environmental health policies, regulations, and laws

· Skill in communication, both oral and written; ability to deal with the public and resolve conflict in a regulatory setting

· Experience preparing thorough documentation and reports of regulatory activities

· Skill as an educator/trainer of environmental health principles

· Ability to interpret and enforce laws and regulations governing environmental health programs

· Ability to analyze information and make recommendations; to receive, understand and perform tasks as instructed by supervisor; to perform physically demanding tasks

· Must be DPOR licensed master alternative onsite soil evaluator or master conventional onsite soil evaluator, VDH standardized in food or National Shellfish Sanitation Program State Standardized Inspector to qualify as EHS Senior

· 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

N/A

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 requires all Health-Care Personnel (HCP) to provide documentation or evidence of immunity or adequate immunization to the following: hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; a one-time dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine regardless of the interval since the last dose of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine was administered (Td or Tdap boosters shall be received every 10 years); and the current year’s seasonal influenza vaccination. VDH HCP shall be evaluated for and offered at no charge required, seasonally appropriate vaccines within 10 business days of initial assignment, and annually thereafter, per the CDC’s recommendations. The HCP shall provide written documentation of immunity (personal immunization record, health record, or antibody titers). HCP who do not have documentation of their immunization records may be offered at no charge antibody titers (blood tests) to determine their immunity, or lack thereof, to measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and varicella. In addition, health care personnel may also be required to have screening for m. tuberculosis. Some environmental positions may require assessment of rabies immunity status; your job does require assessment of rabies immunity.

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.

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.

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: Dana McClelland

Phone: 540.347.6400

Email: Dana.McClelland@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.