Environmental Health Technical Specialist - Public Water

Title: Environmental Health Technical Specialist - Public Water

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $60,481.00 - $69,449.00

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: DRINKING WATER-ABINGDON

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Office of Drinking Water is recruiting an Environmental Health Technical Specialist for the Abingdon Field Office, which works with public water systems in the 17 counties and four independent cities of Southwest Virginia. This is an excellent opportunity to work with exceptional public health professionals dedicated to ensuring people in Virginia are provided safe and reliable drinking water.

This role helps protect the public health by ensuring that public drinking water is in compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the Waterworks Regulations. This is accomplished through surveillance, sanitary surveys, reviewing operating reports, investigating consumer complaints, preparing - notices of alleged violation, initiating enforcement actions, managing databases, reviewing bacteriological and chemical analyses, and providing technical assistance and training to waterworks owners/operators. Provides support to the entire Field Office and may include assigned areas in one or more planning districts. Serves as the noncommunity waterworks and found water system programs subject matter expert for the entire field office, by providing technical and procedural guidance and quality assurance reviews.

With four distinct seasons, Abingdon and Southwest Virginia offer access to hiking, biking, and boating. Historic Abingdon is home of Barter Theatre, the state theater of Virginia, and is a site on the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees from a consortium of public and private higher education institutions including Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, Radford University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, East Tennessee State University, King University, and Emory & Henry University.

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

1. Working knowledge of biology, microbiology, chemistry, and math
2. Knowledge of technology associated with provision of drinking water
3. Ability to use computers for word processing and data management
4. Ability to communicate in English in writing, orally, interpersonally, and before groups and public meetings
5. Ability to analyze information and data and to make recommendations for corrective actions
6. Ability to interpret regulations and technical documents
7. Valid state driver's license

Additional Considerations

1. Experience in compliance and enforcement activities
2. Knowledge of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Virginia Waterworks Regulations
3. Licensure as a Waterworks Operator Class 1, 2, or 3 by the VA DPOR
4. Experience conducting sanitary surveys or environmental risk assessments

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.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a cover letter that describes how they meet the minimum qualifications 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. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the 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!

Contact Information

Name: Jerard Jarrett

Phone: 804-517-5095

Email: Jerard.Jarrett@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.