Environmental Health Specialist I
About The Position
The Virginia Department of Health’s Chesapeake Health District is hiring Environmental Health Specialists I/II in Food and General Environmental Services. The position is based at the Chesapeake Health Department and requires extensive travel throughout the district. A valid state driver’s license is required to operate a state vehicle or a personal vehicle for agency business; mileage is reimbursed at the standard rate. An Environmental Health Specialist I performs environmental health duties at the entry level as a trainee, typically receiving formal and on-the-job training in areas such as food sanitation, on-site soils evaluation, private well inspection, rabies abatement, communicable disease investigation, migrant labor camp inspection, and investigation of general environmental complaints. EHS I employees work with close supervision and guidance. The selected employee must complete training in the VDH Food program and obtain VDH Standardized in Food credentials within 30 months. EHS I employees move to the EHS II position upon successful completion. An Environmental Health Specialist II performs environmental health duties independently at the journey level in areas including on-site soils evaluation, private well inspection, rabies abatement, communicable disease investigation, migrant labor camp inspection, and investigation of general environmental complaints. VDH standardization in food is required to qualify as EHS Senior.
Requirements
- Communicate effectively with the public, internal and external partners, and staff.
- Be proficient in basic computer software programs.
- Provide services professionally and courteously, present educational programs to adults, use a customer-service-oriented approach, and work effectively as a team member.
- Have time-management skills necessary to meet workload demands.
- Have knowledge and/or experience in the assigned program area.
- Have experience influencing the behavior of foodservice employees and management.
- Complete Food program training and obtain VDH Standardized in Food credentials within 30 months.
- Hold a valid state driver’s license to operate a state vehicle or use a personal vehicle for agency business.
- For EHS II: Have basic knowledge of biology, epidemiology, chemistry, mathematics, and statistics.
- For EHS II: Have experience interpreting complex federal, state, and local environmental health policies, regulations, and laws.
- For EHS II: Have oral and written communication skills and the ability to deal with the public and resolve conflict in a regulatory setting.
- For EHS II: Have experience preparing thorough documentation and reports of regulatory activities.
- For EHS II: Have skill as an educator or trainer of environmental health principles.
- For EHS II: Have experience interpreting and enforcing laws and regulations governing environmental health programs.
- For EHS II: Be able to analyze information and make recommendations, receive and understand instructions from a supervisor, perform assigned tasks, and perform physically demanding tasks.
- For EHS Senior: Hold a DPOR master alternative onsite soil evaluator or master conventional onsite soil evaluator license, be VDH standardized in food, or be a National Shellfish Sanitation Program State Standardized Inspector.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in environmental health, such as experience gained as an environmental health associate.
Responsibilities
- Perform environmental health duties at the entry level as a trainee, with close supervision and guidance (EHS I).
- Conduct work in areas such as food sanitation, on-site soils evaluation, private well inspection, rabies abatement, communicable disease investigation, migrant labor camp inspection, and investigation of general environmental complaints.
- Perform environmental health duties independently at the journey level (EHS II).
- Travel extensively throughout the district to conduct business.
- Complete VDH Food program training and obtain VDH Standardized in Food credentials within 30 months.
Benefits
- 12 paid holidays
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Retirement plans, including a 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
- Sick leave
- Family/personal leave
- Annual leave
- Mileage reimbursement at the standard mileage rate for agency business
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
