Environmental Specialist Senior - Public Water

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Abingdon, VA

5d•$51,401 - $60,255•Onsite

About The Position

Under Section 32.1-167-176 of the Code of Virginia and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is mandated to establish and enforce safe drinking water regulations. These functions are of critical importance to sustaining a program of inspections to ensure continued compliance with state and federal regulations. The Environmental Specialist Sr for Public Water Works position provides technical assistance to primarily groundwater waterworks. Core responsibilities include conducting inspections and sanitary surveys of groundwater source waterworks, interpreting applicable federal and state regulations for waterworks owners and operators, offering guidance to help ensure compliance with health and safety standards, assisting waterworks in returning to compliance when violations occur, training operators on the operation and maintenance of waterworks, and providing the public with information on drinking water quality. The Office of Drinking Water is recruiting an Environmental Specialist Sr – Public Water 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. 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.

Requirements

Working knowledge of biology, microbiology, chemistry, and math
Knowledge of technology associated with provision of drinking water
Ability to express facts clearly, verbally and in writing, and to present at public meetings
Ability to effectively communicate technical information with others and to prepare thorough and accurate reports and documentation of regulatory activities
Ability to analyze information and data and to make recommendations for corrective actions and compliance
Ability to interpret complex federal, state and local laws, policies, regulations, and technical documents
Valid state driver's license

Nice To Haves

Experience in compliance and enforcement activities
Experience in the provision of drinking water
Licensure as a Waterworks Operator by the VA DPOR

Responsibilities

Conducting inspections and sanitary surveys of groundwater source waterworks
Interpreting applicable federal and state regulations for waterworks owners and operators
Offering guidance to help ensure compliance with health and safety standards
Assisting waterworks in returning to compliance when violations occur
Training operators on the operation and maintenance of waterworks
Providing the public with information on drinking water quality