Environmental Health Specialist Senior

Title: Environmental Health Specialist Senior

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $50,000 - $62,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: RICHMOND-HQ

Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/richmond-city/

Recruitment Type: State Employee Only - E

Job Duties

Performs environmental health duties independently at the journey level in areas such as food sanitation, on-site soils evaluation, lead inspection, private well inspection, rabies abatement, communicable disease investigation, migrant labor camp inspection, classification of shellfish growing areas and investigation of general environmental complaints. Training includes completion of the Lead Risk Assessor.

Once hired, the employee is expected to obtain the DPOR license as a Lead Risk Assessor within 10 months of employment.

The employee will have the following roles and responsibilities:

• To receive training and in-field shadowing for the first 4 months on Lead Inspection and Risk Assessment.

• To conduct all Lead Inspections and Risk Assessments (LIRA) associated with lead poisoned child living in the City of Richmond (as defined by the City's ordinance) or living in Henrico County.

• The LIRA activities comprise of field investigation; environmental sampling using the appropriate tools and methods; report compilation and issuance of Notice of Violation; client education re prevention, avoidance of lead hazard sources; issuance of property condemnation; interacting with contractors and code enforcement officers; interacting with landlords and property owners to ensure adherence to code compliance; conduct code enforcement & compliance activities necessary to bring about code compliance and lead-safe housing (including working with the City attorney, court magistrate and sheriff's office); and performance Lead Clearance Testing post abatement.

• To provide 25% of the FTE time devoted to Healthy Homes Assessments. Employee will receive HHA training alongside with the LIRA training.

• To provide 15% of the FTE time devoted to assisting outreach/public education activities associated with lead poisoning prevention and HHA promotion.

• At the one year period, it is expected the employee to perform all tasks independently and to becomes the agency's SME with regards to lead and HHA.

Minimum Qualifications

Basic knowledge of biology and epidemiology; 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; ability to prepare thorough documentation and reports of regulatory activities; skill as an educator/trainer teaching 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 as Lead Risk Assessor

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

Experience in Environmental Health Sciences

Background in environmental investigations, building construction/inspection, or Environmental sampling

Past experience or credential as a Lead Risk Assessor; or Active Lead Risk Assessor license under DPOR

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.

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: Deja Fontenot

Phone: 8042053744

Email: deja.fontenot@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.