Environmental Health Specialist I

Title: Environmental Health Specialist I

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist I

Hiring Range: $45,800 - $48,682.50

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: WESTERN TIDEWATER -TW

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Do you enjoy working with the public? The Western Tidewater Health District is currently seeking a qualified Environmental Health Specialist who will primarily work in the food safety and tourist establishment programs. The district services the City of Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, and The City of Franklin. This is a multi-hire recruitment. The positions will be based in the Suffolk and Southampton Count Health Departments.

We are seeking a highly motivated employee to join a team of professionals committed to providing Environmental Health protection within the Western Tidewater Health District. The successful candidate will be self-motivated and able to work independently by scheduling inspections and providing oversight and compliance of all assigned facilities. Must be able to communicate effectively and positively with customers and team members.

Environmental health duties are performed at the entry level as a trainee. Employees are typically new hires in formal and on-the-job training in one or more areas such as food sanitation, on-site soils evaluation, private well inspection, rabies abatement, communicable disease investigation, and migrant labor camp inspection, classification of shellfish growing areas and investigation of general environmental complaints. Employees receive close supervision and guidance. Must be able to complete the applicable training in the VDH Food program and be able to obtain VDH Standardization in Food within 18 months: Employees are then moved to the Environmental Health Specialist II position upon successful completion.

Duties for this opening include:

• Inspection, enforcement, investigation, and implementation of regulations in all areas of environmental health.
• Provide oversight and direct service to food establishments, migrant labor camps, campgrounds, hotels, daycares, marinas, their owners, and their patrons. This position will inspect approximately 100 - 120 food establishments in addition to campgrounds, hotels, and district-wide temporary events.
• This position will perform rabies investigations.
• This position will also respond to general environmental complaints and emergency response situations.

Enforcement activities are carried out under close supervision, pending completion of required knowledge, skill and abilities training and certification. Work assignments may be narrow or broad and may require travel to other district offices and occasional weekend duties.

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

• Ability to communicate effectively with the public as well as other
internal/external partners and staff; proficient in basic computer software
programs
• Time management skills necessary in order to meet workload demands
• Knowledge and/experience in assigned program area
• Ability to influence behavior of foodservice employees/management, provide
services in professional, courteous manner, present educational programs to
adults; uses a customer-service oriented approach to assignments and works
effectively as a team member
• Must be able to complete training in the VDH Soils program, VDH Food
program or VDH Shellfish program and be able to obtain credentials in one of
the following within 18 months: VDH Standardized in Food, DPOR
Conventional Onsite Soil Evaluator (COSE), DPOR Alternative Onsite Soil
Evaluator (AOSE) or National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) State
Standardized Inspector
• 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

Graduation from college with a degree related to the duties of the position
preferred or equivalent experience in environmental health, such as
experience gained as an Environmental Health Associate

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 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.

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!

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: Priscilla Crocker

Phone: 757-514-4769

Email: priscilla.crocker@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.

Advertised: 14 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 28 Oct 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

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