Job Specification Details

Administrative, supervisory, planning, training and technical work within the Environmental Health Division of the Department of Health on emergency responses for chemical, biological, radiological events and natural disasters; cyanobacteria monitoring program and recreational water program; private drinking water program; and risk assessment and toxicology. Serves as principal investigator for grants.

Participates in and leads emergency responses for chemical, biological, radiological events and natural disasters. Responsible for general oversight and application of the chemical environmental health incident plan, as developed in conjunction with the State Toxicologist, to address bioterrorism preparedness. Duties include assessment of critical personnel, creation and assistance with an operational set of drills to measure staff capacity, and completion of assessments relative to public health hazardous incident response capabilities. Develop, coordinate and implement activities to ensure state and local readiness with emphasis on areas related to drinking and recreational water quality, chemical releases and radiological events. Conduct research on potential biological, chemical and radiological agents and other hazards, and advise on their elimination and control.

Serve as principal investigator for grants, and manage all activities under grants including establishing goals, evaluation and budgeting. Supervises drinking water engineers and manages work under the private drinking water program. Responsible for general coordination of Health Department resources during cyanobacteria bloom monitoring. Coordination of cyanobacteria monitoring and response activities, including maintenance of visual assessment protocols, shoreline cyanotoxin sampling strategies and the Department of Environmental Health’s public drinking water supply sampling plans. Oversees hiring and oversight of seasonal temporary employees. Provide toxicology expertise on projects, working with either Senior Environmental Health Risk Assessor, State Toxicologist, or Division Director/ State Epidemiologist for Environmental Health. Fill in for all roles of the State Toxicologist when this position is out of office. Review and critique chemical risk assessments published by other states or federal agencies. Develop standards for chemicals in air, water, soil and other media as needed. Assist in or lead environmental health investigations. Work with department GIS staff to develop public notification systems for recreational water and other environmental health hazards. Create outreach campaigns related to healthy recreational waters for the public and recreational swimming sites in Vermont. Oversee the Department’s efforts to assess public pools.

Promote interagency collaboration for bioterrorism preparedness, private drinking water, toxicology and risk assessment, cyanobacteria bloom monitoring and response, recreational water incidents and other public health threats.  Special emphasis is placed on interaction with the department's key laboratory and infectious disease personnel. Significant interaction occurs with other state departments, internal and external program chiefs, and division director. Work is performed under the general supervision of the State Toxicologist. 

All employees of the Agency of Human Services perform their respective functions adhering to four key practices: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation.

Duties are performed both in a standard office setting and in the field at industrial, commercial, construction sites and shoreline environs. Exposure to hazardous materials situations may occur. Incumbents may encounter strong opinions and adversarial situations. Travel requires private means of transportation.

Considerable knowledge of equipment, techniques and procedures used to identify, control and eliminate environmental health hazards to the community.

Considerable knowledge of mapping techniques related to environmental heath monitoring and investigations.

Expert knowledge of toxicology and risk assessment. 

Ability to investigate/inspect places of employment and areas of communities to determine if appropriate plans exist in the event of an environmental health emergency. 

Ability to conduct research and to apply results to the elimination and control of environmental health hazards.

Ability to review and plan for public health disaster response. 

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. 

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to perform job duties within the framework of the four key practices of the Agency of Human Services: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation.

Bachelor's degree or higher in environmental health, public health, industrial hygiene, engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, nursing, toxicology, environmental science or occupational health AND four (4) years of experience in public health.

OR

Master’s Degree in environmental health, public health, industrial hygiene, engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, nursing, toxicology, environmental science or occupational health AND three (3) years of experience in public health. 

Prior risk assessment, environmental health or analytical chemistry experience, HazWOPER training, or computer modeling in emergency response.

Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. In accordance with AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates, with the exception of those who are current classified state employees seeking transfer, promotion or demotion into an AHS classified position or are persons exercising re-employment (RIF) rights.