Department Information
Division of Environmental Health & Sustainability
Now hiring for our Milk & Institutions Unit
While our office is based in Denver, we welcome applications from qualified candidates residing anywhere in the state of Colorado, offering the flexibility to work remotely from within the state.
Be BOLD and make a real difference . . .
Do you desire a career that provides you with opportunities to improve the world around you? The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is seeking diverse individuals from all backgrounds to apply for a career position that makes a direct impact on improving the lives of Colorado citizens. Our mission is to advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, work, learn, and play. Our vision is to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In addition to working with a great team and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:
- Employee wellness programs and facilities
- Extensive internal professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects
- Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
- Strong, yet flexible retirement benefits including a choice of the PERA Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
- Medical and dental health plans
- Paid life insurance
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- 11 paid holidays per year plus generous personal time off
- Mentoring program with opportunities for mentors and mentees
- Tuition assistance for college level courses including Masters degree programs
- Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, and
- A variety of employee resource groups
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: http://www.tgslc.org/borrowers/public-service/
Description of Job
The Work Unit:
The Milk and Corrections Unit is under the direction of the Deputy Division Director and is responsible for assuring compliance with the requirements of the Food Laws and Regulations of the State. These goals are accomplished through inspections, recall coordination, compliance assistance, and compliance assurance; by reviewing registration information, plan review submissions and other field-generated information for dairy plants, farms and penal institutions within the State. The Unit determines the appropriate response, which may include informal or formal inquiries, such as embargo, condemnation, seizure, injunctive relief and recalls, requesting additional field investigations, recommending and subsequently researching and developing administrative or judicial enforcement actions, and developing and negotiating civil penalties. The program is also responsible for drafting new regulations, completing State Board of Health documents, and coordinating stakeholder meetings.
Summary of Position:
The purpose of this position is to serve as an environmental protection specialist within the Milk and Corrections regulatory compliance programs. In this capacity, this position, under the guidance of a supervisor or work lead, conducts regulatory inspections, prepare inspection reports, and assure timely and accurate compliance determinations, and issue compliance advisories as well as informal and formal enforcement actions for dairy plants, dairy farms, and correctional facilities. This position also assists in providing educational services which deal
with the environmental/public health factors that impact dairy plant, dairy farm, and correctional facilities, responds to consumer complaints regarding these facilities, and provides educational services and technical assistance to industry and local health agency personnel.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.
CLASS CODE & CLASSIFICATION: Environmental Protection Specialist I (I3A2TB)
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
EXPERIENCE:
Five (5) years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position such as food safety inspections, regulatory compliance, dairy farming, dairy foods manufacturing, food processing, animal health, agriculture, life safety/security in penal institutions, etc.
OR
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment such as Animal Health, Environmental Health, Biology, Dairy Science, etc.
and one (1) year of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position such as food safety inspections, regulatory compliance, dairy farming, dairy foods manufacturing, food processing, animal health, agriculture, life safety/security in penal institutions etc.
You must meet one of the above options. This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. Please be sure to enter all relevant job history within the last 10 years. "See Resume" and missing relevant employment or education will not be credited towards the minimum qualifications. Part-time work will be pro-rated. Education is substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis. If you are substituting education for experience, please attach your unofficial transcripts to your application.
Cover Letter Requirement:
Along with the application submit a cover letter, not to exceed two typewritten pages, double spaced detailing how your education and previous work experience has prepared you to excel in this job. Specific examples of determining and/or demonstrating compliance with regulations or evidence-based practice should be included as well as how you meet the minimum and preferred competencies for the position. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position will involve a review of the information you submit in your application and cover letter.
Conditions of Employment:
- A pre-employment background check
- Ability and willingness to travel independently or with a group of other health professionals up to 80% of the time within and sometimes out of the state of Colorado. Some overnight travel may be required. Requires the use and operation of state fleet vehicles. *conditions apply
- Must be proficient in word processing and able to use current communication technology to connect to the office from the field.
- Must be willing to work occasional evening, night, weekend, or holidays depending upon circumstances of survey or complaint.
- Must be able to exert up to 75 lbs. of push/pulling equipment including lifting and placing coolers into vehicles.
- Must be able to walk or stand for extended periods of time including climbing multiple flights of stairs.
*Conditions apply to use of fleet vehicles such as location and availability.
Preferred Qualifications:
Relevant years of State service contribute to a candidates position-related knowledge, skill, ability, behavior or other posted competency should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process.
- Experience in the administration of local or state compliance programs;
- Experience conducting technical reviews and/or inspections;
- Knowledge and experience working with local or state regulations as related to compliance, site investigation, and assessment
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders including state & local governments, non-profits, community groups, private regulated entities, and the FDA.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Previous Retail Food inspection experience.
- Bilingual in Spanish and English.
- Ability to analyze facts, data and evidence to arrive at a logical conclusion.
- Ability to observe, electronically record, and interpret information.
- Ability to perform the physical demands of this active position.
- Advanced Interpersonal and conflict management skills e.g. displays understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy and concern.
- Develops and maintains effective relationships, deals skillfully with people who are difficult, hostile or distressed, effectively manages and resolves conflicts, confrontations and disagreements in a positive and constructive way. Computer literate.
- Ability to use information technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate errors and support decision making.
Appeal Rights:
An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.
As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.
Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department’s action.
For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, atspb.colorado.gov/board-rules.
Supplemental Information
A completed State of Colorado application includes:
- Cover letter stating how you meet the minimum qualifications for this role.
- DD214 if claiming veterans status
- Unofficial transcripts if using education to substitute for experience.
The Selection Process:
All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.
E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. You must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDPHE does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.
ADAAA Accommodations: Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact Jim Davidson at jim.davidson@state.co.us at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.
