Environmental Protection Specialist, Manufactured Food and Hemp Program DEHS - (EPS I)

Full Job Description

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.

Our tobacco-free campus offers free parking and is conveniently located near RTD bus lines, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Glendale City Set, and the Cherry Creek bike path.

In addition to a great location and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Employee wellness programs and facilities

• Extensive internal professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects

• Bike to work programs, including access to storage lockers and bike racks

• 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-

Requirements

The Work Unit:
The Colorado Manufactured Food and Hemp Program is responsible for assuring compliance with the requirements of the food laws and regulations of the State. These duties are accomplished through inspections and compliance assistance, by reviewing licensing information, and other field-generated information for wholesale food and hemp operations within the state. The program determines the appropriate response, which may include informal or formal actions, such as embargo, condemnation, seizure, injunctive relief and recalls. The program may request additional field investigations, recommend research and develop administrative or judicial enforcement actions, and develop and negotiate 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 manufactured (wholesale) food and hemp regulatory compliance program. In this capacity, this position conducts regulatory inspections, prepares inspection reports, and assures timely and accurate compliance determinations, and issues compliance advisories as well as informal and formal enforcement actions for wholesale food and hemp manufacturing and storage facilities. This position also provides educational services which deal with the environmental/public health factors that impact wholesale food and hemp manufacturing and storage facilities, responds to consumer complaints regarding these facilities, and provides educational services and technical assistance to industry and local health agency personnel.

Qualifications

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Classification: Environmental Protection Specialist I

Experience Only:

Five (5) years of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to this position such as a wholesale/retail food inspector, food/hemp product manufacturing, quality assurance, production/operations manager, customer service positions, or closely related work relevant to teaching and/or environmental protection.

OR

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study related to the work assigned to this position such as public health, environmental health, culinary arts, environmental sciences, business, or communications.

AND

One (1) year of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to this position such as conducting inspections of manufactured food facilities, hemp product manufacturing facilities, retail food facilities, or other similar fields.

This experience and education must be substantiated within the Work Experience & Education section of your application. Please be sure to enter all relevant job history and education within the last 10 years. "See Resume" and missing relevant employment or education criteria will not be credited towards the minimum qualifications. Education will be credited on a year-for-year basis. Part-time work will be pro-rated. If using education to substitute for experience please upload a copy of your unofficial transcripts or a copy of your diploma/degree to your application. If you do not have access to either of these options, please contact the department contact.

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 experience that meets the minimum qualifications and the preferred competencies for this position should be included. Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may involve a review of the information you submit in your application and cover letter. Written communication skills will be evaluated from the cover letter submitted.

Conditions of Employment:

• A pre-employment background check

• Ability and willingness to travel independently or with a group throughout the state of Colorado up to 50% throughout the year. Some overnight travel may be required. Requires the use and operation of state fleet vehicles. *conditions apply.

• Must be willing to work occasional evening, night, weekend, or holidays depending upon circumstances.

• Must be able and willing to work in adverse weather conditions.

• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time and walk on uneven and/or slick surfaces such as mud, ice, or snow.

Preferred and Essential Competencies:

• Relevant years of experience in food manufacturing, regulatory compliance of food businesses, etc. contribute to a candidate's position-related knowledge, skill, ability, behavior or other posted competency should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills including extensive public speaking.

• Keen attention to detail, with an ability to analyze facts and data, to reach a defensible decision.

• Self motivated, with the ability to work well independently as well as in/with a team.

• 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.

• Ability to use information technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate errors and support decisionmaking.

• Displays a strong desire to learn and improve by actively soliciting, receiving, and implementing constructive feedback from supervisors and peers.

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, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.

Additional Information

A completed State of Colorado application includes:

• Unofficial transcripts if using education to substitute for experience.

• DD214 if claiming veterans status

• Cover letter stating how you meet the minimum requirements and preferred qualifications of this position

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.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them.

Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Benefits Team at CDPHE_benefits@state.co.us.