Environmental Protection Specialist Intern

At The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) we are dedicated to the Colorado for All philosophy - working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. 

We support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity.  We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Be BOLD.....Make a REAL difference . . . join us in serving our communities advancing Colorado's health and protecting the places we live, work, learn, and play, to create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

Mission - To advance Colorado's health and protect the places we live, work, learn, and play.

Vision -  To create a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations thrive.

CDPHE offers: 

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.

• Flexible working arrangements

• Retirement ( PERA options), Medical and dental health plans

• Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year and generous personal time off

• Tuition assistance 

• Wellness programs

• Professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects

• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. For more information, go to:  https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

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 sanitation regulations of the State for dairy farms, dairy processing plants, and correctional facilities. These duties are accomplished through inspections, recall coordination, outbreak investigations, compliance assistance, and compliance assurance; by reviewing registration information, plan review submissions, and other field-generated information for dairy plants and 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 Unit is also responsible for drafting new regulations, completing State Board of Health documents, and coordinating stakeholder meetings.

What You Will Do: 

This entry-level position exists, with supervisor and work group lead oversight, to perform assigned sampling surveillance for the milk inspection program. This includes conducting assessments on milk haulers and plant samplers, performing inspections of milk hauling tankers, and collecting milk samples for analysis. This position will also provide compliance assistance to Colorado dairy industry.

Key Responsibilities: 

Inspections & Evaluations
Under direct supervision, guidance of the supervisor, and in accordance with the Colorado Milk and Dairy Products Regulations, standard operating procedures (SOPs), business processes, work product, and timeliness standards, this position will be trained, coached, and monitored to:

• Conduct on-farm evaluations of milk haulers sampling and transferring milk to milk tankers.
• Conduct evaluations of milk plant samplers obtaining milk samples from individual milk tankers
• Conduct training courses for new haulers and samplers, issue certification tests, and discuss the results with individual applicants conduct field inspections of milk tankers used to haul milk, issuing a certification sticker upon completion.
• Conduct data entry of completed inspections, input inspections completed by a Certified Industry Inspector, and generate lists of upcoming inspections and evaluations to be completed

Milk Product Sampling
Under direct supervision, guidance of the supervisor, and in accordance with the Colorado Milk and Dairy Products Regulations, standard operating procedures (SOPs), business processes, work product, and timeliness standards, this position will be trained, coached, and monitored to:

• Obtain milk and water samples to ensure compliance with Grade A regulatory standards and ensure the frequency of samples meets or exceeds regulatory requirements

Review Raw Milk Herdshare Program
Under direct supervision, guidance of the supervisor, and in accordance with the Colorado Milk and Dairy Products Regulations, standard operating procedures (SOPs), business processes, work product, and timeliness standards, this position will be trained, coached, and monitored to:

• Review, investigate, update, and maintain raw milk herdshare registrations.
• Update DEHS website with information pertinent to raw milk herdshare operations in Colorado.

• Attends meetings, serves on task forces or teams, completes projects, and performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Residency Requirement:

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

Class Code & Classification Description:

I3A1I* Environmental Protection Specialist Intern

Minimum Qualifications:

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

Experience Only:

Four (4) years of relevant experience in environmental issues or an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

Or

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in environmental issues or occupation related to the work assigned equal to four (4) years

**This experience must be substantiated within the Work Experience section of your application. "See Resume" will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.**

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:  

• Experience in the dairy, agricultural, or food service industry, particularly with standard sanitation practices, food safety regulations, or quality control.
• Familiarity with environmental sampling methodologies, sterile fluid collection techniques, or chain-of-custody protocols for laboratory analysis. 
• Strong data management skills, with demonstrated experience using digital inspection software, databases, or spreadsheets for accurate data entry and tracking.
• Professional working proficiency in Spanish (Bilingual), with the ability to effectively communicate regulatory requirements and provide compliance assistance to Spanish-speaking dairy industry operators and haulers.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, or updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical manuals, or regulatory guidance documents to ensure consistency and compliance with state or federal standards. 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, contribute to cross-functional task forces, and maintain positive peer relationships while working toward shared agency goals.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

• TRAVEL: Yes, 80% of the time conducting milk inspections statewide.

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Must be able to lift milk coolers up to 50 lbs into and out of vehicles

MPORTANT INFORMATION:

• This position will have hybrid workplace options available, at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business needs.  The employee will still be required to report to the agency address listed on this announcement.

Appeal Rights:

As an applicant who has been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website, https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. Email address: [email protected]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov.

A complete application packet must include:

• Completed State of Colorado application

• Cover Letter

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

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 ADAAA Coordinator at [email protected] or call 303-692-2060, option 5.