ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPEC I

The salary for this position is: $5,147 - $6,847 monthly.

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Environmental Health Specialist I – Ambient Monitoring for our Environmental Health Division.

In your role as an Environmental Health Specialist I – Ambient Monitoring, you will work daily to ensure that our county-wide stream and lake monitoring program is running smoothly and in compliance with our quality assurance project plan. You will ensure high quality data is collected and presented to the public using methods that result in an increase in their knowledge of local water quality and inspires them to take independent action to improve it. Responding to public complaints regarding failing septic systems, poor animal waste management practices, etc., and working closely with property owners/occupants to correct any identified problems is also part of your job responsibilities.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Enforce the PHSS Sanitary Code in relation to water quality concerns
• Interpret laws and policies, assist with program development, draft policies, and make recommendations for consideration by department management and the Thurston County Board of Health
• Investigate, sample, evaluate, and act upon public complaints of conditions involving pollution, disease, illness, or contamination
• Conduct sanitary surveys and dye tests on onsite sewage systems
• Document inspection results and prepare documentation needed for enforcement action for failing septic systems
• Work with property owners and residents to correct conditions on their site that contribute to or have the potential to contribute to pollution
• Conduct environmental studies by gathering, evaluating, and reporting on data
• Manage and analyze data
• Maintain rigorous quality assurance/quality control standards
• Offer technical support and education to the public
• Conduct water quality monitoring in lakes, streams, groundwater, and marine waters
• Write technical reports
• Spend long hours on foot and walking over rough terrain and up hills, in addition to lifting objects and material weighing up to 25 pounds
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment - Primarily a field position sampling lakes and streams throughout Thurston County, WA (75%) with routine office days for administrative tasks (25%)
• Schedule - Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 4:00pm, with the potential option of alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working
• Travel Requirements - Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings
Customer Interactions - Daily interactions with Thurston County staff and the public

WHO WE ARE:

Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County’s local health jurisdiction and human services department and is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values.

HAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays .
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA ) : Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com .

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental health, biology, bacteriology or related field.
• One year of professional environmental health work experience requiring extensive public contact. Additional experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.
Must have current Washington State Driver's License.

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of environmental health science, biology, epidemiology, hydrology, and soils science
• Experience with onsite sewage system regulations, permitting, and evaluation
• Ability to interpret and enforce complex regulations
• Ability to compile and maintain complete and accurate records
• Versed in sanitary survey methods and other pollution identification and correction strategies
• Ability to effectively communicate oral and written presentations
• Knowledge of water quality monitoring techniques
• Ability to use judgment and sensitivity when interacting with the public while educating and promoting good public relations
• Knowledge of the PHSS Sanitary Code and related federal and state laws and regulations
• Ability to use measuring devices and testing equipment
• Respect and Organizational Culture
  • Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
  • Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
  • Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment
• Communication
  • Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
  • Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
  • Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
  • Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors
• Goal Setting and Accomplishment
  • Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
  • Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
  • Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
  • Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
  Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change
  

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact the hiring team at: PHSS_Hiring@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2569

This position is:

• Represented by a union
• Eligible for benefits
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Items requested for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Letter of interest
• The candidate selected for this position is required to show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:
  • Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)
  

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.