Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Environmental Health Specialist II for our Environmental Health Division. 

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.

As an Environmental Health Specialist II, you serve as project lead in one or more program areas providing technical expertise to program staff, industry professionals, and deliver project recommendations and guidance. With strong customer services skills, you will offer technical assistance in person and over the phone, including review of septic system inspection reports; interpreting laws and policies; and receiving and investigating complaints.

Some of the essential job functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Enforce the PHSS Sanitary Code for on-site sewage systems.
• Investigate, sample, evaluate, and act upon public complaints of deficiencies or failure of onsite sewage systems.
• Conduct environmental studies by gathering, evaluating, and reporting on data.
• Review, manage records, and evaluate on-site sewage systems for compliance with operation and maintenance requirements.
• Conduct sanitary survey and dye tests of on-site sewage systems.
• Maintain rigorous quality assurance/quality control standards.
• Document inspection results and prepare documentation needed for enforcement action for failing septic systems.
• Work with on-site sewage system professionals, property owners and public officials to ensure failing on-site systems are repaired and brought into compliance.
• Offer technical support and education to the public.
• Assist with program development, draft policies, write technical reports, and make recommendations for consideration by department management and the Thurston County Board of Health.
• Write technical correspondence.
• 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.

The ideal candidate would have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

• Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of environmental health science, biology, epidemiology, hydrology, and soils science.
• Experience with on-site sewage system regulations, permitting, and evaluation.
• Ability to compile and maintain complete and accurate records.
• Ability to interpret and enforce complex regulations.
• Ability to effectively communicate oral and written presentations.
• Versed in sanitary survey methods, water quality monitoring techniques, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Knowledge of designing and conducting water quality investigations and studies.
• 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.

What we offer our employees:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensuring that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual’s lifestyle.
• Plan for Your Future: As a member of our team, you 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. Please visit our Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans website for more information. 
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn a minimum of 12 paid vacation days per year in addition to 11 paid holidays and 2 floating 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 staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.  
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some employees may take advantage of are alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.

Why you’ll love it here:

Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched 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 capital city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmers markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health, biology, bacteriology, or a related field.
• Three years of professional environmental health work experience requiring extensive public contact. Experience must include three of the following program areas: sewage, food, water, vector control, epidemiology, solid waste, and hazardous waste; demonstrated ability to perform as a lead special projects manager within a single program area.
• Current Washington State Driver’s License or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.
• May be required to possess a professional certification applicable to area of assignment (eg, Hydrogeologist, Wastewater Treatment System Inspection Certificate of Competency, Qualified Sanitary Surveyor, etc.).
• Must be recognized by the Washington State Sanitarian Registration Board as Registered Sanitarian within eighteen months of the date of hire.
• Ability to utilize a personal computer and related software packages to perform word processing, analysis, information retrieval and tracking.
  
   

Desired Skills:

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.

Questions about this recruitment?
Contact the hiring team at: PHSS_Hiring@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2659.

This position is:

• Represented by a Union
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Eligible for benefits
• Contingent on the ability to pass a criminal background check

Items required for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Cover letter

PLEASE NOTE: 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.