• Communicate and present county regulations and policies to residents, community organizations, and local businesses to solicit public involvement.
• Provide technical assistance, enforcement, and public education in household and business waste reduction, recycling, and disposal programs.
• Promote and enforce proper storage and disposal of residential and business waste.
• Issue permits and provide oversight of solid waste handling facilities.
• Investigate resident and ecology reports of improper storage or dumping of solid, hazardous, or petroleum waste.
• Provide detailed reports that document the use of county funds. 
• 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. 

• Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of solid and hazardous waste management, solid and hazardous waste education, waste reduction, and recycling.
• Knowledge of the Thurston County Health Code and related federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to solid and hazardous waste management.
• Ability to read, interpret, and enforce complex regulations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deliver information to the public with tact and professionalism.

• 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 2024 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: Options some employees may take advantage of are alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• See under Benefits later in this job description for detailed information about the many other benefits the County offers.

• 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. 

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

• 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

• 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?
The contact person for this recruitment is: Vickie Larkin: vickie.larkin@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2505
 
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
– Grant funded

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:

• Proof of immunizations of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
• Proof of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)