We are seeking a skilled, enthusiastic and dedicated Senior Health and Environmental Investigator (Health & Environmental Investigator III) to provide technical assistance for COVID-19 mitigation measures to homeless service sites as part of the Health Engagement Action and Resource Team (HEART) in response to COVID-19.

Currently we are recruiting for one Term Limited Temporary or Special Duty position through August 31, 2021, with the option to extend based on funding and COVID-19 response needs. In addition, applicants from this recruitment may be used to create a list of qualified candidates for future career service, term-limited temporary, and special duty assignment (SDA) positions that may occur in the next 6 months.

ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION:
Through the work of over 150 dedicated employees, the Environmental Health Services Division identifies and sustains environmental conditions that promote health equity and healthy people and communities in Seattle and King County. Our vision is healthy, safe, and vibrant communities that are free of health disparities based on race, gender or economic status. The Division’s core values include equity and social justice, integrity, community service, collaboration, a supportive work culture, and learning from each other and the communities we serve.
To learn more about EHS, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation’s history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity

• Serve as Environmental Health’s team lead for COVID-19 mitigation strategies for homeless service sites.
• Bring a trauma informed and compassionate approach to working with homeless service site staff and clients.
• Collaborate with homeless service sites and seek to understand the variety of components that influence each site’s ability to support COVID-mitigation strategies.
• Conduct on-site visits and phone consultations to provide technical assistance and support on environmental health related topics for COVID-19 mitigation strategies in a variety of settings that include, but are not limited to: shelters, supportive housing, encampments, and/or other sites that serve people living or formerly living homeless.
• Write, edit, and peer review reports with recommendations for site visits in collaboration with other HEART team members and ensure timely completion of reports and data entry.
• Coordinate with a multiple disciplinary team for scheduling environmental health staff to respond to request for visits and consultations for homeless service sites in response to COVID-19.
• Lead a team of Environmental Health staff that includes delegating daily work assignments, mentoring, coaching to ensure program objectives are met.
• Point of contact for development and updates for guidance documents and educational/print materials.
• Provide quality assurance for post visit data entry to ensure that data entry and document management protocols are followed.
• Manage Environmental Health’s ventilation technical assistance project that includes but is not limited to coordination distribution of HEPA filters, performing ventilation consultations to homeless service sites for COVID-19 mitigation.
• Attend and present information at regular homeless service providers and outreach worker meetings.
• Stay current with trends and developments on Environmental Health related topics related to COVID-19 and Homelessness.
• Follow all COVID-19 safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols when working in the field such as mask use, eye protection, and other PPE as required.

• Prior work experience in one or more environmental health/public health disciplines such as living environment, indoor air, food safety, sanitation and hygiene, pest mitigation, facility and site evaluation, emergency preparedness, infection control and prevention, disease outbreak investigations, etc.
• Effective collaboration and conflict management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, provide mentoring and coaching, facilitate meetings and provide presentations to a wide range and size of audiences.
• Strong writing skills and demonstrated ability to summarize information into reports, technical reports, and written communications/guidance to the public using plain language.

• Ability to interpret and convey environmental and health related topics for variety of audiences including ESL and non-English speakers.
• Familiar with federal, Washington State and local environmental health regulations.
• Experience with data collection and evaluation.
• Ability to maintain accurate field records (written and photographic) in computer database systems such as Excel and/or Envision Connect.
• Demonstrated intermediate level experience with Microsoft Suite products such as Excel, Word, SharePoint, Teams, etc.

Desired qualifications:
The most competitive candidates will Have: 

• Prior experience working with homeless or vulnerable populations.
• Prior experience with facility/site evaluation evaluating and documenting environmental health related concerns and identifying corrective actions.
• Knowledge or experience working in one or more of the following fields; built environment, healthy housing, environmental engineering, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality/ventilation, and infection prevention and control.
• Training in or knowledge of trauma informed communications, behavior change, and/or motivational interviewing.
• Candidates with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health, Environmental Science, or a closely-related field and a passion for Environmental Health/Public Health.
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate principles of Equity and Social Justice into day to day work.
• Bi/multi-lingual language skills

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Registered Sanitarian (RS) certificate from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or the Washington State Environmental Health Association (WSBRS) is required at the time of hire.  (All required licenses and certifications must be maintained in active status without suspension or revocation throughout employment.)
• Valid Washington State driver’s license, or ability to obtain before hire.

For your convenience below is information from NEHA that allows you to take the exam online at any time. Exam Scheduling and Location: Candidates can choose to schedule REHS/RS examination in several different ways.
1. The REHS/RS exam is offered annually at the NEHA Annual Education Conference (AEC) & Exhibition.
2. State Affiliate and Regional Meeting periodically offer the REHS/RS exam at their meeting/conferences. An up to date listing of these meeting/conference offerings can be found at the NEHA website:
http://www.neha.org/pdf/cred/State_Affiliate_and%20_Regional_Meeting_Test_Dates.pdf
3. Candidates can choose to take the exam on computer through Pearson VUE. By choosing this option candidates can schedule the examination at their convenience at one of Pearson VUE’s testing locations nationwide. To find a Pearson VUE testing center near you please visit: http://pearsonvue.com/neha. Taking the exam at Pearson VUE not only offers the candidate flexibility in scheduling the exam, but also allows the candidate to receive his/her unofficial scores immediately following the conclusion of the exam.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State’s best employers. 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we’re changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play. 

Guided by our “True North“, we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles–we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who may apply: This position is open to all qualified applicants.

Application process:
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:
1. NEOGOV/Government Jobs on-line or paper application.
2. Responses to the supplemental questions.
3. A current resume or curriculum vitae.
4. A cover letter that summarizes your interest and qualifications for the position.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state “see my resume” or “see my personnel file” are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options. If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the contact listed on the job announcement or Public Health’s Human Resources Service Delivery Manager.

Supplemental information:

Working conditions & physical requirements:

• This position requires the ability to perform work duties both indoors in an office environment and in the field in a variety physical and weather conditions that may include walking uneven terrain, working around heavy machinery, strong odors, dusts, animals, and various types of wastes.
• Exposure to individuals from the public who are upset, angry, agitated, and sometimes hostile, requiring the use of conflict management and de-escalation skills.
• This position may require strength enough to lift, push, or pull field equipment weighing between 20-40 pounds.
• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally access or travel by ferry or boat.

Work Schedule: This full-time position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for overtime. The normal workweek is Monday – Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work are required.

Temporary Telecommuting Requirement
Some of the work associated with this position will be performed remotely, at least through July 5, 2021, in compliance with King County’s telecommuting mandate.  Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.  Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.  There will be situations where the employee is required to report to a County worksite.  Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required by the department in alignment with the Public Health Directive from the Seattle & King County Public Health Officer.

To support employees during this time King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

Union affiliation: This position is represented by PROTEC Local 17 Union.

Contact: If you have questions about the position, please contact Leah Helms at leah.helms@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-8450. If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Nic Horea,  Senior Human Resource Analyst at nicolae.horea@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-8736