The Environmental Health Services Division is seeking to fill one Career Service (permanent) position and one Term Limited Temporary or Special Duty Assignment (to last 2 years) Health & Environmental Investigator position(s). The Health & Environmental Investigator will join the On-site Sewage System Operation and Maintenance (OSS O&M) Program in ensuring that OSS in King County are properly maintained and functioning to protect the health and safety of all King County residents. The Health & Environmental Investigator will provide technical assistance to property owners with failing OSS, review time of sale inspection reports to ensure consistency and accuracy, and work with partners to design and implement OSS pumping reporting and tracking processes under supervisory direction. The ideal candidate will be skilled at applying scientific understanding and code requirements to a variety of contexts while ensuring that community members, industry professionals, partner agencies, and other partners receive quality service. This recruitment might be used for upcoming vacancies that will 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, 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.

KEY EXPECTATIONS AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Conduct inspections and review on-site sewage system maintenance reports ensuring compliance with current public health and environmental codes, regulations, and policies.
• Respond to public complaints and inquiries on environmental health matters.
• Determine if regulatory violations have occurred, document violations, establish a schedule for corrections, and follow up with technical assistance or enforcement to ensure that schedule is met.
• Collect and analyze environmental data as needed to investigate potential OSS failures, for example, dye testing and collecting samples.
• Provide culturally competent education, technical assistance, and regulatory compliance advice to property owners, real estate industry, OSS industry, and the general public.
• Build working relationships with OSS industry professionals to provide assistance in meeting program requirements; provide recommendations to senior investigators of oversight needed to ensure that industry professionals meet requirements.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate risk-based, community-informed, equitable policies for responding to OSS failures and deficiencies and performing other activities that support the long-term performance of OSS.
• Evaluate individual actions and program policies and recommend and implement changes to increase racial, social, and economic equity in services.
• Train, mentor, and assist other health and environmental investigators and permit technicians.
• Work with other agencies and jurisdictions to respond to needs related to water quality and OSS.
• Work with other investigators to maximize consistency and support process improvement.
• Use computerized database management systems, write and review reports, and maintain accurate records.

• Demonstrated experience in environmental health, environmental engineering, environmental sciences, or other related fields.
• Demonstrated successful experience in customer service with broadly diverse populations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of environmental sciences and engineering, public health principles, and disease prevention.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying public health knowledge and environmental codes, regulations, and policies, while considering the characteristics of individual situations.
• Demonstrated experience writing, analyzing, or reviewing inspection reports.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use permitting, reporting, and data management software for data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively as a team player to collaborate and accomplish complex project goals.
• Ability to independently manage multiple tasks to deliver quality and timely products.

 
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, or other related fields.
• Demonstrated skill in conducting complex environmental health investigations.
• Ability to identify and address community members’ individual and systemic barriers to compliance or participation.
• Demonstrated ability to appropriately respond to conflict and navigate difficult situations when interacting with property owners or other constituents.
• Demonstrated skill in identifying opportunities for process improvement and managing process improvement projects.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• For HEI II: 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.)
• HEI I: obtain Registered Sanitarian Certificate within 1 year of hire date from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or the Washington State Environmental Health Association (WSBRS)
• Valid Washington State driver’s license by time of hire.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• For HEI II: 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.)
• HEI I: obtain Registered Sanitarian Certificate within 1 year of hire date from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or the Washington State Environmental Health Association (WSBRS)
• Valid Washington State driver’s license, or ability to obtain before hiring.

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.pdf3. 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.

Salary Information (depending on qualifications):
$31.69 – $40.18 Hourly: Health and Environmental Investigator I
$37.42 – $47.43 Hourly: Health and Environmental Investigator II

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 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 of physical and weather conditions that may include walking uneven terrain, working around heavy machinery, strong odors, dust, 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 evenings, weekends, on-call work, and some travel required.

Work location: Currently telework with occasional work at Eastgate Public Health Center, 14350 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue.

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 Meagan Jackson at mejackson@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-0547. 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.