We are seeking a skilled, enthusiastic, and dedicated Solid Waste Exempt Facilities Lead (Health and Environmental Investigator III) in the Environmental Health Services Division. Under the direction of the Solid Waste Facilities Supervisor, the position plays a critical role overseeing regulatory compliance for more than 100 permit-exempt solid waste facilities and leads the waste characterization program including a sampling program to help generators ensure that wastes are properly disposed. This position will work with at least one team member to engage the exempt facility operators to ensure compliance and support the team leads for permitted facilities and landfills to provide program coverage and collaboration. The successful candidate will have a passion for environmental public health and equity and social justice for all people in King County, possess strong skills in leadership, project management, and problem-solving, and be effective in developing productive relationships with agency partners.

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.

• Develop and manage the scope of work and budget for projects involving permit-exempt and unpermitted solid waste facilities.
• Conduct permit-exempt facility investigations, routine solid waste permitted facility inspections, notification application reviews, and evaluate permit applications with plan reviews in addition to providing training for these various tasks to other team members.
• Ensure billable hours are tracked and reimbursed.
• Assist other team leads in program planning, developing, and maintaining regulations.
• Coordinate with biomedical waste lead to rewrite the biomedical waste regulations, review treatment technologies, and implement regulatory oversight for biomedical waste generators to meet emerging public health needs.
• Evaluating emerging solid waste technologies and practices to determine regulatory oversight and public health implications.
• Lead the Waste Characterization program including developing and updating protocols for waste clearances and developing a program for sampling wastes to determine compliance with regulatory standards.
• Oversee contracts and grants including negotiating and managing scope, budget, and deliverables and preparing reports, billings, and renewals.
• Apply principles of Equity and Social Justice in program operations and services, program policies and procedures, and technical reports.
• Stays current on best practices and local, state, and federal environmental regulations related to solid waste facility operations.
• Lead the development of culturally competent education, technical assistance, and regulatory compliance guidance to team members, permit-exempt facility operators, the media, public agencies, and impacted communities.
• Coordinate with other team leads that oversee the landfills and permitted facilities to provide and share technical expertise, training, coaching, and mentorship for program staff.
• Develop and manage complex projects that require stakeholder engagement to develop partnerships with impacted communities and other regulatory agencies to resolve compliance issues related to exempt solid waste facilities.
• Develop program work plans, update program procedures, and prepare status reports for program activities.
• Develop presentations on regulatory and policy recommendations for elected officials and/or the Board of Health.
• Lead long-range program planning and policy development to include a fee structure to fund continual oversight of permit-exempt facilities.
• Serve as a backup for other solid waste team leads as needed.

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations that pertain to solid waste handling with the ability to interpret and implement environmental health laws, ordinances, and regulations for application to environmental health problems for a variety of audiences.
• Ability to communicate effectively through strong verbal and written skills in a culturally competent approach with team members and customers from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to apply conflict resolution skills with challenging solid waste operators to find opportunities to gain compliance.
• Demonstrated experience in data collection, analysis, technical report writing, and maintaining accurate field records (written and photographic).
• Demonstrated experience at an intermediate to advanced level in one or more databases of document management systems such as Excel, SharePoint, Envision Connect, Lists, or Access.
• Knowledge of field/office occupational and environmental hazards and worker safety procedures such as the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on situational needs.
• Ability to manage multiple work assignments with competing priorities.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certified Inspector of Landfill Operations (i.e. Manager of Landfill Operations Training).
• Compost Facility Operator Training.
• Intermediate to advanced project management experience.
• Intermediate to advanced experience with ArcGIS.
• Experience managing budgets, grants, and contracts.

 
LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington State driver’s license.
• Registered Sanitarian (Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians) or Registered Environmental Health Specialist (National Environmental Health Association) or ability to obtain certification within six months of hire.

REHS/RS credentialing information is available from NEHA at:
www.neha.org/professional-development/credentials/rehsrs-credential

REHS/RS credentialing information is available from WSBRS at:  www.wsbrs.org 

All required licenses and certifications must be maintained in active status without suspension or revocation throughout employment.

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 candidates. 

Application Process: 
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the “Apply” link) including work history and position duties.
• A cover letter describing your interest in this position and how do you meet the required qualifications for this job.
• A current resume
• Responses to supplemental questions.

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.

• The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location, and working hours.

Necessary Special Requirements:

• The selected candidate will be required to submit to a thorough background investigation. Records are not automatically disqualifying.
• Candidates selected are required to pass a pre-employment physical exam.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required training on time.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirement:

• 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.
• This position requires the ability to use appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) such as wearing protective clothing or apparatus for working in environments that may include exposure to toxic or hazardous gases, chemicals, or bio-substances.
• 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 occasional 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.

Work Location: 
King County employees are required to telework until July 5, 2021. The home base for this position will be  in Downtown Seattle, Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave., Suite 1100, Seattle

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 Protect Local 17 Union.

Contact:
If you have questions about the position, please contact Yolanda Pon at 206-263-8459. 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.