Job Description

The salary for this position is: $6,898 - $9,175 monthly.

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

Are you a seasoned environmental health professional, passionate about protecting communities and advancing public health initiatives? We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Environmental Health Specialist to lead complex environmental health programs, mentor staff, and ensure compliance with governmental standards and public health regulations that safeguard the well-being of our community.

In this leadership role, you will oversee county-wide environmental health programs and initiatives, guide multidisciplinary teams, collaborate with community partners, and serve as a trusted expert in sanitation, disease prevention, environmental hazards, and regulatory enforcement. If you are a detailed, mission-drive public health professional, we would love to hear from you!

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop, implement, enforce, and provide public education of health and sanitary programs such as sewage disposal, solid waste disposal, water supply and systems, food establishments, swimming pools and beaches, vector control, epidemiology, and chemical, radiological, and physical hazard control
• Organize and direct the work of all assigned employees, providing guidance and training
• Recommend the selection of employees, develops procedures and performance standards, monitors progress and evaluates employee performance
• Coordinate activities with other department agencies and jurisdictions to effectively manage assigned programs
• Represent the department when serving as the designated representative on boards and committees; Advises the media on environmental health issues and projects
• Oversee or conduct the inspection, evaluation, and project review of land parcels and subdivisions to determine feasibility of on-site sewage disposal systems or the condition of existing systems; Review data and recommendations, determine modifications needed for compliance, record conclusions, and issue, withhold, or withdraw license and permits
• Direct or perform the inspection and evaluation of food service establishments and food service facilities in schools, ensuring that personnel, facilities, equipment, and food are clean, healthful, sanitary, and in compliance with the Health Code.
• Note, evaluate, and direct the corrective action on inspection and evaluation deficiencies; Coordinate appeal hearing actions and present expert testimony, and issue or withdraw licenses and permits according to the Health Code and established standards.
• Design and direct or conduct food handler training, food service manager training, swimming pool manager certification, and other types of education and outreach
• 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. This includes emergency preparedness training and exercises, relevant to the work expectations of duties during emergencies.

To view the full job classification, click here: Senior Environmental Health Specialist

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment - Office setting in Olympia, Washington.
• Schedule - Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, with the potential option of alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working per County policy,
• Travel Requirements - Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings and perform field inspections.
• Customer Interactions - Daily interactions with Thurston County staff and the public,

WHO WE ARE:

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.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will 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 Thurston County Employee Benefit Plansfor more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid 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 our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

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

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health, biology, bacteriology, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of professional environmental health experience requiring extensive public contact, including one (1) year at the Environmental Health Specialist II level or equivalent, and specialization in one or more environmental health disciplines. Additional experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
• 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, Waste Water 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:

• Possess a professional certification applicable to the area of assignment (eg, Certified Pool & Spa Operator, Certified Playground Safety Inspector, etc.)

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

Leadership:

• Supervise, motivate, and develop employees and team to become more productive and effective in achieving desired goals and career growth while encouraging employee critical reflection; able to give direction without conflict
• Show fairness and impartiality in interactions; is interested in employee welfare, elicits staff input where feasible; respond to staff suggestions and complaints in a sincere, sensitive, and timely manner

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

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact the Hiring Team at: PHSS_Hiring@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2569

This position is:

• Represented by a union
• Eligible for benefits
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Items requested for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Letter of interest
• Proof of licenses/certifications
• 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.