Education & Outreach Specialist I

Thurston County • Olympia, WA

4h • Onsite

About The Position

Thurston County Public Works is recruiting for an Education & Outreach
Specialist I to join our dynamic, energetic, and innovative Solid Waste team.
The successful candidate will have experience implementing planning efforts to
build community awareness, education, and outreach activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in education, public health, environmental health, environmental science, or other closely related field. Additional experience can be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Must have three years of experience working in public works, city or county government, or other related field promoting education, outreach, media campaigns, public relations, or other comparable experiences to successfully perform duties and responsibilities of the classification.
• Must have the ability to utilize a personal computer with related software to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Current Washington State Driver's License or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.

Nice To Haves

• Strong editing, proofreading, and writing abilities
• Familiarity with social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
• Experience with email marketing and newsletter development
• Basic graphic design skills using Canva, Adobe Express, or Adobe In-Design
• Interest in content creation, including blog-style writing and public outreach material development
• Video editing experience
• Basic web content editing using Drupal or a similar CMS
• Familiarity with Formsite, Adobe Illustrator and/or Adobe Photoshop

Responsibilities

• Serves as primary staff member responsible for creating and updating outreach materials for the Public Works Solid Waste Division, including websites, social media, videos, and print materials.
• Serves as support staff for residential, commercial, youth, and multi-family outreach programs, including assisting with waste sorts, attending events, making presentations to groups, and teaching recycling and waste reduction classes.
• Serves as liaison for county-owned facilities, including updating outreach materials, signage and recycling information, and employee informational materials.
• Analyzes and interprets technical information and assists in developing new programs targeted to effectively reach appropriate audiences. Uses social marketing and behavior change theory to develop specific strategies to identify and reach target groups to promote participation and awareness.
• Develops, reviews, updates and revises informational and educational brochures. May oversee graphic design and production of materials. Develops materials for and assembles components of media campaigns targeted toward appropriate audiences. Evaluates the effectiveness of program information materials and methods and makes suggestions for modification.
• Conducts education seminars, workshops, "training the trainer" sessions in a group or individual setting.
• Collaboratively works as a team member with others to ensure program effectiveness. Coordinates activities and efforts to maximize program success in the community.

Benefits

• 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 individual’s 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.
• 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 that allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level