Edu & Outreach Specialist III

County of Thurston • Olympia, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Thurston County Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Emergency Preparedness & Response Supervisor (Education and Outreach Specialist III) for its Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR) Program. This leadership role focuses on guiding and advancing critical efforts to ensure public health readiness for emergencies, disasters, and large-scale public health events. The supervisor reports to the Strategic Initiative Manager with oversight from the department Health Officer, leading a dynamic program that includes planning, implementing, budgeting, contracting, federal grant compliance, and staff supervision of a 2-member Public Health EPR Team. The role also involves providing technical assistance to other local health jurisdictions (LJH’s) across Washington State’s PHEPR Region 3 (Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pacific, and Mason counties) to maintain a coordinated regional response network. The position requires deep knowledge of public health preparedness frameworks, including alignment with the National Incident Management System and national emergency operation plan models, a strong commitment to collaboration, sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to navigate complex, evolving situations while upholding federal and Washington State funding requirements. It seeks a mission-oriented and creative leader who thrives on initiative and innovation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in education, public health, environmental health, or other closely related field.
• Must have five (5) years experience working in public health, environmental issues, or other related field promoting education, outreach, media campaign, public relations or other comparable experiences to successfully perform duties and responsibilities of the classification.
• Three (3) years experience with budget management, grant management, and lead or supervisory experience.
• 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

• Background in Emergency Management
• Previous experience with budget management, grant management, and lead or supervisory experience
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and manage the PHSS EPR program, services, and activities
• Manage the EPR program budget (preparation, administration, and expenditures), grants, contracts, and their deliverables, including developing and implementing work plans and reporting results
• Oversees and is responsible for the development of program policy standards
• Interview, hire, supervise, and evaluate personnel; work with employees to identified area of improvement, and support, and implement any necessary corrective/disciplinary actions
• Oversee reviewing, evaluating, and updating the department on EPR program-related initiatives and activities
• Manage the Emergency Operation Plan and other related documents, ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state laws, and compatibility with city and countywide plans; Oversee the development, continuous improvement, and implementation of plans
• Maintain a cooperative working relationship with all PHEPR Public Health department hospitals, Emergency Management Services (EMS) agencies, emergency services, and other regional health-related agencies, in addition to maintaining relationships with emergency coordinators from neighboring tribes
• Oversee the design, coordination, and evaluation of department staff emergency response training and exercises provided by the PHSS EPR team
• In coordination with the Health Officer, provide oversight for the Thurston County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) program
• Prepare, report, and monitor funds allocated through the Washington State Department of Health Consolidated Contract CDC grants; Monitor current and future eligibility for matching funds, grants, technical assistance, etc., and prepare/submit grant applications and oversee resulting contracts
• Collaborate with other Local Health Jurisdictions Emergency staff within Washington State, the State Department of Health, and other appropriate agencies to coordinate short-term and long-range plans and policies
• Participate in various meetings and committees to discuss, evaluate, and document program policies and procedures locally, regionally, and statewide
• Serve in the PHSS Safety Committee, assisting the chair and co-chair in carrying out activities including drills, exercises, training, and education and outreach opportunities
• Serve as a resource for staff; motivate and mentor staff in providing quality and appropriate quantity of work in the assigned area utilizing resources efficiently; model and promote team building skills among assigned staff
• Work independently and within a collaborative team-oriented environment; contribute openly, understand the ideas of others, listen well, and work for consensus
• Review and approve program requisitions, reimbursement, and training request forms
• Respond to public health emergencies as the department requires
• 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.

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 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees