ENV HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER

Thurston County • Olympia, WA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Thurston County Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an
Environmental Health Program Manager for the Food and Environmental Services
Section (FESS) in our Environmental Health Division. 

In the role of Environmental Health Program Manager, you will oversee the staff
and activities of the FESS section, Education and Outreach Team, and the
Thurston County Water Laboratory. These programs are responsible for
environmental health initiatives that focus on educating the public; inspecting
food service facilities, swimming pools, and spas; and vector control and lead
environmental assessments to ensure compliance with state and local sanitary
codes. You will be an important member of the PHSS leadership team and will
assist in strategic planning for the Environmental Health Division, ensuring
enforcement of county, state, and federal health laws, codes, ordinances, and
regulations.

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

Plan, coordinate, and direct Environmental Health services to include
developing action plans to achieve goals and objectives, and evaluate
outcomes
Offer technical support and education to the public concerning food, pool,
and school safety, and zoonotic disease prevention
Interpret laws and policies, assist with program development, draft policies,
and make recommendations for consideration by department management and the
Thurston County Board of Health
Provide guidance to supervisors in handling difficult and controversial
matters and mediate differences between staff and citizens, contractors,
builders, and local businesses
Respond to requests and inquiries from the public (including property owners,
businesses, developers, contractors, real estate agents, and engineering
professionals), the media, and other agencies and jurisdictions 
Make presentations regarding Environmental Health activities at public
meetings
Perform program administrative functions including budget preparation,
expenditure oversight, personnel management, and grant management
Supervise staff to include providing regular feedback, performance
evaluations, and adherence to all applicable policies and procedures of the
department and County
Ensure staff is trained and certifications are current
Participate in the rotation of the Department’s Duty Officer
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

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health, Bacteriology, Zoology Engineering, or a related natural or physical science.
• Five (5) years of experience in professional environmental work including experience in budget preparation and program planning and implementation.  A minimum of two (2) years supervisory experience of environmental professional staff is also required.
• Must be recognized by the Washington State Sanitarian Registration Board as a Registered Sanitarian within eighteen (18) months of the date of hire.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of environmental health science, biology, and epidemiology
• Knowledge of retail food-handling equipment and procedures, swimming pool equipment, and water chemistry
• Knowledge of the US FDA Food Code and related state or local sanitation regulations
• Ability to interpret and enforce complex regulations
• Ability to exercise skill and judgment in dealing tactfully with the public while educating and maintaining good public relations
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills
• Strong critical thinking skills focused on identifying organizational challenges and opportunities, along with the ability to implement appropriate solutions
• Ability to effectively and proactively manage, supervise, and oversee the performance of professional staff
• Highly effective communication and customer service skills
• 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, coordinate, and direct Environmental Health services to include developing action plans to achieve goals and objectives, and evaluate outcomes
• Offer technical support and education to the public concerning food, pool, and school safety, and zoonotic disease prevention
• Interpret laws and policies, assist with program development, draft policies, and make recommendations for consideration by department management and the Thurston County Board of Health
• Provide guidance to supervisors in handling difficult and controversial matters and mediate differences between staff and citizens, contractors, builders, and local businesses
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the public (including property owners, businesses, developers, contractors, real estate agents, and engineering professionals), the media, and other agencies and jurisdictions 
• Make presentations regarding Environmental Health activities at public meetings
• Perform program administrative functions including budget preparation, expenditure oversight, personnel management, and grant management
• Supervise staff to include providing regular feedback, performance evaluations, and adherence to all applicable policies and procedures of the department and County
• Ensure staff is trained and certifications are current
• Participate in the rotation of the Department’s Duty Officer
• 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

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: Manager