Environmental Health Specialist II

Thurston County•Olympia, WA

9d•$5,959 - $7,926•Hybrid

About The Position

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Environmental Health Specialist II for our Environmental Health Division. Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County's local health jurisdiction and social 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. As the Environmental Health Specialist II - Water Pollution Identification & Correction Lead, you will work daily to ensure that: streams and marine shorelines discharges/outfalls that are determined to be failing the state water quality standard for E. coli bacteria are segmented and intensively sampled to locate polluted segments and then conduct door-to-door investigations to work with area residents to identify and correct sources. You will also conduct door-to-door sanitary surveys in our project areas to provide education on proper septic system maintenance, use of fertilizers, animal waste management, etc. You will also respond to public complaints regarding failing septic systems, poor animal waste management practices, etc., and work closely with the property owner/occupant to correct any problems you identify.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health, biology, bacteriology, or a related field.
Three years of professional environmental health work experience requiring extensive public contact. Experience must include three of the following program areas: sewage, food, water, vector control, epidemiology, solid waste, and hazardous waste; demonstrated ability to perform as a lead special projects manager within a single program area.
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 (e.g., 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.

Nice To Haves

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
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

Investigate, sample, evaluate, and act upon public complaints of conditions involving pollution, disease, illness, or contamination.
Conduct environmental studies by gathering, evaluating and reporting on data.
Manage and analyze data.
Serve as project lead in one or more program areas; provide technical expertise to program staff and community partners and provide project recommendations and guidance.
Work with other water quality staff to ensure monitoring and data meet high standards.
Conduct sanitary surveys and dye tests on-site sewage systems.
Maintain rigorous quality assurance/quality control standards.
Document inspection results and prepare documentation needed for enforcement action for failing septic systems.
Offer technical support and education to the public.
Work with property owners and residents to correct conditions on their site that contribute to or have the potential to contribute to pollution.
Conduct water quality monitoring in lakes, streams, groundwater, and marine waters.
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.
Write technical reports.
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.