Summary

The Environmental Health Services Division is seeking applicants for a rewarding and challenging position as Homelessness and Environmental Health Coordinator (Health and Environmental Investigator III). This position is an individual contributor and will provide expertise on environmental health and homeless related topics, coordinate, and manage projects across external and internal government agencies, and independently manage program objectives. This position reports to and is supported by the Solid Waste, Community Health and Zoonotic Diseases program supervisor. This role does not manage direct reports but may do so in the future.

The successful candidate will have a passion for improving the wellbeing of persons who are experiencing homelessness, strong background in applying equity and social justice and promoting anti-racists principles in their work, strong interpersonal and communication skills, as well as skill navigating politically challenging environments.

Environnmental Health Division
Through the work of over 160 dedicated employees, the Environmental Health Services Division identifies and sustains environmental conditions that promote health equity and healthy people and communities in Seattle and King County. Our vision is healthy, safe, and vibrant communities that are free of health disparities based on race, gender, or economic status. The Division’s core values include equity and social justice, integrity, community service, collaboration, a supportive work culture, and learning from each other and the communities we serve.
To learn more, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice
Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Job Duties

• Serve as Public Health’s point of contact for environmental health issues related to homelessness.
• Stay current on best practices and standards for environmental public health issues related to homelessness and develop policy and program recommendations to improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with program stakeholders and participate in regular interagency coordination meetings.
• Work across teams leading multi-stakeholder collaborations.
• Develop and prepare oral and written reports to a variety of audiences including community members, agency leadership, and elected officials.
• Manage budgets, scope, and schedule for assigned projects; plan and coordinate multiple work plan objectives.
• Review proposals and conduct pre-occupancy site inspections for new homeless service sites and temporary housing sites and provide recommendations and technical assistance to mitigate environmental health risks.
• Triage and ensure response on homeless related inquire regarding environmental public health issues.
• Coordinate with City of Seattle, Reginal Homeless Authority, other agency partners and service providers to ensure public complaints on homelessness site operations are responded to in a timely manner.
• Develop and conduct training and provide educational materials and signage on a range of environmental public health topics that include but are not limited to food and water safety, indoor air, rodent and vector prevention, sharps handling and disposal, and waste management.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Skills and Experience you Bring to the Position

• Demonstrated ability to lead and plan projects with attention to detail and ability to track and organize multiple elements of time sensitive or politically sensitive projects with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Skill in synthesizing a variety of information and assessing organizational and political impacts.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and in a culturally competent approach with staff and customers from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings and provide presentations to a wide range and size of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement program policies and procedures.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience in data collection, analysis, technical report writing, and maintaining accurate field records (written and photographic).
• Knowledge of racial equity and social justice principles, and ability to apply in the workplace and program service delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with staff and program stakeholders.
• Ability to resolve conflict using a combination of diplomacy and tact.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health, environmental science, or a closely related field.
• Strong working knowledge of principles and practices in environmental public health.
• Demonstrated prior work experience in one or more environmental or public health related work in areas such as healthy housing, donated food organization management, hygiene and sanitation, infection control/ disease prevention, outreach, or health communication.
• Proficiency with software programs, including Microsoft Office, (Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook), and ability to quickly learn new technology.
• Previous experience interpreting and applying federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• A valid driver’s license as this position requires regular driving for site visits and meetings.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior work with direct experience with homeless or other vulnerable populations or lived experience of homelessness.
• Bilingual in English plus one or more of the following languages representing large populations in King County: Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Somali, Russian, Ukrainian, Korean, Amharic, Hindi, Punjabi, or other languages.

Transferrable skills: Your transferrable skills are any experience you have gained through education, work experience (including the military), or life experience that are relevant to this position. If you believe you don’t meet the qualifications listed above, but have transferable skills that prepare you to be successful in the position, please describe the skills and how they apply to this position in your response to supplemental question #8 .

Licensing / Certification Requirements

• Valid Washington State driver's license.
• Registered Sanitarian (Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians) or Registered Environmental Health Specialist (National Environmental Health Association), or ability to obtain certification within one year of hire.

Supplemental Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply
This position is open to all qualified applicants.

Application Process
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the “Apply” link), or paper application (see note below).
• Responses to the supplemental questions.
• A current resume or curriculum vitae.
• A cover letter that summarizes your interest and qualifications for the position.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options.

If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the contact listed on the job announcement or Public Health's Human Resources Service Delivery Manager.

Work Location
Downtown Seattle, 401 5th Ave., Suite 1100, Seattle

Work Schedule
This full-time position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for overtime. The normal workweek is Monday – Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work is required.

Competitive Benefits
King County provides our employees with a free transportation pass (good on most transit systems throughout the Puget Sound region, including the Sounder). We offer a benefits package that includes competitive medical, dental and vision benefits for the whole family and domestic partner, competitive vacation, sick, holiday and executive leave plans, and participation in the State's Public Employees Retirement Plan (PERS), as well as the option of participating in the County's deferred compensation plan (a 457 plan).

Contact
If you have questions about the position, please contact Leah Helms at leah.helms@kingcounty.gov or 206-239-8738. If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Ma-Eyongerie Frambo, Human Resource Supervisor at mframbo@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-3587.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements
For field positions:

• This position requires the ability to perform work duties both indoors in an office environment and in the field in a variety physical and weather conditions that may include walking uneven terrain, working around heavy machinery, strong odors, dusts, animals, and various types of wastes.
• Exposure to individuals from the public who are upset, angry, agitated, and sometimes hostile, requiring the use of conflict management and de-escalation skills.
• This position may require strength enough to lift, push, or pull field equipment weighing between 20-40 pounds.

Supplemental Information

• The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office 365) and other web-enabled tools. Candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform essential functions of the position.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Candidates selected for positions in the following classification groups are required to pass a pre-employment physical: Health and Environmental Investigator, Health and Environmental Inspector, Plumbing Inspector.
• The selected candidate will be required to submit to a thorough background investigation. Records are not automatically disqualifying.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required trainings on time.

Union Affiliation
This position is represented by ProTec 17 labor union