Health and Environmental Investigator I/II

Full Job Description

Summary:

The Environmental Health Services Division, Food & Facilities Section is seeking to fill one Career Service and one Term-Limited Temporary (TLT)/Special Duty Assignment (SDA) position for Health & Environmental Investigator (HEI) Level I and Level II.

Placement into HEI Level I or Level II depends upon the qualifications of successful candidates prior to the hire date (described further in the Qualifications section below).

These positions will provide education, inspection, and compliance services to a broad variety of food establishments and water recreation facilities to minimize risks of injury and disease.

The positions will enable businesses to protect public health and comply with the Codes of the King County Board of Health.

Additionally, the HEI I/II will implement program activities and priorities outlined by the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan.

Successful candidates will have a passion for environmental public health and creating healthier lives for all people in King County, possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills and be effective collaborating with community partners, agency partners, and colleagues.

The positions will work with a collaborative team of colleagues across the Food & Facilities Section, including supervisors, plan reviewers, field investigators, and educator specialists.

The Food & Facilities Section contributes to healthy, diverse communities by permitting, educating and inspecting over 1,800 water recreation facilities, 12,500 permanent food businesses, 40 farmers markets, 3,000 temporary food businesses, and issues over 50,000 food worker cards annually.

In addition, the section is responsible for permitting and inspecting 1,800 water recreational facilities, oversees the safety of fresh and marine water bathing beaches, and provides regulatory oversight of sewage releases and Harmful Algal Blooms affecting swimming beaches.

About the Environmental Health Services Division:

Through the work of 190+ dedicated employees, The Environmental Health Services Division’s mission is to identify and sustain environmental conditions that promote healthy people and healthy communities.

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.

We strive for fair and culturally competent service delivery, innovative, effective, and efficient application of resources, building a culture of performance and expanding opportunities to seek input, listen and respond to industry and residents.

To learn more, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs.

Temporary opportunity. Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions are "at-will" positions but are eligible for benefits. This TLT is currently anticipated to last one (1) year. However, funding sources for this work remain uncertain and dependent upon decisions actively being made at both the federal and local levels. As a result, the end date of this position may be adjusted based on those decisions. The County and the Department continue to work to secure long term funding sources.

This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity.

For Special Duty Assignment interest, you must be a Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation.

You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.

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

Requirements

• Provide culturally competent education, technical assistance, and regulatory compliance services to entities such as food industries, schools, water recreation facilities, the media, and the general public.
• Convey and interpret public health and environmental codes, regulations, policies, and technical regulatory information to a variety of diverse audiences.
• Conduct inspections to ensure compliance with current public health and environmental codes, regulation sand policies.
• Determine if regulatory violations have occurred, document violations, establish schedules for corrective actions, and make recommendations for additional compliance actions to senior investigators.
• Perform foodborne illness investigations and coordinate activities with senior level investigators.
• Respond to public complaints and inquiries about foodborne illness and other environmental health concerns.

Conduct culturally competent outreach to unpermitted vendors and bring them into food safety compliance, including applying for food service permit application and commissary kitchen resources.

This includes providing education, helping them navigate the permitting process, and referring unpermitted vendors to community-based organizations and following up on the status of their applications.

• Maintain and use program based computerized systems, write reports, and maintain accurate field records.
• Work with other agencies and jurisdictions to receive, screen, or share information regarding environmental health investigations as needed to coordinate multi-jurisdictional enforcement actions.
• Present environmental health program information at meetings and public forums.

• Participate in assigned Environmental Health Division meetings and trainings.
• Implement program activities and priorities outlined by the King County Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Ordinance and the King County ESJ Strategic Plan.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:

• Knowledge of environmental health, science and engineering principles.
• Knowledge of environmental programs, laws, regulations and policy processes.
• Knowledge of regulatory and technical research methods.
• Knowledge of conflict resolution techniques.
• Skill in providing quality customer services with broadly diverse populations.
• Skill in verbal and written communications; using office software and databases; and using and interpreting maps and plans.
• Ability to work effectively both as an individual and as a member of a team; make sound, reasonable, and objective determinations based on facts; handle and meet deadlines; deal with difficult people; and complete complicated and interagency projects in a timely and effective manner.
• Ability to conduct complex environmental health investigations using established regulations, codes, and practices to research, monitor, and apply federal, state and local laws, policies, and environmental protection.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating and securing correction of unsatisfactory conditions, situations and practices; investigate and report on compliance with environmental standards, laws, rules and regulations; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to interpret environmental health laws, ordinances and regulations for application to environmental health problems and to a variety of audiences.
• Skill in effectively dealing with stressful situations; ability to use de-escalation techniques and negotiate compliance.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Must have demonstrated punctuality, dependability, and good attendance in previous job experience.

Required:

• A Bachelor’s degree meeting the minimum requirements for obtaining a valid certificate as Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or as a Registered Sanitarian (RS) from a state board of Registered Sanitarians.
• Ability to communicate and provide information verbally and in writing to the public.
• Valid Washington State Driver License and ability to operate a motor vehicle or ability to obtain upon hire.

All required licenses and certifications must be maintained in active status without suspension or revocation throughout employment.

Licensing/Certification Requirements:

• Valid Washington State driver's license.
• An HEI Level II hire requires, at the time of hire, possession of a valid certificate as Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or as a Registered Sanitarian (RS) from the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians (WSBRS).
• An HEI Level I hire requires obtaining a valid REHS certificate from NEHA or an RS from WSBRS within six months of the hire date as a condition of continuing employment. The probationary period may be extended on a case-by-case basis.

Both NEHA and WSBRS provide applications for REHS/RS credentialing by examination or via reciprocity.
REHS/RS credentialing information is available from NEHA at:
Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Register Sanitarian Credential (neha.org)
REHS/RS credentialing information is available from WSBRS at: www.wsbrs.org

Desired:

• Bilingual in one of most common non-English language groups in King County (includes Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Somali, Chinese, Korean, Ukrainian, Amharic, Hindi and Punjabi).
• Knowledge of, and experience applying, the King County Food Code and the Washington State Water Recreation Facilities Code.
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills and abilities for the position.
• Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health or equivalent.
• Experience with at least one of the following:
  • Conducting plan review or inspections to ensure compliance with state or local water recreation codes
  • Conducting plan review or inspections of food establishments to ensure compliance with state or local food codes
• Experience with the Tyler Enterprise Permitting and Licensing System.
  
  

Additional 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

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

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above.

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.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• Pre-employment Physical
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.

When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description.

This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.

• 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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

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.

Work Schedule & FLSA Status: This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) that is overtime eligible. The normal workweek is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 40 hours per week, but may at times require work outside of these hours. Evening, night, and weekend work may be required. Alternate work schedules will be considered after successful completion of the probationary period.

Work Location: The work associated with these positions will be performed predominately through a hybrid work schedule of onsite and remote work, with the majority of the work performed in the field at various locations throughout King County.

Primary base office will be out of the downtown Seattle office (Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave., Suite 1100, Seattle).

The frequency of onsite work may vary based on business or operational needs and be adjusted accordingly.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

The Environmental Health Division reserves the right to place staff at worksite locations or transfer staff to new worksite locations that best support the efficient delivery of services.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to perform work duties both indoors and outdoors in office environments, including places such as food establishments, schools, water recreation facilities and other field locations in a variety physical and weather conditions that may include:

• Walking on wet and greasy floors, uneven terrain, up and down stairs and working around heavy machinery, strong odors, dusts, animals, and various types of chemical products and wastes.
• Carrying, using, and maintaining in the field portable computers, environmental sampling equipment, and educational and enforcement documents.
• Due to nature of regulatory oversight, there may at times be interaction with individuals from the public who are upset, angry, agitated, and sometimes hostile; these interactions require the use of conflict management and de-escalation skills.
• This position may require strength enough to lift, carry, push, or pull equipment and other objects such as refrigerator and freezer doors weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Performance of job duties requires driving on a regular basis and a valid Washington State Driver's license.
• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally access or travel by ferry or boat.

Union Membership These positions are represented by PROTEC17.

Contact For questions about the application process, contact Sarah Dunkinson, Sr. HR Analyst, at sdunkinson@kingcounty.gov.