Field Operations Team Lead, Food & Facilities Section

A key expectation for this position is to implement program activities and priorities outlined by the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance, the King County Strategic Plan, and the Environmental Health Division Strategic Plan.
 
Field Operations Team Leadership

• Contribute to a collaborative and empowered work team and work environment
• Effectively and efficiently lead teams and manage resources including staff, project resources, work plans and service agreements; ensure consistency with Department and Division policies.
• Conduct and facilitate staff trainings.  Coach, mentor and train current and new HEI I and II field investigators and other HEI IIIs.   
• Perform quality assurance/quality control activities.  Review inspection reports of food and water recreational facilities, provide constructive feedback to investigators and evaluate and support ongoing training needs.  
• Anticipate and participate in resolving conflicts between colleagues and other agencies/work groups. 
• Provide coordination and response for field investigations of foodborne outbreak illnesses and injuries and drownings and incidents at water recreational facilities.
• Stay up-to-date on new and cutting-edge food policies, practices and processes to enable the program to be responsive to the changing food and environmental health climate. 
• Participate in the implementation and monitoring of the food safety rating system, including training staff and conducting on-going quality assurance and control. 
• Coordinate and conduct plan reviews and field investigations of temporary and farmer's market events.
• Provide backup and support to other seniors and supervisors as needed, and other duties as assigned by program supervisors and managers. 

• Prepare new or amended Food Program and Water Recreation Program policies, procedures, and rules and regulations for consideration by program supervisors, managers and the King County Board of Health (BOH). 
• Provide culturally competent education, technical assistance, and regulatory compliance guidance to industries, facilities, the media, and the general public. In collaboration with businesses, trade associations, agencies, staff and the public, participate in the development of environmental-best management practices, regulations and initiatives. 
• Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of long and short range plans for overall program and quality assurance efforts. Assist with program development initiatives, quality assurance efforts and program evaluations such as participation in the Food and Drug Administration Voluntary Standards Program.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Within six months of hire, attain the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) credential from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or from the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians (WSBRS).  See item 7 below for additional information.  
• Demonstrated cultural competence working with diverse populations including race, ethnicity, gender, ability, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.   
• Demonstrated ability applying principles of equity and social justice in local government programs. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and create a climate in which people want to do their best and an ability to motivate and enable co-workers to grow and succeed through constructive feedback, instruction, and encouragement.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings and provide presentations to a wide range and size of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with the public, program staff and other agencies; and to participate effectively on committees and work groups to collaboratively discuss and resolve issues and develop recommendations for long term program evaluation and planning.
• Demonstrated knowledge of food safety and water recreation facility statutes, rules and regulations.  
• Demonstrated ability to research and draft program policies, procedures, correspondence and technical reports.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computer systems, Microsoft Office suite and with database or planning/design software.

• Experience working in a highly-collaborative government program or coalition. 
• Established effective working relationships with program partner agencies. 
• Bilingual in one of the most common non-English languages in King County (such as Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Hindi, Punjabi, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean).

• Within six months of hire, attain the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) credential from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or from the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians (WSBRS).  Both NEHA and WSBRS provide applications for REHS/RS credentialing by examination or via reciprocity.  
• REHS/RS credentialing information is available from NEHA at: www.neha.org/professional-development/credentials/rehsrs-credential 
• REHS/RS credentialing information is available from WSBRS at:  www.wsbrs.org  
• Valid Washington State driver's license.
• All required licenses and certifications must be maintained in active status without suspension or revocation throughout employment.  

Forbes recently 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.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.

As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:

• submit proof of vaccination, or
• have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

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

• Downtown Seattle, 401 5th Ave., Suite 1100, Seattle
• Eastgate Public Health Center, 14350 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue
• Bothell/North Creek Environmental Health (not a public location)
• Kent PH Center
• Multiple sites as noted above, with some telework. 

• 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.
• 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.

• 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.

• 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.