Environmental Health Homelessness Response Coordinator (Health and Environmental Investigator III)
- Summary
Public Health – Seattle and King County values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.
The Environmental Health Services Division is seeking applicants for a rewarding and challenging position as Environmental Health Homelessness Response Coordinator (Health and Environmental Investigator III). The ideal candidate will have a passion for improving the lives and living conditions of people living homeless. This position will be responsible for developing and implementing Public Health's Environmental Health Homelessness Response Program in collaboration with internal and external partners. The program provides technical support and guidance to ensure shelters and encampment sites are designed and operated to promote hygiene, sanitation, vector and rodent control and food safety.
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION:
Through the work of over 150 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 about EHS, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/environmental-health.aspx.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:
As the only jurisdiction in the world 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.
We have 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 vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx.
This position is being reposted. If you've submitted your application between March 6, 2019 and March 15, 2019 your are not required to reapply.This posting is open continuous until the position is filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by May 28, 2019.
WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified applicants.
This recruitment is for one Career Service position and other temporary positions (Short-Term Temporary, Term Limited /Temporary or Special Duty Assignment) as needed.
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) 263-8450. If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Nic Horea, Human Resource Analyst at nicolae.horea@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-8736.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
The following items are required to be considered for this position:
1. Completed application. (Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options.)
2. Responses to supplemental questions.
3. A current resume.
4. 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.- Job Duties
KEY EXPECTATIONS AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Program Management and Interagency Coordination
- 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.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with program stakeholders, and participate in regular interagency coordination meetings.
- Develop and prepare oral and written reports on homelessness activities to a variety of audiences including community members, agency leadership, and elected officials.
- Develop, manage, and monitor budgets, scope, and schedule for assigned projects; plan and coordinate multiple work plan objectives.
- Develop and implement a performance management and evaluation strategy.
- Adaptively manage the program to meet changing needs of the homeless community being served, and based on leadership direction.
Sanctioned Encampment Management
- Develop and maintain evidence-based policies and standards for safe and sanitary operation of shelter and encampment sites, and facilitate adoption of those policies and standards with service providers.
- Review proposals and plans for new sanctioned encampment sites and provide recommendations and technical assistance to mitigate environmental health risks.
- Conduct pre-occupancy site visits to ensure sites are safe for occupancy.
- Conduct routine site visits of sanctioned and unsanctioned homeless sites and provide recommendations to ensure observed environmental health issues are properly addressed.
- Provide environmental health technical assistance and training to agency staff and homeless service providers.
Complaint Response and Investigation
- Triage and ensure response on all homeless encampment inquiries regarding environmental public health issues.
- Coordinate with partner agency staff and service providers to ensure public complaints on homelessness site operations are responded to in a timely manner.
- Apply best practices in cooperative compliance when managing difficult compliance issues.
Outreach and Education
- 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, rodent and vector prevention, sharps handling and disposal, and waste management.
- Develop and maintain educational materials and signage.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- A Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health, environmental science, or a closely-related field.
- A minimum of three years' experience in public and/or environmental health, and a strong working knowledge of principles and practices in environmental public health.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, provide mentoring and coaching, facilitate meetings and provide presentations to a wide range and size of audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to research and draft program policies, procedures, correspondence and technical reports.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and in a culturally competent approach with staff and customers from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
- 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.
- Attention to detail and ability to track and organize multiple elements of a time sensitive project with competing priorities and deadlines.
- Skill managing projects on politically sensitive topics.
- Skill in synthesizing a variety of information and in assessing organizational and political impacts.
- Ability to resolve conflict using a combination of diplomacy and tact.
- Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prior work experience serving homeless or other vulnerable populations.
- Fluent in one or more non-English language most commonly spoken in King County (Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Amharic, Arabic, and/or Ukrainian).
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 six months of hire.
- This position may require the incumbent to obtain a public operator license with the public health endorsement through WSDA for pest control applications.
For your convenience below if information from NEHA that allow you to take the exam online at any time. Exam Scheduling and Location: Candidates can choose to schedule REHS/RS examination in several different ways.
1. The REHS/RS exam is offered annually at the NEHA Annual Education Conference (AEC) & Exhibition.
2. State Affiliate and Regional Meeting periodically offer the REHS/RS exam at their meeting/conferences. An up to date listing of these meeting/conference offerings can be found at the NEHA website:
http://www.neha.org/pdf/cred/State_Affiliate_and%20_Regional_Meeting_Test_Dates.pdf
3. Candidates can choose to take the exam on computer through Pearson VUE. By choosing this option candidates can schedule the examination at their convenience at one of Pearson VUE's testing locations nationwide. To find a Pearson VUE testing center near you please visit: http://pearsonvue.com/neha. Taking the exam at Pearson VUE not only offers the candidate flexibility in scheduling the exam, but also allows the candidate to receive his/her unofficial scores immediately following the conclusion of the exam.
(All required licenses and certifications must be maintained in active status without suspension or revocation throughout employment).
WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- This position requires the ability to use appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) such as wearing protective clothing or apparatus for working in environments which may include exposure to toxic or hazardous gasses, chemicals, or bio-substances.
- 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.
- This position may require the incumbent to occasionally access or travel to a project work site by an ocean vessel (Vashon Island and other King County regulated areas).
- 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 web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
- Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
- Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.
- The selected candidate is required to be subject to a pre-employment physical and background investigation.
- 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 their mandatory trainings on time.
UNION AFFILIATION:
This position is represented by Professional and Technical Employees, Local 17.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Are you:
- Currently certified as a Registered Sanitarian (RS) by the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians, OR
- Currently certified as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) by the National Environmental Health Association, OR
- None of the above
02If you answered "none of the above" for question # 1, can you provide proof that you have confirmed with WSBRS or NEHA that you possess the necessary qualifications to be administered the RS exam and are you able to obtain one of the certification listed above within six (6) months of hire? If you answered that you possess one of the certifcations listed above, check N/A- Yes
- No
- N/A
03Do you have experience managing projects, providing customer service, and supporting stakeholders on topics that require a high level of political sensitivity?- Yes
- No
04If you answered yes to question #3 please describe your experience and include an example(s). If you answered no, type N/A.05Do you have experience working with homeless or vulnerable populations in regards to code compliance, routine inspections, investigation and education around environmental health issues (e.g. rodent prevention, food safety education, sanitation, hygiene, living environment evaluation, or emergency sheltering).- Yes
- No
06If you answered "yes" to question #5, please describe you experience and provide an example. If you answered "no", type N/A.07Effective collaboration and strong conflict management skills are essential to this position. Describe a challenging experience or conflict you had on a team or workplace. What was your role and how did you work it out? If you have not had this experience, please type n/a.Required Question