Health and Environmental Investigator III

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

King County is seeking a skilled Health & Environmental Investigator III for the Water Recreational Program. The role focuses on managing sewage release events, assessing risks to recreational waters and shellfish areas, and supporting beach monitoring programs.

Collaboration with utilities, state agencies, and public health is essential. The position includes plan reviews of water recreation facilities, technical assistance, and responding to complaints and investigations.

Qualifications

• REHS/RS credentialing by NEHA or WSBRs within six months of hire.
• Demonstrated ability to research and draft program policies, procedures, and technical reports.
• Ability to respond to and manage sewage releases and overflow events with data-driven decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and database or planning/design software.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and provide presentations to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and equity in public health programs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct plan reviews of remodeled and newly constructed water recreation facilities for compliance.
• Issue Water Recreation Facility Construction Permits for approved plans.
• Manage sewage release/overflow notifications and assess contamination risk to the public.
• Coordinate with utilities, agencies, and BEACH program partners; track data and records of events.
• Analyze laboratory results from beach monitoring and coordinate signage postings with partners.
• Provide training and technical support to staff; update program documentation and forms.

Skills

REHS/RS eligibility

Data analysis

Public health principles

Policy drafting

Meetings & presentations

Diversity & equity

Office software / database skills

Tools

Tyler EPL

Bluebeam

Job description

The Food and Facilities Program is seeking a skilled, enthusiastic, and dedicated Health & Environmental Investigator III (HEI) for our Water Recreational Program. A key responsibility of this position is to manage and assess risks of sewage release events impacting recreational bodies of water and shellfish harvest areas. Additional responsibilities include supporting fresh and marine water swimming beach and shellfish monitoring programs. The HEI will work closely with multiple local utilities, cities, the Washington State Department of Health, Department of Ecology, and other agencies. Internally, this position will work with the Food and Facilities Assistant Division Director/supervisors and King County Communications. The HEI will also conduct plan reviews of remodeled and newly constructed water recreation facilities; provide water recreation facility technical assistance to program staff, other agencies, and the public; assist with responding to water recreation related complaints, service requests, and investigations; and provide technical support to other staff and to the public.

Background

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

Note: This recruitment will be used to create an eligibility pool to fill additional Career Service, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies that may occur over the next six 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

Work Schedule

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) that is overtime eligible. The normal work week 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.

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

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Conduct plan reviews of remodeled and newly constructed water recreation facilities

• Conduct comprehensive plan reviews for water recreation facilities ensuring compliance with WAC 246-260, WAC 246-262, and KCBH Code.
• Issue Water Recreation Facility Construction Permits for approved water recreation plans.
• Maintain and evaluate EH portal service website drain cover replacement submittals.
• Complete pre-operational inspections for water recreation facilities.

Respond and manage sewage releases and overflow events

• Manage sewage release/overflow notifications and assess contamination risk to the public.
• Review and provide follow-up for incoming Ecology Reporting and Tracking System (ERTS) reports.
• Coordinate and work with local utilities, management, communications team, county officials and the Washington State Department of Ecology BEACH Program.
• Track data and manage records of sewage releases/overflow events.

Respond and manage the marine and freshwater beach monitoring and shellfish sampling programs

• Analyze laboratory sample test results received for bacterial and toxic algal blooms.
• Coordinate with King County Water and Land Resource Division, Washington State Department of Ecology BEACH Program, and local parks on signage postings at beaches.
• Handle and manage all complaints regarding beach closures and warnings.
• Coordinate with King County lab on sampling schedules and resamples.
• Perform risk assessments for appropriate signage postings.
• Work and coordinate with Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Program and local parks on signage postings in recreational shellfish harvesting areas based on lab results.

Other duties

• Provide training and technical support to staff.
• Update protocols, information, and forms on Water Recreational Program website.
• Participate in program activities and investigations with the Washington State Department of Health’s Water Recreation Program and with Public Health - Seattle & King County Prevention Division's Communicable Disease Investigators.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

• Within six months of hire, Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or from the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians (WSBRS). See below for additional information.
• Demonstrated experience conducting routine inspections and comprehensive plan reviews for water recreation facilities ensuring compliance with water recreation code.
• Demonstrated knowledge of environmental health principles and federal, state, or local environmental health regulations, codes and/or policies.
• Demonstrated ability to research and draft program policies, procedures, correspondence, and technical reports.
• Demonstrated ability to respond to and manage sewage releases and overflow events, by analyzing and interpreting data go guide decision-making, and making recommendations to agency partners.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct marine and freshwater beach monitoring and shellfish sampling programs, for example by: analyzing laboratory sample test results, coordinating with other agencies on signage at beaches, handling complaints, coordinating sampling schedules and resamples, and/or performing risk assessments to determine public health recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to apply principles of equity and social justice in local government programs. Demonstrated cultural competence working with diverse populations including race, ethnicity, gender, ability, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.

• 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 proficiency with computer systems, Microsoft Office suite and with database or planning/design software.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with staff in different levels of government agencies and people in different fields of discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate through uncertainties, to be comfortable when there are no clear answers, and to make sound decisions by collecting and analyzing data, understanding the legal framework and the interests of all involved parties, and working closely with the leadership.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington State driver's license. Within six months of hire, Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) 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: Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Register Sanitarian Credential (neha.org) REHS/RS credentialing information is available from WSBRS at: www.wsbrs.org

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

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience conducting inspections and completing pre-operational inspections of water recreation facilities
• Experience responding to and managing sewage releases and overflow events
• Experience with marine and freshwater beach monitoring and shellfish sampling programs
• Demonstrated experience issuing food or water recreation construction permits for approved plans
• 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).
• Experience working with permitting and licensing software (e.g., Tyler EPL and Bluebeam)

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

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.

Who May Apply

All eligible applicants.

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)

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 and Pre-Employment Physical, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• 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 CLA language and 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.

Union Membership

PROTEC17-DPH