Health and Environmental Investigator III - Water Recreational Program

King County, WA; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Telecommuting options

Transit benefit (ORCA)

Job summary

King County is seeking a Health & Environmental Investigator III for the Water Recreational Program. The role focuses on managing sewage release risks and supporting beach and shellfish monitoring, with collaboration across utilities, cities, and state agencies.

Plan reviews of water recreation facilities and technical support to staff and the public are core duties. The position requires REHS/RS certification within six months, experience in environmental health and data-driven decision-making,

Qualifications

• Within six months of hire, REHS/RS from NEHA or WA WSBRS.
• Experience conducting comprehensive plan reviews for water recreation facilities.
• Demonstrated cultural competence with diverse populations.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting data to guide public health decisions.
• Ability to apply equity and social justice in local government programs.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and present to varied audiences.
• Ability to work effectively with the public, program staff and other agencies.
• Knowledge of environmental health principles and related regulations.
• Ability to research and draft program policies, procedures, and technical reports.
• Proficiency with computer systems, Microsoft Office suite and database or planning/design software.

Responsibilities

• Conduct plan reviews of remodeled and newly constructed water recreation facilities.
• Issue Water Recreation Facility Construction Permits for approved plans.
• Maintain and evaluate EH portal submittals and perform pre-operational inspections.
• Manage sewage release/overflow notifications and assess contamination risk to the public.
• Coordinate with utilities, management, communications, and state Ecology BEACH Program.
• Analyze/beach water monitoring results and coordinate with labs and agencies.

Education

REHS/RS Certification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Summary

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.

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. One factor that could affect the end date of the position is an unanticipated change in funding.

This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity. Special Duty Assignments are open to 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.

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

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 each sewage release/overflow event.

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.

Required

• Within (6) 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).


• Demonstrated experience conducting comprehensive plan reviews for food or water recreation facilities, ensuring compliance with food or water recreation code


• Demonstrated cultural competence working with diverse populations including race, ethnicity, gender, ability, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.


• Demonstrated experience analyzing and interpreting data to guide public health decision-making


• Demonstrated ability applying principles of equity and social justice in local government programs.


• 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 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 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 OR ability to obtain upon hire.


• 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).
  

Desired

• Experience completing pre-operational inspections for food establishments or 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)

Supplemental Information

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.

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.

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.

Working Conditions And Physical Requirements

• 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.

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents


• 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: eligible King County employees may 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


• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays


• Generous vacation and paid sick leave


• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves


• Flexible Spending Account


• Wellness programs


• Onsite activity centers


• Employee Giving Program


• Employee assistance programs


• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position


• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

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.

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.