Careers

Description:

The Food and Facilities Section, Environmental Health Services Division, is currently seeking to fill two Career Service positions 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.
 

Job Duties

HEI I and II positions recruited from this announcement will support the following scopes of work:

• 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, regulations and 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;
• 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.

Successful candidates will have a passion for environmental public health and creating heathier 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. Successful candidates will work with a collaborative team of colleagues across the Food & Facilities Section, including supervisors, plan reviewers, field investigators, and educator specialists.  

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. 

 Required Qualifications:

• 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 the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians (WSBRS).
• 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.

All required licenses and certifications must be maintained in active status without suspension or revocation throughout employment.
 
Our ideal candidate will have the following desired qualifications: 

• 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: 
  1. Conducting plan review or inspections to ensure compliance with state or local water recreation codes 
  2. Conducting plan review or inspections of food establishments to ensure compliance with state or local food codes