Careers

Description:

The National Park Service (NPS) is recruiting a Commissioned Corps officer to fill the position of Public Health Consultant (PHC) with a duty station in Seattle, WA. Applicants in the Health Services Officer, Environmental Health, and Engineer categories with wastewater, drinking water, and food safety background will be considered.
The PHC, under the general direction of the Team Lead, Field Services Branch, within the Office of Health and Safety (OHS), serves as a public health expert and advisor to the Chief, OHS, as well as Regional Directors, supervisors, field staff and private citizens. The position is responsible for providing public health services to a geographic cluster of parks (Interior Regions 9, 10, & 11) in support of the mission of the OHS and the NPS. The PHC evaluates public health and operational issues related to potable water treatment and supply, treatment and disposal of wastewater, food safety, and backcountry operations; consults on zoonotic and vector-borne disease issues such as rabies, Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and avian influenza; and provides support for other public health activities, including recreational water quality, special events, training, outbreak investigations, plan review, and emergency/disaster response.
MAJOR DUTIES:
• Provides data and advice to the Chief, OHS and key NPS personnel on activities that affect public and environmental health activities, policy, programs, projects, and initiatives.
• Provides technical assistance in the areas of drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment and disposal food sanitation, vector-born disease prevention, disease outbreak investigation/response and any other public health issues affecting parks within the assigned geographic area.
• Interprets and implements policies, standards, programs, and procedures in the assigned areas of responsibility, and is responsible for their effective and timely communication and oversight of their implementation throughout the Service.
• Conducts on- and off-site program reviews and assistance trips to park units to evaluate compliance with policies, objectives, and standards, to monitor overall effectiveness of public
health operations, and to provide technical assistance in the solution of specific problems.
• Communicates data driven results and summarizes primary scientific literature for the purpose of developing sound and practical public health advice and interventions.
• Conducts Public Health Assessments (PHAs) (inspects drinking water, wastewater, and recreational water systems), Food Safety Evaluations, and other public health response activities at the parks within the area of responsibility.
• Provides written reports in an online database on all observations and recommendations and collaborates with senior park and regional management to communicate and follow up on recommendations.

Skills/Eligibility:

RATED QUALIFICATION FACTORS:
• Experience in engineering techniques related to wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems and drinking water systems.
• Knowledge, skill, and experience in conducting sanitary surveys of public and non-public drinking water supplies.
• Knowledge, skill, and experience in conducting sanitary surveys of wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal systems.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of general environmental and public health management.
• Knowledge of the concepts of food safety and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
• Knowledge in the concepts of disease surveillance, reporting and outbreak response.
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
• Ability to schedule travel, manage a government credit card, along with all other NPS position duties.

How to Apply:

HOW TO APPLY:
This position closes on March 13, 2025. If interested, please send a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience, education, and interest) and CV in one pdf file to hhs_liaison@nps.gov.

POSITION INFORMATION: 
CDR Bill Fournier
Phone: 202-538-9970 
Email: bill_fournier@nps.gov