Environmental Health Program Manager

Salary: $6,316.00 - $8,421.00 Monthly
Location : Thurston County, WA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time Employee
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 40R01740
Department: Public Health & Social Services
Division:Environmental Health
Opening Date: 12/18/2023
Closing Date: 1/7/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: N/A
Summary of Duties
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Environmental Health Program Managerfor the Food and Environmental Services Section (FESS) in our Environmental Health Division.
As Thurston County's local health jurisdiction and human services department, PHSS is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.
In the role of Environmental Health Program Manager, you oversee the staff and activities of the Food and Environmental Services Section, Lakes Management Program, and the Thurston County Water Laboratory. These programs are responsible for Environmental Health initiatives that focus on educating the public; inspecting food service facilities; housing hygiene and property maintenance; swimming beach monitoring; recreational shellfish marine biotoxin monitoring; bacterial analyses of drinking water, swimming pools, and spas; and vector control to ensure compliance with state and local sanitary codes. This position may also lead or assist with administrative duties associated with County lake-management districts. You will assist in strategic planning for the Environmental Health Division, and ensure enforcement of county, state, and federal health laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations.
You report to the Environmental Health Division Director and are an important member of the PHSS leadership team.
Some of the essential job functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, coordinate, and direct Environmental Health services to include developing action plans to achieve goals and objectives and evaluating outcomes.
• Offer technical support and education to the public concerning food, pool, and school safety, and zoonotic disease prevention.
• Interpret laws and policies, assist with program development, draft policies, and make recommendations for consideration by department management and the Thurston County Board of Health.
• Provide guidance to supervisors in handling difficult and controversial matters and mediate differences between staff and citizens, contractors, builders, and local businesses.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the public (including property owners, businesses, developers, contractors, real estate agents, and engineering professionals), the media, and other agencies and jurisdictions.
• Make presentations regarding Environmental Health activities at public meetings.
• Perform program administrative functions including budget preparation, expenditure oversight, personnel management, and grant administration.
• Supervise staff to include providing regular feedback, performance evaluations, and adherence to all applicable policies and procedures of the department and county.
• Ensure staff is trained and certifications are current.
• Perform other work as required or assigned including but not limited to a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations.
• Participate in the rotation of the Department's Duty Officer.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of Environmental Health science, biology, and epidemiology.
• Knowledge of retail food-handling equipment and procedures, swimming pool equipment, and water chemistry.
• Knowledge of the US FDA Food Code and related state or local sanitation regulations
• Ability to interpret and enforce complex regulations.
• Ability to exercise skill and judgment in dealing tactfully with the public while educating and maintaining good public relations.
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• Strong critical thinking skills focused on identifying organizational challenges and opportunities, along with the ability to implement appropriate solutions.
• Ability to effectively and proactively manage, supervise, and oversee the performance of professional staff.
• Highly effective communication and customer service skills.

What we offer our employees:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensuring that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual's lifestyle.
• Plan for Your Future: As a member of our team, you enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit our 2023 Thurston County Employee Benefit Planswebsite for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn a minimum of 12 paid vacation days per year in addition to 11 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County-paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Options some employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• See under Benefitslater in this job description for detailed information about the many other benefits the County offers.

Why you'll love it here:Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington's South Puget Sound Region. Perched between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capital city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmers markets, kids' activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.
Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health, bacteriology, zoology engineering, or a related natural or physical science. Additional experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience related to public program and policy development. Demonstrated competence in the principles and practices of public policy development and administration. Also must be able to demonstrate competency in supervising personnel involved in program implementation and in establishing and controlling budgets.
• Current Washington State Driver's License or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.
• Ability to efficiently use a personal computer and applicable software to successfully perform the essential job functions of the position.
• Must be recognized by the Washington State Sanitarian Registration Board as a Registered Sanitarian within eighteen (18) months of the date of hire

Desired Skills
Respect and Organizational Culture:

• Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
• Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
• Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment

Communication:

• Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
• Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
• Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
• Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors

Leadership:

• Supervise, motivate, and develop employees and team to become more productive and effective in achieving desired goals and career growth while encouraging employee critical reflection; able to give direction without conflict
• Show fairness and impartiality in interactions; is interested in employee welfare, elicits staff input where feasible; respond to staff suggestions and complaints in a sincere, sensitive, and timely manner

Goal Setting and Accomplishment:

• Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
• Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
• Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
• Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
• Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change

Other Position Related Information
Questions about this recruitment?
The contact person for this recruitment is: Vickie Larkin: vickie.larkin@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2505
This position is:

• NOT represented by a union
• NOT eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Eligible for benefits
• Contingent on the ability to pass a criminal background check
• Grant funded

Items required for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Cover letter

PLEASE NOTE: The candidate selected for this position is required to show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:

• Proof of immunizations of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
• Proof of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)

Thurston County provides a comprehensive benefits package to all regular employees. The following is a brief summary of available benefits offered to county employees. Benefits are subject to change and may differ according to collective bargaining agreements. Plan documents and eligibility requirements are provided upon hire. This information is subject to change at anytime.
Health Care Benefits:
Thurston County provides medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage for all regular full-time employees enrolled in the County's standard plans. For regular part-time employees, who work less than 75% of an FTE, the county pays a pro-rated portion of the cost for medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
Medical
Thurston County provides medical benefits through the Washington State's Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB). Plan availability is based on county of residence. Each year the County determines the standard and non-standard plans. For standard plans, the County pays the full employee premium.
Dental
Dental plans are provided through the Washington Counties Insurance Fund (WCIF). Employees have the opportunity to choose between two plans, Delta Dental, a preferred provider plan or Willamette Dental, an HMO plan.
Vision
Thurston County employees have Vision Service Plan coverage through the Washington Counties Insurance Fund (WCIF). Employees also have additional vision coverage through their medical plan.
Life Insurance
The County provides each regular, full-time employee with a basic, term life plan of $36,000 life insurance and $36,000 accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage. Additional voluntary, supplemental life insurance and AD&D insurance is available as a payroll deduction.
Dependent Coverage
Eligible dependents may be added to all coverage listed above. Depending upon the bargaining unit, the County pays up to a specific maximum amount toward dependent coverage with the employee paying any amount above the County maximum contribution.
Pension Plans:
Retirement
Eligible Thurston County employees participate in the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems' pension plans (PERS, PSERS, or LEOFF). With the exception of PERS plan 3, all of these plans are "defined benefit" plans with retirement benefits based on your average compensation and earned service credits. PERS Plan 3 is a hybrid plan incorporating both "defined benefit" and "defined contribution" elements. These plans are funded by both employer and employee contributions.
Deferred Compensation
The County offers three voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan. Deferred compensation plans are 457 plans as defined by IRS regulations.
Holiday and Leave Programs:
Paid Leave
Thurston County offers two leave plans, Alternative leave and Traditional leave. In the Alternative Leave program, leave is accrued per pay period and may be used for vacation and/or sick leave purposes. Employees in the Traditional Leave program accrue both sick leave and annual leave each pay period.
Thurston County Observed Holidays
Eleven paid are observed by Thurston C...