Epidemiologist Ii

Salary: $46.49 - $58.93 Hourly
Location : Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2023CF20504
Department: DPH - Public Health
Division: Environmental Health Svcs
Opening Date: 11/30/2023
Closing Date: 1/5/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: D1 : WSCCCE L21HD-DPH
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Summary
We are seeking a skilled environmental health epidemiologist to support Public Health - Seattle & King County's work to reduce exposure to toxics and mitigate health impacts from climate change. The Environmental Health Epidemiologist will work with the Environmental Health Services Division's Senior Toxicologist and the Department's Climate and Health Equity Initiative Manager to better understand and reduce human and environmental exposures to toxic chemicals, environmental toxins, and climate hazards. The Environmental Health Epidemiologist will apply quantitative and qualitative scientific research methods to characterize health effects of environmental exposures, and work with colleagues and communication staff to share findings for a wide range of audiences, including the public.
The candidate must be highly skilled at problem solving, with expertise in epidemiology and a strong understanding of toxicology. Familiarity and commitment to address environmental inequities in communities exposed to cumulative stressors is required through an equity and social justice lens. The successful candidate will be able to work independently on assigned tasks as well as with team members and other partners.
Background
Through the work of over 160 dedicated employees, the Environmental Health Services Division identifies and sustains environmental conditions that promote health equity and healthy people and communities in King County. 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.
To learn more, please visit
Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional career service, term limited temporary (TLT), short-term temporary (STT), or special duty assignment (SDA) vacancies over the next 6 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
Work Schedule
This position is non-exempt and subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Work Location
The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment working in the office and at home. This position is based out of the Chinook Building, located at 401 5th Ave in Seattle and will work onsite 1-2 times per week.
Some of the work associated with this position will be performed through teleworking, and will report to office location and to meetings as needed. Travel to other work locations may be necessary. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. To support employees during this time King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team.
Job Duties
As the Environmental Health Epidemiologist, you will play a vital role to:

• Lead epidemiological analyses, including the identification of trends in health outcomes, risk profiles and factors of specific communities, and program impacts on health risk behaviors.
• Apply scientifically rigorous quantitative scientific methods to identify, evaluate, and characterize the magnitude, severity, and distribution of health effects.
• Identify environmental health-related data sources that can be analyzed with Department health assessment data.
• Design research and feasibility studies to anticipate future epidemiological needs of the community relevant to exposures to toxics and climate hazards.
• Interpret data analyses and communicate findings to a wide variety of audiences (e.g., scientific publications, reports, lectures, seminars, press releases, social media, planning documents, and for community meetings).
• Participate in responses to environmental health emergencies such as wildfires, extreme heat, flooding events, and acute toxic exposures by designing and using quick-response disaster epidemiology studies.
• Advise on data quality and data management and recommend/develop new and/or implement changes to surveillance systems and other data systems.
• Collaborate within the Department and with external partners (e.g., state health department, academia, community) on relevant studies, data systems, and data collection.
• Foster awareness and practice of the principles of equity and social justice in alignment with the

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum):

• Education and/or training equivalent to a master's degree in toxicology, epidemiology, exposure science, biostatistics, public health, environmental science, or closely related field.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to lead and apply epidemiological or other data management principles to environmental health conditions.
• Ability to perform and contribute to basic qualitative analyses and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in environmental epidemiology (or similar field such as exposure science), or toxicology and with knowledge of common pollutants and contaminants.

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired):

• Experience in the design and use of advanced qualitative analyses, mixed-methods research, and qualitative software packages.
• Strong oral and written communication, especially in communicating scientific concepts effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Experience working on issues related to chemical exposures and health outcomes, and familiarity with identifying trends, cumulative impacts, and confounders.
• Experience working on issues related to climate mitigation, adaptation, and disaster response.
• Experience providing technical assistance to multiple stakeholders and/or the public.
• Experience building academic or other partnerships.

Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.
Supplemental Information
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. 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.
Guided by our , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. 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.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
Who May Apply
This position is open to all qualified applicants.
Application Process
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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)
• A Cover Letter that summarizes your interest and qualifications for this position.
• A current resume or curriculum vitae (CV)

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
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, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to For tips on interviewing, please visit
• 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, 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.
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.
• A valid WA State Driver License or the ability to travel to and from pre-planned meetings throughout King County in areas that may not be well-served by public transportation.

Union Membership
This position is represented by WSCCCE Local 21.
Contact
For questions about the application process, contact Catherine Fitzpatrick, Sr. HR Analyst at
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Medical, dental, a...