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Do you feel passionate about protecting communities from hazardous chemicals? If so, this may be the position for you! We seek a skilled, energetic, and dedicated environmental scientist with an expertise in toxicology for the Environmental Health Services Division (EHS) of Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC). This individual will support the senior public health toxicologist and work to provide public health support and expertise to partner programs in the Department of Natural Resources and Park's (DNRP) Wastewater Treatment and Solid Waste Divisions.
The successful candidate will help to assess risks and impacts of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in areas where DNRP has responsibility. These areas include stormwater, groundwater, landfill leachate and emissions, food and yard waste compost, and the products of wastewater treatment (effluent, recycled water, biosolids). This is an area of great impact to community public health, and significant interest by policymakers. The successful candidate will also have a passion for environmental public health and creating heathier lives for all people in King County, enjoy mentoring people and developing collaborative external and internal teams, possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and be effective at developing productive relationships with agency partners and regulated entities.
The position will enhance collaboration between the two agencies on issues related to CECs through objective assessment and creative problem-solving, including developing a shared understanding of department and enterprise level interests and working collaboratively to resolve differences smoothly and efficiently.
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 Seattle and 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 https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs.
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
Work Schedule This full-time position works Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 40 hours per week, with flexibility to negotiate upon hire. This position is Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Work Location The on-site base for this position will be the Chinook Building located at 401 5th Ave, Ste. 1100, Seattle, WA 98104.
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.
The most competitive applicants will have the following experience and qualifications (Desired):
Who May Apply: This Career Service role 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:
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
Do you feel passionate about protecting communities from hazardous chemicals? If so, this may be the position for you! We seek a skilled, energetic, and dedicated environmental scientist with an expertise in toxicology for the Environmental Health Services Division (EHS) of Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC). This individual will support the senior public health toxicologist and work to provide public health support and expertise to partner programs in the Department of Natural Resources and Park's (DNRP) Wastewater Treatment and Solid Waste Divisions.
The successful candidate will help to assess risks and impacts of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in areas where DNRP has responsibility. These areas include stormwater, groundwater, landfill leachate and emissions, food and yard waste compost, and the products of wastewater treatment (effluent, recycled water, biosolids). This is an area of great impact to community public health, and significant interest by policymakers. The successful candidate will also have a passion for environmental public health and creating heathier lives for all people in King County, enjoy mentoring people and developing collaborative external and internal teams, possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and be effective at developing productive relationships with agency partners and regulated entities.
The position will enhance collaboration between the two agencies on issues related to CECs through objective assessment and creative problem-solving, including developing a shared understanding of department and enterprise level interests and working collaboratively to resolve differences smoothly and efficiently.
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 Seattle and 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 https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs.
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
Work Schedule This full-time position works Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 40 hours per week, with flexibility to negotiate upon hire. This position is Exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Work Location The on-site base for this position will be the Chinook Building located at 401 5th Ave, Ste. 1100, Seattle, WA 98104.
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.
- Provide expertise and public health guidance in support of King County's work to understand and minimize environmental and public health impacts of toxics, particularly chemicals of emerging concern (CECs).
- Conduct human health assessments as needed for activities related to site assessment, cleanup, wastewater treatment, and solid waste management (e.g., landfills and leachate), rulemaking, legislative bill review, and CEC monitoring projects.
- Incorporate a public health toxicology perspective in design of future PFAS monitoring projects designed in collaboration with King County departments and other stakeholders.
- Monitor emerging science on human health exposures and risks of CECs, analytical methods of detection, and technologies for elimination in different media (e.g., wastewater, leachate, or biosolids).
- Become knowledgeable in new areas of focus as required (e.g., wastewater treatment, biosolid applications, solid waste, and compost).
- Provide expertise on local, state, and national chemical regulations relevant to CECs.
- Monitor policy efforts in other jurisdictions, states, or nations to address contaminant issues and consider efforts and relevant outcomes for King County facilities staff.
- Assist King County teams with policy analysis and development, and provide expert testimony in local, state, and other policy forums.
- Represent EHS on various intergovernmental planning groups, cross-division teams, and in discussion forums with elected officials and/or community members.
- Provide assessment of the health risks of a situation and the technical challenges and needs of agency programs and assist with innovative and collaborative problem solving.
- Assist with verbal and written responses to highly complex and/or politically sensitive inquiries on topics that require both scientific knowledge and an understanding of relevant policy.
- Translating complex scientific concepts to the public through various means of communication.
- Foster awareness and practice of the principles of equity and social justice in alignment with the King County Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan (link: https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/elected/executive/equity-social-justice/strategic-plan.aspx).
- Education and/or training equivalent to a master's degree in toxicology, exposure science, biology, environmental science, or closely related field.
- Minimum two (2) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to lead and conduct chemical assessments that evaluate risks to human health, incorporating recommendations for best approaches to reduce risks/exposures.
- Ability to perform and contribute to basic qualitative and quantitative analyses and evaluation.
- Awareness of how chemical exposures disproportionately impact environmental justice communities.
- Strong oral and written communication, especially in communicating scientific concepts effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders.
The most competitive applicants will have the following experience and qualifications (Desired):
- 5+ years of experience working in the field of toxicology, exposure science, biology, or other relevant fields and/or a PhD in a relevant field.
- Direct experience working on issues related to chemical exposures to contaminants of emerging concern and health outcomes, and familiarity with identifying trends, cumulative impacts, and confounders.
- Experience working within the boundaries of regulations that define programmatic work (e.g., solid waste regulations), yet identifying innovative ways to improve program activities through development of new policies and other strategies.
- Experience providing technical assistance to multiple stakeholders and/or the public through advanced consulting skills and skill in working effectively with customers.
- Experience building academic or other partnerships.
- Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military), or life experience that are relevant for this position. Describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.
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 "True North", 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 Career Service role 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 current resume or curriculum vitae.
- A cover letter that summarizes your interest and qualifications for the position.
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.
- This position may require occasional site visits and may require on rare occasion performing work duties in the field; sometimes in industrial settings with specific safety protocols to be followed, in a variety of physical and weather conditions that may include walking on uneven terrain, and working around heavy machinery, strong odors, dusts, animals, and various types of wastes.
- This position may require the incumbent to occasionally access or travel by ferry or boat.
- The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, and Pre-Employment Physical, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
- For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
- 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 guidel...
