The Environmental Scientist III will join the Hazardous Waste Management Research Services Team and will provides scientific resources to support the needs of the entire program.
This position has a special emphasis on safer alternatives assessment, implementing the Program’s equity and social justice vision, and hazard mitigation in workplaces and homes in King County. Core responsibilities for this position are continuing and completing work in three specific areas: 1) evaluating lead in cookware, 2) safer alternatives to degreasers in businesses, and 3) environmental health disparities mapping. The position would be responsible for designing and implementing these exposure studies, developing chemical footprints, conducting the lab studies, and understanding potential health disparities. The data gathered from this work is essential to informing our response to these emerging issues.
The team also conducts scientifically rigorous studies to identify emerging issues for future program activities and ensures that program services are grounded in scientific evidence. This position plays a key role in database development and management in addition to identifying, collecting, and applying scientific data to program services and policy initiatives.
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ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION:
Through the work of over 150 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 about EHS, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs.
ABOUT THE HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:
The Hazardous Waste Program is a coalition of local governments. Partners work in multi-agency teams, drawing on their strengths and expertise to protect public health and the environment. “At the Hazardous Waste Program, we come to work every day because we want to protect and improve public and environmental quality in King County. Together with our partners, we are working towards a shared vision: A Puget Sound region that’s the cleanest in the country, free from hazardous chemical exposure.” To learn more about the Hazardous Waste Program, please visit https://www.kingcountyhazwastewa.gov.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:
As the only jurisdiction in the world 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.
We have 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 vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts. To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
Work with the Program Manager for the Research Services Team to take major responsibility with minimal supervision for the following Haz Waste Program projects: Evaluating Lead in Cookware, The Safer Alternative Strategy, Exposure Assessment in Auto Repair Shops, and Environmental Health Disparities Mapping.
Working independently, conduct inventories of products and chemicals in residencies and workplaces, retrieve safety data sheets, enter data into hazard evaluation systems.
Design and implement exposure studies using industrial hygiene techniques.
Take the lead in developing and implementing residential and business questionnaires.
Develop safer alternatives recommendations.?
Conduct evaluations of environmental health disparities using GIS tools and other mapping techniques.
Design and conduct laboratory-based studies.
Gather, analyze, and present data, prepare reports and conduct project evaluations.
Develop and manage databases to house environmental and demographic data.
Write reports or issue papers summarizing analysis or research.
Give oral presentation of findings at conferences and other meetings.
Participate in interagency workgroups.
Develop program recommendations.
Respond to inquiries related to the program or project.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Experience in applied research in the fields of environmental science, toxicology, industrial hygiene, environmental chemistry, or closely related field.
Training and experience developing and conducting lab-based scientific studies, including developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), using scientific instruments (including XRF analyzers), and processing samples for analysis.
Knowledge of environmental and public health research methods.
Knowledge of exposure assessment techniques, including industrial hygiene methods and exposure/health surveys
Familiarity with relational databases, Microsoft Excel, and Power BI. Familiarity with analyzing complex data sets with statistical tools (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS) and using relational databases to link multiple datasets and run queries.
Familiarity with ArcGIS and other mapping technologies.
Ability to clearly express technical material for a non-technical audience orally and in writing, including presentations to groups.
Knowledge of common information technologies and savvy computer skills, including Microsoft Office 365 (including Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive)
Demonstrated skills for maintaining positive and productive working relationships, such as patience, flexibility, active listening, resolving conflicts and problem solving. Effective and collaborative participant in multi-disciplinary team meetings or coalitions.
Experience in managing projects and/or has training on project management.
Experience advising, educating, or working with residents or businesses to change their behavior, particularly with regard to helping them choose safer alternative products and processes.
Experience conducting lab-based scientific studies.
Experience conducting exposure assessment in workplaces or homes.
Experience developing databases to house environmental or demographic data.
Experience using GIS mapping tools to represent environmental health disparities.
Experience understanding how small businesses operate and an ability to communicate with business owners and workers, including diverse audiences.
Experience working with BIPOC communities to understand their environmental- and public health- needs and delivering service to those communities.
Experience providing excellent customer service, solving issues with tact and diplomacy.
Desired Qualifications
The most competitive candidates will have the following qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in toxicology, public health, environmental science, or closely-related field and/or equivalent education and experience.
Skill and experience managing projects.
Experience developing policies to prevent hazardous chemical exposure.
Experience working with traditionally underserved populations using an equity and social justice lens.
Ability to produce excellent writing products.
LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Valid Washington State driver’s license, or ability to obtain before hire. Person will need to be able take sample equipment into the field and collect samples.
Forbes recently 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.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.
As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
Exposure to individuals from the public who are upset, angry, agitated, and sometimes hostile, requiring the use of conflict management and de-escalation skills.
Ability to lift up to 20 pounds, for example to move sampling equipment, supplies or coolers containing samples. Ability to work both in and out of the office, for example in small businesses, residences or other locations where hazardous materials may be present.
This position will telecommute, but will be expected to be available to work at the program's laboratory in the Freemont neighborhood area, work at Chinook Building and/or King Street Center (Downtown Seattle) for program wide coordination, and be able to go to businesses and organizations throughout King County for sampling activities or presentation.
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.
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:
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King County
Seattle, WA