The Environmental Health Services Division is seeking diverse applicants who are representative of our King County population, to fill position(s) for Short Term Temporary (STT) Plumbing Inspector. The role of the STT Plumbing Inspector is to protect public health and the environment from the hazards of improper plumbing and gas piping installations. This position also works to improve the delivery of county programs in accordance with King County’s Equity and Social Justice Ordinance through service excellence, financial stewardship, public engagement, and maintaining a quality workforce.

Environmental Health Services Division’s mission is to identify and sustain environmental conditions that promote healthy people and healthy communities. The section strives for and values fair and culturally competent service delivery, innovative, effective, and efficient application of resources, building a culture of performance, and expanding opportunities to seek input, listen and respond to industry and residents.  

These job duties are mandated under state and local regulations governing construction-related inspection of plumbing and gas piping installations. Failure to perform tasks essential to the position could result in the impairment of human health and safety, or degradation of the environment through contamination of drinking water, improper sanitary waste handling, or improper fuel gas distribution.
Short Term Temporary positions are "at-will" positions and are not eligible for benefits. This STT is to intermittently fill Plumbing Inspector duties. This position may not exceed 900 hours of employment within a twelve-month period on a rolling calendar basis. STT Plumbing Inspector(s) would be notified of the availability of inspection work needs on an intermittent basis, as work is available dependent on the business needs of the program. The STT Inspector would determine if they have availability to work part or all the available work time when the requests arise.
 
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/depts/health/environmental-health.aspx.

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/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx.

KEY EXPECTATIONS:

While this is primarily a technical position, a successful candidate has strong interpersonal, communication, and cultural competence skills and demonstrates creative and analytical skills to support customers to achieve compliance with public health and construction regulations to protect the community.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Inspect installations of residential and commercial plumbing (including backflow devices and assemblies), medical gas, and natural or LP gas piping (including flue vents and combustion air) for compliance with various codes and ordinances. 
• Explain and educate permit holders on plumbing and gas piping code requirements when there is non-compliance.
• Prepare and maintain written and electronic records of inspections, corrections, and approvals. 
• Consult with superintendents, contractors, engineers, architects, installers, and the public to solve installation problems.
• Interpret applicable codes, laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations pertaining to plumbing and gas piping installations with a perspective on public health and safety.
• Review plans, diagrams, and associated construction documents. Perform analysis of plumbing and gas piping design, and review/evaluate proposed methods of installation.
• Report public complaints regarding unsanitary, illegal, or hazardous plumbing or gas piping installations to a supervisor. If a code violation has occurred, the supervisor will post plumbing and gas piping ordinance violation notices and coordinate with their supervisor.
• Establish and maintain cooperative, effective working relationships with customers, coworkers, other Environmental Health Division employees, and the general public using principles of good customer service.
• Report for agreed-upon scheduled work with, reliable and punctual attendance.  

• Proficiency with computer use, including Microsoft Office,(Word, Excel, and Outlook), and ability to quickly master Envision database and performance management systems.  
• Knowledge of, proficiency in, and ability to apply state and local laws related to plumbing, gas piping, gas appliance installation, venting and combustion air, cross-connection control, and medical gas piping.  
• Excellent customer service skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with people from various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds, handling difficult situations and people, working in a stressful environment, and managing and resolving conflicts.  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, in face-to-face and telephone interaction. 
• Requires visual acuity to read computer screens, printed materials, and detailed information. 
• While performing fieldwork, the incumbent is regularly required to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and walk on rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces. Required to use hand to eye coordination, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls. The incumbent is frequently required to stand and/or walk for extended periods of time; walk on uneven surfaces; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl in the performance of field and office duties. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Duties require the incumbent to carry supplies and/or equipment up and downstairs as well as into and out of a vehicle on a daily basis. 
• Perform work in confidence and under pressure for deadlines, and maintain professional composure and tact, patience, and courtesy at all times.  
• Occasional use of personal protective devices such as masks, goggles, gloves 
• Ability to lift and/or carry objects and materials weighing up to 20 pounds. 
• Ability to physically maneuver in tight spaces to access and inspect connections.

• Previous experience performing plumbing inspection functions.
• Four years of recent experience as a Washington State journeyman plumber, including designing and performing residential installations and at least two of those years performing commercial installations. *Experience from another state may qualify the candidate for consideration when the State of Washington Labor and Industry qualifies the candidate for the Washington State plumber certification exam.
• Bilingual in English plus one or more of the following languages representing large populations in King County: Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Somali, Russian, Ukrainian, Korean, Amharic, Punjabi, or other languages.
• Demonstrated experience in and ability to research and respond to technically complex plumbing and gas piping issues.
• Experience in gas piping design and installation; and gas appliance  installation, venting & combustion air
• Cross-connection control experience or certification
• Medical gas experience or certification
• Demonstrated experience in and ability to independently manage, prioritize, and coordinate work assignments, provide quality customer service, and speak to a variety of audiences.

• A candidate is required to possess a valid Washington State journeyman plumber (PL01) license. In lieu of a Washington State journeyman plumber license (PL01), a candidate shall provide a letter, with the application, from Washington State Labor and Industries verifying the candidate’s approval for performing the Washington State plumber PL01 license exam.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license; this position requires driving on a regular basis in order to perform essential job duties.

• The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office 365) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with ongoing work.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• A hired candidate is required to hold a valid Washington State PL01 journeyman plumber certificate, including but not limited to completing their mandatory training on time.
• This position may require the ability to use appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) based on situational needs.
• Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.

• This position requires the ability to perform work duties both indoors in an office environment and in the field in a variety of physical and weather conditions that may include walking uneven terrain, working around heavy machinery, strong odors, dusts, animals, and various types of wastes. 
• Exposure to individuals from the public who are upset, angry, agitated, and sometimes hostile, requiring the use of conflict management and de-escalation skills.
• This position may require strength enough to lift, push, or pull field equipment weighing between 20-40 pounds.
• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally access or travel by ferry or boat.

• The selected candidate is required to take a pre-employment physical.
• The selected candidate will be required to submit to a thorough background investigation. Records are not automatically disqualifying.
• A hired candidate is required to hold a Valid State journeyman plumber certificate, including but not limited to completing their mandatory training courses on time.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required training on time.