NOTE: The application period has now closed. Only Priority Placement Program participant applications will be added to the candidate pool.

As the Senior Environmental Health and Safety Scientist, you will:

• Provide technical leadership during the program development and strategic planning for a new School Environmental Health and Safety Program.
• Design and implement innovative program strategies using an equity lens that address where the needs are greatest and support policy and system changes.
• Build trusting partnerships with agencies, stakeholders, and communities that have a vested interest in healthy learning environments and the welfare of students and staff.
• Serve as the health department’s technical advisor and subject matter expert on indoor air quality and healthy building spaces.
• Stay current on latest guidance, best practices, and policies; and analyze and interpret legislation, codes, and standards (e.g., ventilation standards) and their implications for schools, childcares, and King County.
• Lead and participate on various inter-agency and department-wide collaborative efforts.
• Create and deliver presentations and trainings (in person or by webinar) to a variety of audiences (e.g., professional meetings for schools, leadership, community, agencies, etc.).
• Collaborate with schools and childcares to design health and safety risk management interventions and recommend creative solutions that are achievable (not punitive).
• Write technical guidance documents for schools, childcares and other sectors and provide technical reviews of educational and policy materials.
• Respond in a timely manner to relevant technical questions and concerns from department leadership, public, schools, media, elected officials, policymakers, and others.
• Lead technical consultations and site assessments at schools, childcares, and other indoor spaces by applying best practices in non-compliance setting.
• Conduct industrial hygiene evaluations for chemical exposures, occupational, student and client illnesses, indoor air quality, noise exposure, cleaning, and disinfection, building health and safety (e.g., ventilation, lead, mold, pests, safety hazards), safe art and laboratory materials and practices, and indoor air quality.
• Lead the design and implementation of research studies to inform program work, including collaborating with colleagues and agency partners to contribute to scientific methodology, data collection and sample analysis methodology, and authoring papers for publication in scholarly journals.
• Manage small to large-scale technical projects involving natural science research, environmental monitoring, environmental cleanup or related subjects, and management of budget, schedule, and quality.
• Co-lead in seeking grant funding to expand program strategies to serve all types of learning environments.
• Build, train, and manage technical field staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/TRANSFERABLE SKILLS*:

• Must have both:

1. Minimum Master’s degree or equivalent advanced training in industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, exposure science, environmental health sciences, toxicology, hazard prevention, risk assessment, building health and safety, environmental engineering, biological sciences, or closely related field; AND
2. Minimum eight years of demonstrated experience (or combination of education, training, and/or transferable skills) in environmental health assessment, building health and safety, indoor air quality, and/or other environmental health exposures in indoor spaces. 

• Knowledge of children’s environmental health and safety issues, such as in the schools or child care settings.
• Advanced knowledge of regulations, statutes, or rules related to environmental health and safety, school buildings, indoor air quality, and/or other environmental health exposures in indoor spaces.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting industrial hygiene or environmental health site assessments, such as using specialized field instruments, optimizing indoor air quality in HVAC systems and other air filtration methods to reduce airborne microbes or other environmental health hazards.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in project and team management, including ability to handle multiple competing priorities, deliver on high quality products within tight timeframes, task delegation, time management, and use of appropriate workflow tools (e.g., Microsoft 365).
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills, including demonstrated ability to synthesize and clearly convey technical information (orally and in written forms) to various audiences (e.g., public, elected officials, media, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability in database management and creating reports. This includes the ability to coordinate, monitor, and track analytical data; and familiarity with statistical data analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, Stata or R), relational databases (e.g., Power BI and Tableau) and methods to capture data digitally in the field).
• Ability to work independently as well as engage collaboratively with internal teams and different community and stakeholder groups with the intent to provide exceptional customer service.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, Power Point) and online meeting platforms (such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams).
• A valid driver's license or the ability to travel throughout King County. 

• One of the following:

1. Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH); or planning to obtain CIH within 6 months of position start date (CIH requirements: http://www.abih.org/become-certified/eligibility); or
2. Certified toxicologist (e.g., Diplomate, American Board of Toxicology (DABT) or other); or
3. Doctorate or equivalent advanced training in industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, exposure science, environmental health sciences, toxicology, hazard prevention, risk assessment, building health and safety, environmental engineering, biological sciences, or closely related field.

• More than 8 years of experience in the fields above.
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaborative working relationships and strategically navigate complicated and sometimes contentions stakeholder context in a political environment (e.g., school districts, governmental agencies, and community partners in the schools or child care sectors). 
• Deep knowledge of equity and social justice principles and practices, and understanding of the effects of place, race and policy and systems-based inequities on marginalized communities and populations.

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:

• submit proof of vaccination, or
• have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

• An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the "Apply" link) including work history and position duties.
• A cover letter describing your interest in this position and how do you meet the required qualifications for this job. 
• A current resume
• Responses to supplemental questions.

• 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.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location, and working hours.

• The selected candidate will be required to submit to a thorough background investigation. Records are not automatically-disqualifying.
• Candidates selected are required to pass a pre-employment physical exam.   
• 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.

• This position requires the ability to perform work duties both indoors in an office environment and in the field in a variety physical and weather conditions that may include walking uneven terrain, working around heavy machinery, strong odors, dusts, animals, and various types of wastes. 
• This position is required to conduct site visits at schools, child cares and other sites throughout King County and may be required to travel to sites within the state for professional and other meetings.
• 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.
• Performance of job duties requires driving on a regular basis and a valid Washington State Driver's license.