Environmental Health Specialist – Water Quality Program

The salary for this position is: $5,147 - $6,847 monthly

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Environmental Health Specialist I for our Environmental Health Division.

In your role as an Environmental Health Specialist I, you will primarily be responsible for implementing and enforcing environmental health regulations to protect public health and community resources. You will investigate complaints and potential violations involving concerns such as failing septic systems, improper animal waste management, and other environmental health issues, working with property owners and occupants to identify and correct violations and achieve compliance.

You will also support our countywide stream and lake monitoring program by collecting and managing high-quality water quality data in accordance with our quality assurance project plan and helping communicate results to the public.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Enforce the PHSS Sanitary Code in relation to water quality concerns
• Interpret laws and policies, assist with program development, draft policies, and make recommendations for consideration by department management and the Thurston County Board of Health
• Investigate, sample, evaluate, and act upon public complaints of conditions involving pollution, disease, illness, or contamination
• Conduct sanitary surveys and dye tests on onsite sewage systems
• Document inspection results and prepare documentation needed for enforcement action for failing septic systems and other nonpoint pollution sources
• Work with property owners and residents to correct conditions on their site that contribute to or have the potential to contribute to pollution
• Conduct environmental studies by gathering, evaluating, and reporting on data
• Manage and analyze data
• Maintain rigorous quality assurance/quality control standards
• Offer technical support and education to the public
• Conduct water quality monitoring in lakes, streams, groundwater, and marine waters
• Write technical reports
• Spend long hours on foot and walking over rough terrain and up hills, in addition to lifting objects and material weighing up to 25 pounds
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations. This includes emergency preparedness training and exercises, relevant to the work expectations of duties during emergencies.

To view the full job classification, :
Environmental Health Specialist I

• Work Environment
  - Primarily a field position Thurston County, WA
• Schedule
  - Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 4:00pm, with the potential option of alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working
• Travel Requirements
  - Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings
• Customer Interactions
  - Daily interactions with Thurston County staff and the public

Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County’s local health jurisdiction and human services department and is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well‑being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community.

As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated,…