The Environmental Health Division is recruiting for a Regular, Full-time (1.0 FTE) Community Liaison Specialist with expertise in the area of community planning and built environment. This is an advanced professional classification located in the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and is under the direction of a Division Director or Assistant Division Director.

Essential functions of the job include: Providing policy planning and project management on public health issues in Pierce County.

Duties include:

  • Coordinating and monitoring efforts to incorporate health into planning, including comprehensive, parks and recreation, and other plans;
  • Information gathering, needs assessment, and building partnerships with other agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in and affected by local and regional planning work;
  • Extensive communication about built environment and related public health issues with a variety of professionals and nonexperts, which requires explanations and interpretations of complex policies. It also involves listening to, understanding, and incorporating diverse perspectives.
  • Grant writing and management

The Community Liaison Specialist serves as liaison with other programs withing the Health Department, and with other agencies, organizations and individuals. This classification involves extensive interaction with a socio-economic, culturally and professionally diverse individuals, community-based businesses and agencies, and departmental staff to provide legislative advocacy, to staff committees and task forces, to provide continuity among public health staff and programs, and to foster effective working relationships.

An employee assigned to this classification will work independently with minimal supervision in an office setting and in the community. Work assignments are both general and specific in nature, and are received in both verbal and written form. Instructions received define overall objectives, with minimal specificity regarding how to proceed with assignments. Work results are usually examined by the supervisor for soundness of technical judgment, quality of recommendations, the attainment of program standards, and acceptable practices. Unusual problems or situations are mutually discussed with the supervisor.

This is a “summary” of the duties and responsibilities commonly found within this classification. It is not meant to be all-inclusive, thus, other related activities or tasks may be assigned.

 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
  • Knowledge of public health issues, characteristics, and trends affecting health care, social conditions, and population groups.
  • Knowledge of and ability to assess community public health needs.
  • Skill in communicating orally and in writing using tact and diplomacy to gain concurrence and cooperation.
  • Skill in planning and organizing work activities to meet established objectives.
  • Skill in analyzing, compiling, recording, and assessing data, i.e., strategic plans, health care statistics, etc.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse population of clients, community-based agencies, and departmental personnel.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to design and implement multiple community-based public health prevention systems.
  • Ability to market public health intervention and prevention services effectively.
  • Ability to successfully pass a background investigation.
  • Possession of a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driver’s abstract is required prior to employment
 
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
A Master’s degree in Public Health or closely related field and four years of experience in coordinating health programs between multiple communities; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
 
WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Generally indoors within a controlled environment.
  • Frequent travel required to attend meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.
  • This is an exempt position which requires working beyond the normally scheduled workweek, modifying existing work schedules, or flexing hours to meet with community-based organizations.
  • Ability to communicate well enough to effectively accomplish the essential functions of the job.
  • Vision enough to read and review detailed written reports, correspondence, etc.
  • As a condition of employment, employees may be required to utilize their private vehicles in the performance of their duties but will be reimbursed for mileage.