Thurston County Public Works, Solid Waste Division, located in Olympia, Washington, is seeking a Recycling and Waste Reduction Specialist (Education and Outreach Specialist I) who is outgoing, flexible, and organized with a proven track record of effectively communicating with the public and building working relationships. This position supports program efforts that promote and positively impact recycling and solid waste reduction and diversion. This employee is one of a six-person team that provides community-wide technical assistance and executes plans to achieve waste reduction and recycling goals under the supervision of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Supervisor (Education and Outreach Specialist III).

This position requires a self-disciplined person who is a great listener and has excellent written and verbal communication skills. The successful candidate must also display a professional appearance and demeanor, have a high degree of confidence and adaptability, demonstrate an ability to educate and motivate others, and be capable of exercising sound and ethical judgement consistent with organizational values and direction.

This position is assigned an office at the Public Works campus in Olympia, Washington, but entails extensive interaction with the public throughout Thurston County, and therefore requires driving a County vehicle and working both inside and outside during all weather conditions. The ability to walk long distances, stand for long periods of time, and lift up to 40 pounds is required. Occasional evening and weekend work is also required.

Some specific duties of the position include:

• Supports residential recycling and waste prevention and diversion projects;
• Utilizes assessment tools and systems to track metrics to measure projects’ effectiveness;
• Conducts or assists with site visits, and provides technical assistance and education to customers on best practices in recycling and solid waste;
• Represents the Solid Waste Division at meetings and community events, delivers presentations, and provides event support and coordination;
• Assists in development of print materials, exhibits, and other media for delivery to County staff, outside agencies, and the public to promote program efforts; and
• Works collaboratively to support team efforts to provide community-wide technical assistance and outreach focused on the adoption of waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable practices.

Why you’ll love Thurston County, Washington.

You’ll enjoy a high quality of life here in Thurston County. Housing in the County, which includes the City of Olympia, is more affordable than in Seattle or Portland, and our innovative schools are highly rated. Our county is home to a unique blend of industries including state government, health care, retail, military, education, construction, farming, fishing, and logging. Residents enjoy a wide array of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, kayaking, biking, and fishing. We are only an hour or two away from major metropolitan areas and some of the most breathtaking scenery the Pacific Northwest has to offer including sandy ocean beaches, powder-filled ski resorts, old growth forests, and alpine meadows. We also offer great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family, paid vacation and sick leave, as well as union representation.

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, education, environmental or public health, or other closely related field. Additional experience can be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis;
• At least three years of experience working in environmental issues, public health, or other related field promoting education, outreach, media campaign, public relations, or other comparable experiences to successfully perform duties and responsibilities of the position;
• Ability to utilize a personal computer with related software to perform the essential functions of the position;
• Current Washington State Driver’s License, or ability to obtain a Washington State Driver’s license within 30 days of employment, or otherwise meet the travel requirements of the position; and
• May be required to possess a professional certification applicable to area of assignment.

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in environmental science or studies, education, or related field;
• Technical knowledge of solid waste management and recycling and diversion principles and practices;
• Experience providing education and outreach services to the public;
• Experience in project management, planning, and implementation;
• Experience collecting data, performing data analysis, and providing performance evaluation;
• Advanced level expertise with Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint;
• Advanced level experience with graphics design using Adobe Creative Suite;
• Ability to effectively work and collaborate with teams and diverse audiences using tact, patience, and courtesy; and/or
• Demonstrated proficiency in communicating technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing, including developing and delivering presentations to large groups.

Questions about this Position?
The contact person for this recruitment is Monica Gorman, Solid Waste Manager, (360) 867-2278.

This position is:
– Represented by a Union
– Eligible for benefits
– Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Items required for consideration:
– Application
– Letter of Interest
– Resume
– Supplemental Questionnaire