As a member of the Toxicology team, this position will work to improve the health of people in Washington State through the translation of toxicology and related science into public health policy. This work will strengthen the public health system to better serve the public, enhancing strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships, improving external and internal public health communication and customer service, and enhancing the use of data and information in assessment and policy development activities to protect and improve public health.

As a designated senior toxicologist policy lead, the Toxicologist 3 will develop, evaluate, recommend and implement public health toxicology policies, which are of critical agency, regional, statewide or national interest, sensitivity or complexity.

This is a full-time permanent Toxicologist 3 position and will report to the Senior Epidemiologist/Manager of the Toxicology and Epidemiology Section within the Office of Environmental Public Health Sciences, Division of Environmental Public Health.

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) works with federal, state, tribal, and local partners to help people in Washington stay healthy and safe.  Our programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide education to help people make good health decisions and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies. To learn more about the agency, visit our website, DOH Infographic (Download PDF reader), and see what it’s like to Work@Health!

DOH is a great place to work and has implemented several “Employer of Choice” initiatives, including:

• We are committed to diversity and inclusion. DOH fosters an inclusive environment that encourages all employees to bring their authentic selves to work each day. We strive to hire, develop, and retain a competent and diverse workforce that is reflective of the customers we serve.
• We have an engaging Wellness@Health program which offers programs that support healthy behaviors and work/life balance. Our program provides wellness education, access to healthy food, physical activity classes, stress relief, and many other resources to support a healthy you.
• We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules, and mobile and telework options.  (Depending upon job duties.)
•  We are making exciting steps towards modernizing our workplace by providing motivating and inspiring workspaces that promote creative thought, innovation, and collaboration among co-workers.
• We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of breastfeeding newborns and infant-parent bonding.  Eligible employees who are new mothers, fathers, or legal guardians can bring their infant (6 weeks to 6 months) when returning to work.  (Depending upon job duties and work location.)

• Develop, evaluate, recommend and implement public health toxicology policies which are of critical agency, regional, statewide or national interest, sensitivity or complexity.
• Establish and help facilitate advisory groups as needed to address emerging public health toxicological issues; identifying and prioritizing toxic chemicals, exposures or health outcomes of concern and developing strategies to mitigate human health impacts.
• Provide consultation, direction and evaluation on high level, controversial or emerging public health toxicological issues at the division, department, state and national levels.
• Work with internal and external agency, academic, association and clinical partners to leverage resources and effectively identify and address priority public health toxicological issues in the state.
• Lead the office, division and agency on the development and implementation of policies and direction concerning toxics in everyday life.
• Articulate both in person and in writing, the agency’s policy and interests to state and national advisory committees, multi-agency meetings and work groups, public interest groups and legislative and regulatory bodies at the state and federal level and the media.
• Work with policy staff at the agency, inter-agency, governor or legislative level to develop legislative proposals and decision packages in order to address priority toxicological issues for the state.
• Routinely serve as on-call spokesperson for public health toxicological issues for the office, division and agency and in emergency response situations.

What we’re looking for

The ideal candidate is a team player, defined as having a driving passion for the work, bringing humility to their job and people interactions, and understanding how their words and actions affect others.

The ideal candidate will have the following competencies:

Accountability: Takes responsibility for actions. Follows agency policies and procedures. Produces quality products within agreed upon timeframes.

Communication: Skilled in developing and presenting technical and high level or controversial policy issues to a variety of audiences, both orally and in writing. Skilled in risk communication.

Cultural Competency: Evaluate routes of exposure and develop recommendations that are culturally appropriate.

Facilitation: Manages conflict to affect positive change. Shares and encourages good ideas. Models effective group process behavior such as listening, discussing, negotiating, rewarding, encouraging and motivating.  Anticipates and resolves disagreements or confrontations in a constructive manner.  Demonstrates diplomacy, tact and discretion when dealing with others.

Interpersonal Influence: Leads by example. Sets standards for professional behavior. Displays a positive attitude and optimism about the work to be done, co-workers, customers, management and employer policies.  Addresses problems and issues in an open, constructive and professional manner. Models trustworthiness, sensitivity to others and respect. Provides timely and honest feedback in a constructive and non-threatening way. Accepts constructive criticism well.

Judgement: Displays balanced thinking that combines analysis, experience, and perspective. Considers the political and economic impact of recommendations.
Knowledge: Stays current on emerging human health toxicological issues, toxicology methods and risk assessment tools.  Seeks training opportunities to further skill development.

Leadership: Demonstrates strong leadership abilities to bring together diverse interests in order to effectively identify and address office, division and agency public healht toxicological issues and needs. Able to work effectively within the political system with a variety of stakeholders and interests to represent public health.

Quality Improvement: Applies quality improvement tools to improve efficiency, accuracy and overall quality. Participate in the measuring, reporting and continuous improvement of organizational performance.

Sees the Whole: Demonstrates organizational and political awareness, relationship building skills, and effective decision making. Able to balance agency and stakeholder interests to make effective decisions ars well as champion decisions that have been made. Builds constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation and mutual respect.

Required Qualifications

• Option 1: Master of Science degree in toxicology or in a health or ecological related science (e.g., chemistry, environmental science) with a major emphasis in toxicology.

• Option 2: Ph.D. degree in toxicology or in a health or ecological related science.

• Demonstrated experience using the following software:
  • MS Excel to create and manipulate large or complex spreadsheets, use complex mathematical formulas to calculate data, and link worksheets; import data from other sources, filter lists, and create and format charts and graphs.
  • MS Word to create, format, and edit tables, columns, and charts; import data and sort table data; insert and format sections, and create headers and footers.
• Four (4) or more years of toxicology experience working for a public health agency:
  • Evaluating the exposures and effects of toxic chemicals on health outcomes.
  • Conducting exposure assessments including the design, implementation, and/or analysis of biomonitoring surveys.
  • Addressing chemicals of high concern to children
  • Developing and vetting policy initiatives related to toxicology.
  • Communicating risk to a variety of audiences
  • Leading and/or collaborating with internal and external agency and academic partners to identify priority environmental public health toxicological issues.
  • Evaluating toxicology research literature for relevance to emerging human health toxicology issues of public health concern facing the state.
  • Articulating both in person and in writing, the agency’s policy and interests on human health toxicological issues to interagency workgroups and advisory committees, and the legislative or regulatory bodies at the state and federal level.

Conditions of Employment/Working Conditions
With or without an accommodation, I am willing and able to:

• Work indoors, at a desk/workstation the majority of a workday, in an open office environment with possible conversation and other noise distractions.
• Work at a tobacco-free campus and environment.
• Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evening and weekends.
• Occasionally travel throughout the state (including rural areas) which may include overnight stays.
• Legally operate a state or privately owned vehicle or provide alternative transportation.
• Work in a fast-paced/stressful environment with multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• Move object weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Work in frequently stressful environment with multiple assignments and priority deadlines.
• Work in stressful emergency response conditions upon occasion.

This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is an equal opportunity employer.  DOH strives to create a working environment that is inclusive and respectful.  It is our policy to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of our workforce. Applicants wishing assistance or alternative formats in the process should contact Carlene Mealing-Baldwin at (360) 236-4408, Carlene.Mealing-Baldwin@doh.wa.gov or TDD Relay at 1-800-833-6384 or 7-1-1.

Application Process

Intrigued? We’d love to hear from you.  Click “Apply” to submit your detailed application profile along with the following:

1. A letter of interest, describing how you meet the specific required qualifications for this position.
2. A current resume.
3. Three (3) or more professional references, to be included in your profile. Please include at least one supervisor, peer, and (if you have supervised staff) a subordinate.

Note: Do not attach transcripts or other documents that are not requested in the Application Process, or that are password protected.  These type of documents cause errors when downloading application materials and will not be forwarded to the hiring supervisor. Veterans, please feel free to attach a copy of your DD214.

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