here is one (1) opening for a permanent full-time Information Public Health Advisor 3 (PHA 3) within the Division of Environmental Public Health, Office of Shellfish and Water Protection. This recruitment may be used to fill other PHA 3 positions within the office.

To learn more about the Office of Shellfish and Water Protection, visithttp://www.doh.wa.gov/AboutUs/ProgramsandServices/EnvironmentalPublicHealth/ShellfishandWaterProtection.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) works with federal, state, and local partners to help protect and improve the health of people in Washington. 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. DOH recognizes that employees are its most valuable resource. We trust them to be innovative, challenge existing processes, and make the best decisions. We strive to hire, develop, and retain a competent and diverse workforce. To learn more about DOH, visithttp://www.doh.wa.gov.

The mission of the Office of Shellfish and Water Protection is to assure that shellfish are safe to eat and that wastewater is properly managed. This position serves as the restoration program technical specialist and assists with the management of conditionally approved growing areas and emergency growing area closures. The restoration program focuses on restoring and maintaining water quality in shellfish growing areas in order to protect public health. The management of conditionally approved growing areas and the emergency closure of growing areas requires the analysis of environmental conditions and follow up actions to assure that impacted growing areas are closed when appropriate.

Duties include:

·       Designing and leading water quality and circulation studies to identify and quantify pollution impacts on shellfish growing areas. Developing information that can be used by regulatory programs to control the pollution sources.

·       Coordinating with state agencies, local governments and other partners on cooperative water quality studies.

·       Gathering, analyzing, and interpreting technical water quality and other related data; developing reports; and providing recommendations for shellfish growing area classification.

·       Providing technical assistance on water quality, pollution identification studies, shellfish protection districts, and shellfish sanitation issues to local governments, tribes, state agencies, watershed groups, shellfish growers and other partners.

·       Evaluating water quality data and other information to ensure public health standards are met and areas are open when there is no threat to public health.

·       Serving as the office’s emergency contact for 24-hour notification and response to emergency closure events, on a rotating basis.

·       Preparing reports that access the public health risk of consuming shellfish from Washington State growing areas, incuding writing the narrative, compiling and analyzing data, preparing maps, using computerized database to develop data summaries, and making recommendations regarding the classification of a shellfish growing area.

·       Towing, launching, operating, navigating, and retrieving motor boats from marine waters safely to conduct the monitoring.

·       Collecting water quality samples, recording field data, documenting observations, preparing and shipping samples to the public health laboratory.

·       Maintaining and using the office’s water quality database to analyze data and produce reports.

·       Participates as part of the DOH emergency response team during health emergencies and training events.

With or without an accommodation, I am:

·       Willing and able to take and pass a First Aid/CPR training annually.

·       Willing and able to obtain a Washington State Boaters Education Card and complete the US Coast Guard Auxiliary boarding skills and seamanship course within three (3) month of hire dates.

·       Willing and able to work in both, office and field settings.

·       Willing and able to work in a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, and scent-neutral environment.

·       Willing and able to work in the field and on a boat during fair and inclement weather.

·       Willing and able to spend long hours on foot and to walk over rough terrain and up hills.

·       Willing and able to occasionally travel aboard a small boat to remote locations and to get on and off a boat.

·       Willing and able to legally operate a state or privately owned vehicle OR provide alternative transportation.

·       Willing and able to work indoors, at a desk/workstation the majority of a work day, in an open office environment with possible conversation and other noise distractions.

·       Willing and able to occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evening and weekends, to meet program needs and critical deadlines.

·       Willing and able to work in a fast-paced/stressful environment with multiple priorities and competing deadlines.

·       Willing and able to interact and work with customers, some of whom may be frustrated or distressed in a positive, friendly and supportive manner that meets the needs and standards of the office and the agency.

Note: This position is covered by an “Agency Shop” provision. Therefore, as a condition of employment, the incumbent of this position must either join the union and pay union dues, or pay the union a representational or other fee within 30 days of the date you are placed into pay status.

The Washington State Department of Health is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Applicants wishing assistance or alternative formats in the process should contact Linda Riggle at (360) 236-4226, Linda.Riggle@doh.wa.gov, or TDD Relay at 1-800-833-6388.