Water Quality Strategist

Summary

Why This is a Great Opportunity: Imagine a role where your strategic vision can make a lasting impact on the environment - Join us in King County and be a driving force behind Our Clean Water Healthy Habitat ( CWHH ) strategy! This strategy serves as the foundation for our efforts to reduce the presence of toxic chemicals in aquatic ecosystems. Given the extensive array of toxic substances in our environment, King County is in need of a strategic framework to aid us in prioritizing which Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) to tackle first.
Within the scope of this position, you may be engaged in one or more of the following projects related to CWHH:

• Development of a CEC Prioritization Framework for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
• Conducting CEC- applied-research, particularly focusing on PFAS or 6ppd-q.

If you have a passion for collaborative work across diverse fields and enjoy creating practical tools for natural resource managers to mitigate the effects of toxic chemicals, then this position is a perfect fit for you.

Who We Are: At the Science and Technical Support Section, we are on our mission to safeguard our most vulnerable communities and aquatic ecosystems, including fish and orca, from the impact of toxic chemicals. W e are at the forefront of advancing of natural resource preservation and environmental safeguarding. Our management team is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment. Your contributions will be instrumental in determining which CECs King County addresses first. By doing so, you will play a vital role in protecting Puget Sound and the waters of King County. Your efforts will aid us in achieving our objectives in the following ways:

• Lead team in the design and development of our first framework for prioritizing CECs;
• Solicit input from County wastewater and stormwater managers on how to make the framework most useful.
• Establish criteria for categorizing CECs in high, medium, low priority and identify the most critical uncertainties.
• Finalize and start implementing the framework.

Duration: This Term-Limited (TLT) or Special Duty (SDA) position is anticipated to be 12 months in duration. King County employees must have their supervisor's approval to accept a special duty assignment.

Who is Eligible: This position is open to all qualified applicants. this recruitment may also be used to create an eligibility pool to fill temporary, term-limited, or special duty positions.
Job Duties

• Create a framework for prioritizing CECs specifically for King County as an agency
• Interview internal clients on uses for and requirements of the framework.
• Collaborate with unit staff during framework development.
• Produce report on final framework.
• Implement framework to prioritize list of 5-10 CECs and present findings.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum Qualifications:

• Educational background or qualifications that are comparable to a bachelor's degree in fields like toxicology, biology, ecology, environmental science, environmental management, environmental engineering, or closely related areas.
• Proven experience in collaborative teamwork.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects from start to finish.
• Educational or professional background indicating a broad comprehension of contaminant origins and transmission, and their environmental impacts.
• A fundamental awareness of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) as environmental pollutants, including their definition, sources, chemical characteristics, and their effects on both human beings and aquatic life.

Desired Qualifications:

• Educational or work experience in fields such as environmental risk assessment, life cycle analysis, hazard assessment, occupational health and safety, remediation expertise, management of hazardous waste, industrial hygiene, or consumer product safety.
• Proven track record in devising a standardized system, procedure, or protocol for the assessment of chemical contaminants.
• Proficiency in conceptual exposure models related to toxic chemicals.
• Experience overseeing the scientific and technical aspects of a project from start to finish.
• Competence in conveying technical information in an easily comprehensible manner for diverse audiences.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have the Following Competencies:

• Communicates Effectively: developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Strategic Mindset: seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Manages Ambiguity: operating effectively even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
• Manages Complexity: making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Balances Stakeholders: anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:

• Work Location: This is a hybrid position. It will be partly remote with onsite work requirements as informed by business needs. This position reports onsite on the first day of employment for orientation and approximately three to four (3-4) days per month, subject to change based on business needs. Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to meet workplace reporting requirements.
• Primary onsite location is King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This location offers excellent accessibility through multiple mass transit options ensuring convenient and sustainable commuting. This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department's vision of Green Where We Work .
• Work Schedule: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and it is not overtime eligible. This full-time position works a 40 -hour work week.
• Union Membership: This position is represented by Teamsters 117 Professional and Technical Union.

Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness including online application, cover letter and resume, and responsiveness to the list of qualifications, skills, and abilities. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

Applications without the following required materials may not be considered for this position:

• King County application
• Resume
• Cover Letter detailing your background and what you can bring to this position.
• Response to supplemental question.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:William R. Herbert, Human Resource Analyst
wherbert@kingcounty.gov
(206) 477-5494

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:
As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all - in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts. To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

WHY WORK FOR KING COUNTY?
King County was named "Best-in-State Employer" in the Forbes magazine 2019, ranking 16 on the list of best employers in Washington State - visit: Awards given to King County to see more! King County's Investing in YOU initiative is building a workplace where ALL employees can thrive so we can become the nation's Best Run Government. Enjoy a balanced life with benefits that support you! http://kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/careers/why-work-here.aspx

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.Guided by our " True North ", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer:
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply:
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 12/3/2023 11:59 PM Pacific