Description
Environmental Specialist 1 (ES1)
Full-time, non-permanent position with an anticipated end date of three (3) months from the hire date.
The mission of the Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) is to improve the health of people in Washington State by reducing and preventing, where possible, human exposures to a variety of environmental hazards and disease pathogens associated with the disposal of wastewater, the food we eat, the schools our children attend, and the places we recreate and overnight.
The Shellfish Environmental Sampling Assistant position supports the mission by conducting environmental shellfish sampling for the marine biotoxin program. Surveillance sampling of shellfish protects public health by allowing shellfish harvesters to know when and where Washington shellfish are safe to consume. This work directly supports recreational shellfish openings and closures, listed on the Washington Shellfish Safety Map, and surveillance for subsistence and commercial harvests. It adds to the state of the knowledge of marine Harmful Algal Blooms and marine biotoxin events.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Planning and scheduling field work.
- Collecting shellfish samples 3 to 5 days per week from docks and/or intertidal sampling locations throughout Washington’s marine areas. Conducting phytoplankton sampling and enumeration
- Driving samples to/from the Public Health Laboratory in Seattle if needed.
- Engaging with shellfish partners, industry members, and the public.
- Maintaining inventory for shellfish sampling supplies.
- Build and deliver shellfish sampling supply kits to partners.
- Conducting quality control or quality assurance of sample results.
- Job shadowing within the office, including water quality monitoring and shoreline surveys.
Location
Enjoy the flexibility of our hybrid work environment, where you can balance working in the field and collaborating in the Tumwater, WA office. It is anticipated that you’ll be expected to perform work activities in the field within Western Washington 3 to 4 days a week that will entail a large amount of driving.
Required Qualifications (you must meet ONE of the options provided and any additional criteria listed):
Experience defined below may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.
Option 1:
Recent graduate (in the last 2 years) or currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in an environmental science or related degree program at an accredited university or college.
Option 2:
Four years of experience in an environmental or natural science-based position or program. This may include volunteer experience and internships.
Our Ideal candidate will have strengths in the following:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Flexible and versatile in changing situations, comfortable developing schedules, balancing priorities, and managing time.
- Well-developed communication skills.
- Enthusiastic and motivated about the position.
- Able to observe and record data.
- Work independently and with minimal supervision.
- Work to quality standards and specifications.
- Assess situations, identify problems, and be innovative when solving problems.
Additional desirable qualifications:
- Experience working in marine environments (such as water sampling, oyster harvesting, etc.).
- Experience using maps, tide charts, and weather data.
- Experience working with shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams, etc.)
Benefits and Lifestyle
We prioritize your work-life balance and offer one of the most competitive benefits packages nationwide, tailored to support your lifestyle. Discover more about "Why DOH" by visiting Work@Health.
We are the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
At DOH, we safeguard public health in an ever-evolving world. Through collaboration with local health jurisdictions and state, federal, and private partners, our programs, and services impact every Washingtonian and visitor daily. We're driven by Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, as outlined in our Transformational Plan for the future of Washington health.
Conditions of Employment:
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
This position is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
I am prepared, with or without accommodations, to do the following:
- Commit to a full-time 40-hour workweek schedule (flexible work schedule requests must be approved supervisor).
- Communicate through applications such as MS Teams and MS Outlook, and by phone while working remotely.
- Adjust my work schedule occasionally to align with business needs, which may entail working evenings and weekends.
- Relocate or transfer objects and materials weighing up to 50 pounds with or without accommodations
- Perform my job duties either remotely from home or in-person at the designated DOH site location.
- Travel will be necessary, sometimes requiring overnight stays or trips out of state. You must be able to legally drive a vehicle or arrange alternative transportation for state business.
- Engage in emergency response exercises and high-priority assignments as assigned during emergency events.
APPLICATION DIRECTIONS:
To apply, click "Apply" and complete the application. Attach your resume and cover letter.
In your Applicant Profile, include at least three professional references (including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led, if applicable). Please do not include private information such as social security number or year of birth.
Do attach the following:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- DD-214 (if applicable)
Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year
Do not include or attach the following – these documents or details will not be reviewed:
- REMOVE personal photos – do not submit any documents containing personal photos.
- Transcripts (unless specifically requested in the Application Directions)
- Certifications or Diplomas
- Projects or Portfolios
- Letters of Recommendation
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.
DOH is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.
Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need accommodation in the application or selection process, or need information in an alternative format, contact Andrea Thieme at (360) 918-6601 orandrea.thieme@doh.wa.gov. For general DOH recruitment questions, email the Talent Acquisition Team at employment@doh.wa.gov. Deaf or hard of hearing contact Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1; individuals outside of Washington State contact Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6874.
Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.
Supplemental Information
This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.
Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in full will have their responses reviewed for consideration.
Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.