EDU & OUTREACH SPECIALIST III

The salary for this position is: $6,569 - $8,738 monthly.

Thurston County Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Emergency Preparedness & Response Supervisor (Education and Outreach Specialist III) for our Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR) Program.

Are you looking to step into a leadership role where your work directly strengthens community resilience? As the Emergency Preparedness & Response Supervisor, you will guide and advance critical efforts that ensure public health is ready to respond when it matters most – from emergencies and disasters to large-scale public health events. Reporting to the Strategic Initiative Manager with oversight from the department Health Officer, you will lead a dynamic program that spans planning, implementing, budgeting, contracting, ensuring federal grant compliance, and staff supervision of the Public Health EPR Team, consisting of 2 team members. You will also extend your impact beyond Thurston County by providing technical assistance to other local health jurisdictions (LJH’s) across Washington State’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response (PHEPR) Region 3 (Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pacific, and Mason counties), helping maintain a coordinated and effective regional response network. 

This role calls for a professional who brings deep knowledge of public health preparedness frameworks, including alignment with the National Incident Management System and national emergency operation plan models, along with a strong commitment to collaboration. Success in this role requires sound judgement, adaptability, and the ability to navigate complex, evolving situations, while upholding federal and Washington State funding requirements. If you are a mission-oriented and creative leader who thrives on initiative and innovation, we would love to hear from you!

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, organize, and manage the PHSS EPR program, services, and activities
• Manage the EPR program budget (preparation, administration, and expenditures), grants, contracts, and their deliverables, including developing and implementing work plans and reporting results 
• Oversees and is responsible for the development of program policy standards
• Interview, hire, supervise, and evaluate personnel; work with employees to identified area of improvement, and support, and implement any necessary corrective/disciplinary actions
• Oversee reviewing, evaluating, and updating the department on EPR program-related initiatives and activities
• Manage the Emergency Operation Plan and other related documents, ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state laws, and compatibility with city and countywide plans; Oversee the development, continuous improvement, and implementation of plans
• Maintain a cooperative working relationship with all PHEPR Public Health department hospitals, Emergency Management Services (EMS) agencies, emergency services, and other regional health-related agencies, in addition to maintaining relationships with emergency coordinators from neighboring tribes
• Oversee the design, coordination, and evaluation of department staff emergency response training and exercises provided by the PHSS EPR team
• In coordination with the Health Officer, provide oversight for the Thurston County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) program
• Prepare, report, and monitor funds allocated through the Washington State Department of Health Consolidated Contract CDC grants; Monitor current and future eligibility for matching funds, grants, technical assistance, etc., and prepare/submit grant applications and oversee resulting contracts
• Collaborate with other Local Health Jurisdictions Emergency staff within Washington State, the State Department of Health, and other appropriate agencies to coordinate short-term and long-range plans and policies 
• Participate in various meetings and committees to discuss, evaluate, and document program policies and procedures locally, regionally, and statewide
• Serve in the PHSS Safety Committee, assisting the chair and co-chair in carrying out activities including drills, exercises, training, and education and outreach opportunities
• Serve as a resource for staff; motivate and mentor staff in providing quality and appropriate quantity of work in the assigned area utilizing resources efficiently; model and promote team building skills among assigned staff
• Work independently and within a collaborative team-oriented environment; contribute openly, understand the ideas of others, listen well, and work for consensus
• Review and approve program requisitions, reimbursement, and training request forms
• Respond to public health emergencies as the department requires
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations. This includes emergency preparedness training and exercises, relevant to the work expectations of duties during emergencies.

To view the full job classification, click here: Education & Outreach Specialist III

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment - Quiet office setting in Olympia, Washington
• Schedule - Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, with the potential option of alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working
• Travel Requirements - Travel will be required to coordinate and/or conduct educational seminars, workshops, and community events. May need to travel for meetings and staff training.
• Customer Interactions - Daily interactions with Thurston County staff and the public

WHO WE ARE:

Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County’s local health jurisdiction and human services department and is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor's degree in education, public health, environmental health, or other closely related field.
• Must have five (5) years experience working in public health, environmental issues, or other related field promoting education, outreach, media campaign, public relations or other comparable experiences to successfully perform duties and responsibilities of the classification. 
• Three (3) years experience with budget management, grant management, and lead or supervisory experience.
• Ability to utilize a personal computer with related software to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Current Washington State Driver's License or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.

DESIRED SKILLS: 

• Background in Emergency Management
• Previous experience with budget management, grant management, and lead or supervisory experience

Respect and Organizational Culture

• Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
• Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
• Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment

Communication

• Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
• Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
• Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
• Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors

Leadership:

• Supervise, motivate, and develop employees and team to become more productive and effective in achieving desired goals and career growth while encouraging employee critical reflection; able to give direction without conflict
• Show fairness and impartiality in interactions; is interested in employee welfare, elicits staff input where feasible; respond to staff suggestions and complaints in a sincere, sensitive, and timely manner

Goal Setting and Accomplishment

• Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
• Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
• Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
• Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
• Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact the hiring team at: PHSS_Hiring@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2569

This position is:

• Represented by a union
• Eligible for benefits
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Contingent on the ability to pass a criminal background check
• Grant funded

Items requested for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Letter of interest
• Applicant Disclosure Form (Pursuant to RCW Section 43.43.830) (Supplemental Questions 1-6)
• Please note: The candidate selected for this position is required to show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:
  • Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)
  • Baseline tuberculosis screening (required of all new employees who are healthcare personnel, work in healthcare areas or who have contact with patients/clients as part of their normal duties; must be completed no earlier than three months prior to starting work)

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498.  Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.