Health and Environmental Investigator III

Salary : $110,087.54 - $139,542.21 Annually
Location : Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026EP28306
Department: DPH - Public Health
Division: Environmental Health Svcs
Opening Date: 11/06/2026
Closing Date: 11/29/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: C9C : PROTEC17-DPH, DCHS-EnvHlth Pro
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week

Summary
The Food and Facilities Program is seeking a skilled, enthusiastic, and dedicated Health & Environmental Investigator III (HEI) for our Water Recreational Program. A key responsibility of this position is to manage and assess risks of sewage release events impacting recreational bodies of water and shellfish harvest areas. Additional responsibilities include supporting fresh and marine water swimming beach and shellfish monitoring programs. The HEI will work closely with multiple local utilities, cities, the Washington State Department of Health, Department of Ecology, and other agencies. Internally, this position will work with the Food and Facilities Assistant Division Director/supervisors and King County Communications. The HEI will also conduct plan reviews of remodeled and newly constructed water recreation facilities; provide water recreation facility technical assistance to program staff, other agencies, and the public; assist with responding to water recreation related complaints, service requests, and investigations; and provide technical support to other staff and to the public.

Work Schedule
This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) that is overtime eligible. The normal work week is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 40 hours per week, but may at times require work outside of these hours. Evening, night, and weekend work may be required. Alternate work schedules will be considered after successful completion of the probationary period.
Work Location

The work associated with these positions will be performed predominately through a hybrid work schedule of onsite and remote work, with the majority of the work performed in the field at various locations throughout King County. Primary base office will be out of the downtown Seattle office (Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave., Suite 1100, Seattle). The frequency of onsite work may vary based on business or operational needs and be adjusted accordingly. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. The Environmental Health Division reserves the right to place staff at worksite locations or transfer staff to new worksite locations that best support the efficient delivery of services.?

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
Job Duties
Conduct plan reviews of remodeled and newly constructed water recreation facilities

• Conduct comprehensive plan reviews for water recreation facilities ensuring compliance with WAC 246-260, WAC 246-262, and KCBH Code.
• Issue Water Recreation Facility Construction Permits for approved water recreation plans.
• Maintain and evaluate EH portal service website drain cover replacement submittals.
• Complete pre-operational inspections for water recreation facilities.

Respond and manage sewage releases and overflow events

• Manage sewage release/overflow notifications and assess contamination risk to the public.
• Review and provide follow-up for incoming Ecology Reporting and Tracking System (ERTS) reports.
• Coordinate and work with local utilities, management, communications team, county officials and the Washington State Department of Ecology BEACH Program.
• Track data and manage records of sewage releases/overflow events.

Respond and manage the marine and freshwater beach monitoring and shellfish sampling programs

• Analyze laboratory sample test results received for bacterial and toxic algal blooms.
• Coordinate with King County Water and Land Resource Division, Washington State Department of Ecology BEACH Program, and local parks on signage postings at beaches.
• Handle and manage all complaints regarding beach closures and warnings.
• Coordinate with King County lab on sampling schedules and resamples.
• Perform risk assessments for appropriate signage postings.
• Work and coordinate with Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Program and local parks on signage postings in recreational shellfish harvesting areas based on lab results.

Other duties

• Provide training and technical support to staff.
• Update protocols, information, and forms on Water Recreational Program website.
• Participate in program activities and investigations with the Washington State Department of Health's Water Recreation Program and with Public Health - Seattle & King County Prevention Division's Communicable Disease Investigators.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Within six months of hire, Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or from the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians (WSBRS). See below for additional information.
• Demonstrated experience conducting routine inspections and comprehensive plan reviews for water recreation facilities ensuring compliance with water recreation code.
• Demonstrated knowledge of environmental health principles and federal, state, or local environmental health regulations, codes and/or policies.
• Demonstrated ability to research and draft program policies, procedures, correspondence, and technical reports.
• Demonstrated ability to respond to and manage sewage releases and overflow events, by analyzing and interpreting data go guide decision-making, and making recommendations to agency partners.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct marine and freshwater beach monitoring and shellfish sampling programs, for example by: analyzing laboratory sample test results, coordinating with other agencies on signage at beaches, handling complaints, coordinating sampling schedules and resamples, and/or performing risk assessments to determine public health recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to apply principles of equity and social justice in local government programs. Demonstrated cultural competence working with diverse populations including race, ethnicity, gender, ability, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.

• Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings and provide presentations to a wide range and size of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with the public, program staff and other agencies; and to participate effectively on committees and work groups to collaboratively discuss and resolve issues and develop recommendations for long term program evaluation and planning.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computer systems, Microsoft Office suite and with database or planning/design software.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with staff in different levels of government agencies and people in different fields of discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate through uncertainties, to be comfortable when there are no clear answers, and to make sound decisions by collecting and analyzing data, understanding the legal framework and the interests of all involved parties, and working closely with the leadership.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington State driver's license.
• Within six months of hire, Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or from the Washington State Board of Registered Sanitarians (WSBRS).
  Both NEHA and WSBRS provide applications for REHS/RS credentialing by examination or via reciprocity.
  REHS/RS credentialing information is available from NEHA at:
  
  REHS/RS credentialing information is available from WSBRS at:

All required licenses and certifications must be maintained in active status without suspension or revocation throughout employment.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience conducting inspections and completing pre-operational inspections of water recreation facilities
• Experience responding to and managing sewage releases and overflow events
• Experience with marine and freshwater beach monitoring and shellfish sampling programs
• Demonstrated experience issuing food or water recreation construction permits for approved plans
• Experience working in a highly collaborative government program or coalition.
• Established effective working relationships with program partner agencies.
• Bilingual in one of the most common non-English languages in King County (such as Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Hindi, Punjabi, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean).
• Experience working with permitting and licensing software (e.g., Tyler EPL and Bluebeam)

Supplemental Information
Are you ready to make a difference? dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County's vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact your