Salary: $123,947.20 - $157,110.10 Annually
Location : Eastgate Public Health Center - 14350 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026SD27340
Department: DPH - Public Health
Division: Environmental Health Svcs
Opening Date: 07/31/2026
Closing Date: 8/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: C9F : PROTEC17-DPH,DCHS-EnvHlthSrPro
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week

Summary
Are you interested in improving environmental health by ensuring that on-site sewage systems (OSS) are designed and installed to provide effective treatment that protects people and the environment?

This position is a unique opportunity within the Environmental Health Services (EHS) Division of Public Health - Seattle & King County to serve with Local Health Officer authority to implement the OSS Program. You will also lead a highly skilled team of professional sanitarians to implement King County Board of Health Title 13 On-Site Sewage code to support new development, replacement systems, and ensure the 85,000 on site systems in King County are safe.

This position reports to the Community Environmental Health (CEH) Section Manager.

Note: This recruitment will be used to create an eligibility pool to fill additional Career Service, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies that may occur over the next six months.

Job Duties

• Ensures effective management of the OSS Permitting Program. This position serves with Local Health Officer authority to implement the OSS Program via the King County Board of Health Title 13 On-Site Sewage code.
• Maintains subject matter expertise with OSS technologies and industry practices. Serve as a technical expert and advisor. Oversees program appeals, waivers, or other variances. Provides a high level of customer service to solve challenging land use / OSS problems.
• Leads and supervises a team of 8 Health & Environmental Investigator IIIs (Protect 17 represented) in implementing the On-Site Sewage code. Establishes clear roles and responsibilities, work plan objectives, and performance evaluations for team members.
• Coordinates closely with King County Department of Local Services and other jurisdictional building departments on permitting for building and land use applications.
• Oversees recruitment and onboarding of new staff and participates in workforce development planning for program and section and conducts annual performance assessments as assigned.
• Works with licensed OSS professionals, architects, partner agencies, and staff to troubleshoot challenging issues and identify pathways forward.
• Helps develop and actively participates in the use of data systems to plan and track OSS Permitting work. Oversees program planning, evaluation, and implementation of adaptive management to advance evolving public health needs.
• Oversees development and delivery of reports, environmental and public health advisory information, and communications materials for education and dissemination to the public.
• Develops and evaluates short and long-range program plans, goals, and objectives. Leads implementation of programmatic changes. Ensure agency, division, and department strategic objectives are reflected in program plans and service delivery.
• Collaborates with the OSS O&M Team to help ensure systems are operated and maintained following approved designs and helps respond to failing systems in a timely manner.
• Coordinates with Washington State Department of Health to ensure King County OSS code is consistent with state code.
• Manages and supports organizational change initiatives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Required:

• Seven (7) years of working knowledge of and experience in environmental health - Onsite Sewage Systems technical, regulatory, administrative, and policy issues and operation and maintenance practices of onsite sewage systems OR equivalent education/experience.
• Registered Sanitarian OR ability to obtain registration within 6 months of hire.
• Mature and developed understanding of personnel dynamics including conflict resolution, inclusiveness, transparency, employee recognition, and team building.
• Strong listening skills harness staff talent, build program resiliency, efficiency and staff excellence.
• Good governance / Customer service. Providing a value-added experience.
• Partnership and Collaboration. Ability to build and sustain partnerships to advance program goals. Demonstrated skill in coordinating with industry contractors, local government partners, and property owners on code and code interpretation, and material and installation standards for on-site septic systems.
• Mentoring. Ability to explain "the why" behind codes; provides technical assistance to the work of others.
• Demonstrated successful project management skills and directing the work of team members.

Desired:

• Ten (10) + years of working knowledge of and experience in environmental health - Onsite Sewage Systems technical, regulatory, administrative, and policy issues and operation and maintenance practices of onsite sewage systems.
• Five (5) years of supervisory experience leading a team of OSS professionals.
• Public health focus. Knowledge and understanding of public health principles.
• Inclusive Culture. Ability to develop and maintain an inclusive culture with a climate in which people want to do their best; can motivate many kinds of direct reports, team, or project members; enables co-workers to grow and succeed through feedback, instruction, and encouragement.
• Communication. Demonstrated excellence in facilitation, communication, and plain talk written skills.
• Budget and performance accountability. Tracks performance accountability. Assists in budgeting to achieve desired performance.
• Political accountability. Works with leadership to implement code commensurate with available resources.
• Social Justice. Knowledge of and ability to lead with equity and social justice in an organization, program, and/or community setting.
• Safety. Knowledge of occupational safety hazards and precautions.
• Technology. Comfort with learning new digital technologies and engaging with colleagues on efforts to upgrade county and division systems and practices.

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.
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Cover letter
• Resume

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

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 Sarah Dunkinson @

Work Schedule

This position is Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm. This position is FLSA exempt and not eligible for overtime.

Work location:

This position is based out of our Eastgate Office, 14350 SE Eastgate Wa