- Salary: $5,666.00 – $7,622.00 Monthly
- Location: Thurston County – Tumwater, WA
- Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
- Remote Employment: Remote Optional
- Job Number: DOH8701
- Department: Dept. of Health
- Division: Environmental Public Health (EPH)
- Opening Date: 09/22/2025
- Closing Date: 10/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
- Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description
Water Quality Restoration Technical Specialist – Public Health Advisor 3 (PHA3)
Shellfish Restoration Program
Office of Environmental Health & Safety | Division of Environmental Public Health
Permanent · Full-time · Hybrid/Field work
Come and work with a professional, engaged, well-respected team with the responsibility of assessing pollution risks around recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting areas and managing those areas based on the risks.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Division of Environmental Health, Office of Environmental Health and Safety, is searching for an innovative and collaborative professional to fill the Water Quality Restoration Technical Specialist position and be part of the team within the Shellfish Growing Area Section.
The Shellfish Growing Area Section is one of two sections within the Office of Environmental Health and Safety aimed at safe shellfish for consumers. The office’s mission is to enhance the health of Washington residents by reducing and preventing human exposure to environmental hazards and disease pathogens. The section evaluates and determines if shellfish harvest is safe on over 350,000 acres within Washington’s marine waters, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Pacific Coast, and coastal embayment’s, following state and federal standards.
We are seeking a Water Quality Restoration Technical Specialist to join our Shellfish Program’s Growing Area Section, reporting to the Growing Area Unit Supervisor. This role is central to protecting Washington’s shellfish growing areas and supporting communities that rely on them.
What you’ll do
- Serve as the technical specialist for the Water Quality Restoration Program, focusing on analyzing environmental conditions and water quality data, writing federally mandated reports, conducting fieldwork, recommending follow-up actions to ensure public health is protected, and routinely meeting with external partners on collaborative restoration projects.
- Assist with the management of conditionally approved growing areas and the coordination of conditional and emergency closures when environmental conditions pose health risks.
- Conducting routine marine sampling in Puget Sound by motorboat.
- Support the implementation of the Healthy Environments for All (HEAL) Act within OEHS and EPH, including:
- Working peer-to-peer with Tribal program staff and organizations.
- Supporting Tribal government-to-government obligations.
- Utilizing the HEAL community engagement process.
- Conducting environmental justice assessments for overburdened communities and vulnerable populations.
In this role, you’ll make a direct impact by, safeguarding public health through environmental safety measures, supporting communities that depend on shellfish and Puget Sound, and advancing environmental justice through the HEAL Act. You’ll apply science, policy, and community engagement to safeguard public health while working alongside dedicated colleagues and Tribal partners.
Location: Enjoy the flexibility of our hybrid work environment, where you can balance working from home, in the field, and in Tumwater WA. Attending events or working in the office is rarely required and would be scheduled in advance. It is anticipated that you’ll be expected to perform work activities in the field within the Western Washington region several days a month.
Required Qualifications (you must meet ONE of the provided options 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: Seven (7) years of experience in a consultative or advisory capacity in an environmental health, public health, natural science, or physical science program.
OPTION 2: A bachelor’s degree in public health, environmental health, environmental studies, natural or physical science or a closely allied field. AND Three (3) years of experience in a consultative or advisory capacity in an environmental health, public health, natural science, or physical science program.
AND for both options:
- Two (2) years of experience leading nonpoint pollution evaluations around fresh or marine waters, including technical report writing.
- One (1) year of experience safely operating power boats up to 25 feet in length in marine waters of the Puget Sound and in coastal embayment’s, including towing, launching, operating, navigating and retrieving them in all kinds of weather.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A master’s degree in public health, environmental health, environmental studies, natural or physical science or a closely allied field AND at least TWO (2) years of experience in environmental health, public health, natural science, or physical science program.
- Eight (8) years of experience in environmental health, public health, natural science, or physical science program.
- Three (3) years of experience leading nonpoint pollution evaluations around fresh or marine waters, including technical report writing.
- Two (2) years of experience safely operating power boats up to 25 feet in length in marine waters of the Puget Sound and in coastal embayment’s, including towing, launching, operating, navigating and retrieving them in all kinds of weather.
- Registered Sanitarian in Washington State or with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).
- Experience using ArcGIS
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:
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.
- This position is eligible for teleworking
- Perform my job duties either remotely from home or in person at the designated DOH site location.
- Travel when necessary to perform the core functions of the position. This may require overnight or multiple nights’ lodging.
- When driving for state business, legally in Washington operate a state or privately-owned vehicle.
- Engage in emergency response exercises and high-priority assignments as assigned during emergency events.
The work environment includes both office and field settings.
- Field activities include spending long hours on foot, walking over difficult terrain and up hills and time on a small boat and getting on/off the boat.
- Work environment includes being outside on the office’s motorboats 2-4 days per month. Some time is also spent in vehicles traveling to remote locations while towing boats.
- Moving, relocating or maneuvering supplies, equipment, or appurtenances of up to 50 pounds.
- Work outside during inclement weather occasionally.
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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 assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Andrea Thieme at employment@doh.wa.gov and reference the recruitment number (DOH8701).
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.
Employer: State of Washington
Address: View Job Posting for Agency Information, View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504
Website: http://www.careers.wa.gov
