Legal Advisor Jobs

Summary

The Environmental Health Services Division (EHS) of Public Health - Seattle & King County is seeking a skilled, enthusiastic, and dedicated Legal Advisor (Project / Program Manager IV). The individual in this position will be responsible for providing day-to-day legal, code-related guidance, interpretation, and support to staff at all levels, and policy input and coordination for programs of the Environmental Health Services (EHS) division. The position also supports the organization’s longer-term policy vision and projects by coordinating and providing input on proposed state legislation and Board of Health rulemaking. This position will report to the EHS Deputy Director and will work alongside another Legal Advisor.

Why Apply?
A successful candidate will have the opportunity to protect public health and the environment in King County by providing code analysis and support to subject matter experts and staff in the Environmental Health Services Division. The candidate will support and help staff achieve success in their programs and enable them to have confidence they have legal standing for their decisions and recommendations.

Role of Legal Advisor
The Legal Advisor position resides within the Administration-Operations (“Admin-Ops”) section of Environmental Health Services Division. This section provides administrative support for all EH programs and includes the division’s financial administration, permit application and issuance services, business process improvement and communications services, education engagement and outreach services, and code compliance enforcement support services.

About the Environmental Health Services Division
Through the work of 165+ dedicated employees, the Environmental Health Services Division identifies and sustains environmental conditions that promote health equity and healthy people and communities in Seattle and King County. Our vision is healthy, safe, and vibrant communities that are free of health disparities based on race, gender or economic status. The Division’s core values include equity and social justice, integrity, community service, collaboration, a supportive work culture, and learning from each other and the communities we serve.

To learn more, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/ehs.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice
Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and racial justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Job Duties

• Policy and procedure development and revision, including working with staff to develop policy and procedure guidance documents; helping staff identify and attain key milestones and program goals; and identifying and integrating equity and racial justice principles into policy development and implementation.
• King County Board of Health (BOH) rulemaking support, including providing code drafting and revision support for staff; coordinating communications between the BOH Administrator and staff; and assisting the BOH Administrator and staff in planning and tracking activities including policy development, language development, and partner outreach.
• SEPA-related support, including providing guidance and coordination for EH program staff engaged in environmental review activities under Washington's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
• State legislation policy development and bill review, including coordinating and facilitating communications by and between EH subject matter experts and Public Health's government relations and policy development staff; participating in legislative policy development communications; providing guidance to EH legislative subject matter experts on reviewing and providing commentary on proposed state legislation relating to environmental health issues and activities.
• Code compliance and related legal support, including providing timely guidance to EH staff on code interpretation and application; drafting legal notices, liens, and other documents to support code enforcement activity; participating in planning meetings and field visits with program staff to provide legal guidance and communications support for their code enforcement efforts; assisting staff in preparation for and participation in code compliance meetings and hearings, including hearings before the King County Hearing Examiner; providing communication assistance between EH staff and King County deputy prosecuting attorneys; and assisting staff in reviewing and drafting policies for conducting health code compliance enforcement activities.

Subject matter areas of focus include:

• Water recreation facilities (pools, spas, water parks);
• Chemical/physical hazards (indoor air quality, hazardous chemical contamination; healthy home environments; emerging diseases or other public health threats);
• Rates and fees for permits and regulatory services for the preceding subject areas; and
• On-site sewage systems;
• Hazardous waste management;
• Biomedical waste handling;
• Pet businesses (pet shops, animal shelters, pet grooming businesses, pet daycares);
• Retail food establishments (restaurants, groceries, temporary events, farmers markets, food trucks);
• Small public drinking water supply systems, including wells;
• Rodent control;
• Plumbing and gas piping (including non-potable rainwater systems);
• Other topics of public health concern as may be raised from time to time by community partners, the King County Board of Health, or the Director of Public Health.
• Solid waste handling facilities (transfer stations, landfills, recycling facilities, composting facilities, and solid waste vehicles);

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Demonstrated ability applying principles of equity and racial justice in government or organizational programs, including leading or participating in identifying and implementing strategies for change, for example, revisions to codes, policies, and practices in order to promote and attain racially just and equitable outcomes.
• Skill in partnership building and working collaboratively with internal and external partners around complex and politically sensitive topics.
• Juris Doctorate or equivalent work experience. Washington State Bar membership not required.
• Experience working in large government, non-profit, or private organization, including leading projects of significance on behalf of organizational leadership.
• Demonstrated experience with code/rule/bill/policy review, interpretation, and development.
• Demonstrated prior work experience in one or more environmental or public health related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working with demographically diverse populations (e.g., based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, ability, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status).
• Demonstrated writing and speaking proficiency on legal matters.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience providing legal support, including risk assessment and procedural guidance, to one or more regulatory bodies of work, particularly related to public health.
• Experience working with program managers and staff to identify and pursue effective courses of action in response to new or emerging issues.
• Experience working in a highly collaborative government program or coalition.

Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military), volunteer experience, or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills in supplemental question #1 and how they apply to this position.

Supplemental Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply
This position is open to all qualified candidates.

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

• NEOGOV/Government Jobs online or paper application.
• Letter of Interest - outlining why you are interested in position
• Writing Sample - please submit a legal brief or legal memorandum with your application. You only need to submit one sample and can be one type of document (either a brief or memorandum).
• Responses to the supplemental questions.

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.

Note: Online applications are preferred. However, if you cannot apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options. If you need an accommodation in the recruitment process or an alternate format of this announcement, please inquire directly with the contact listed on the job announcement or Public Health's Human Resources Service Delivery Manager.

Information Sessions
We will be holding information sessions for candidates interested in learning more about the role and recruitment process. These sessions will take place on August 23, 2023 and will be for 20 minutes, so there is limited availability. If interested in attending, please contact Carina Elsenboss at [email protected] to schedule a time by August 20, 2023, 11:59pm.

Work Schedule
This full-time position is subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for overtime. The normal workweek is Monday – Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work is required.

Work Location
Primarily office work, with occasional field work accompanying staff on site visits to regulated facilities and public and private properties to investigate potential and actual violations of public health rules and regulations. Includes meetings with property owners and occupants, representative of other local, state, and federal agencies, and interested community members. The work associated with this position will be performed predominately through a hybrid work schedule of onsite and remote work. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Necessary Special Requirements

• You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
• Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation.

Union Membership
This position is not represented by a labor union.

Contact
For any questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact HR Supervisor, Ma-Eyongerie Frambo at 206-263-3587 or [email protected].