Salary Grade: M2.816
Salary Range: $5,210.00 – $7,358.00- per month
Close Date: 10/6/2022

Learn more about this position and apply today at Clark County’s website.

Job Description:

Clark County Public Health’s (CCPH) mission is to work with others to protect and improve the health of all people in Clark County. We protect the community’s health by preventing disease and responding to health threats. We influence conditions that promote health, such as access to healthy and affordable foods, clean water, health care and neighborhoods that are safe for walking and biking. We minimize the impact of disease outbreaks through vaccination efforts, early detection, and swift responses. CCPH’s Healthy Communities program collaborates with community partners to make data-informed recommendations that are designed to positively impact living conditions and improve health outcomes for all people in Clark County. 

This position works within the Healthy Communities Team to support the development of strategies and approaches to improve public health outcomes through land use planning, community development, and sustainability projects. The Built Environment Coordinator will work to highlight the connection between the physical built environment (streets, sidewalks, parks, etc.) and the health of people living and working in those places. This position will report to the Healthy Communities Lifecourse Program Manager II.   

Other responsibilities include understanding and promoting the public health mission of the department; providing courteous, respectful, efficient customer service to all colleagues and partners; honoring diversity of all department employees and constituents; participating in department training and applying what is learned in our work; and striving for personal excellence in public health.  

This is a full-time, exempt position with full benefits. Information on County benefits can be found here: https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/employee-benefits

Qualifications:

Education and Experience: 

Bachelor’s Degree in public health, urban planning, or related field, plus two years of experience in program/project implementation is required. Incumbents must demonstrate experience working with diverse community members, group facilitation, and program coordination.  All combinations of education, experience and training that demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered. Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Public Health or related field and experience preferred. 

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We will consider any combination of relevant education, work experience, lived experience, and transferable skills for this position.

Work is Accomplished By:  

  • Evaluating and assessing potential disparate health impacts of built environment programs, plans, and policies and make recommendations to decision-making bodies on how to advance health equity, maximize health co-benefits, and minimize health risks 
  • Engaging partners interested in the intersection of transportation, climate change and health equity to discuss, develop and explore policy solutions to adapt public health impacts to mitigate climate change, transportation and built environment inequities and disparities 
  • Using health and equity data to communicate the relationship between health and the built environment.
  • Organizing and implementing trainings on the relationship of public health to the built environment 
  • Participating on local/regional transportation committees  
  • Working with local jurisdictions and cross-sector partners to invest resources upstream by prioritizing a health and racial equity lens into regional, countywide and local planning to expand economic opportunity while protecting human health and the environment. 
  • Empowering planners and local communities to address social determinants of health and health inequities. 
  • Serving as a healthy community planning subject matter expert providing community planning advice, coordination, policies, and practices to the Department. 

This work will lead to:  

  • Thriving community partnerships 
  • More activity-friendly spaces and routes to everyday destinations in Clark County 
  • More equitable investments in neighborhoods/communities    
  • Increased civic engagement, community connectiveness, economic prosperity, public safety, and physical activity 

The Focus Areas of This Position are:  

  • Highlighting health impacts of policies and planning pertaining to the built environment, particularly those relating to land use, urban planning and neighborhood development, and green spaces to advance public health, racial equity and climate change mitigation/resilience
  • Capacity building with community partners (i.e., providing technical assistance and grant writing support for built environment initiatives)  
  • Creating and maintaining relationships and strategic partnerships 

Task and Responsivities:

Program Coordination FTE: 0.35 

  • Coordinates and tracks unified communication between all partners on priority initiatives  
  • Facilitates implementation and management of work plan activities using evidence-based best practices in collaboration with county staff, community partners, and stakeholders  
  • Ensures workplan activities and timelines/outcomes are completed or adjusted as needed to meet the evolving needs of the community.  
  • Sources subject matter expertise and best practice research to inform program and policy recommendations 

Community Partnership and Engagement FTE: 0.35  

  • Engages internal and external partners on activities related to the built environment 
  • Identifies, develops, engages, and maintains strategic partnerships with statewide/regional organizations, associations, and government agencies to increase awareness of the relationship between the built environment and health/health equity 
  • Identifies, develops, engages, and maintains local strategic partnerships with community-based organizations to elevate the voice of residents living in underserved areas 

Community Capacity Building FTE: 0.15  

  • Works with partners to advocate for equitable community investments and/or high priority policy, system, and environmental change initiatives related to the built environment. Seeks funding to implement evidence-based or innovative prevention initiatives in collaboration with community partners
  • Makes training opportunities available in social determinants of health and built environment 

Additional Duties FTE: 0.15  

  • Participates in departmental, community, and state-level committees/workgroups/trainings   
  • Performs other staff duties and tasks as assigned 

Selection Process:

Submitting a resume and cover letter is strongly recommended. All documents must be attached together in the ‘Resume Upload’ section of the application. Multiple files are allowed, but all applicant attachments must be uploaded simultaneously, as there is no way to edit or append uploaded materials after submitting the application. 

Application Review (Pass/Fail) – An online application is required.  Attaching a resume does not substitute for a completed application; incomplete applications will not pass the application review. Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Practical Exam (Pass/Fail) – This recruitment may require a practical exam which will be job related and may include, but not be limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Oral Interview – The interview will be job related and may include, but not be limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Top candidate(s) will continue in the process.

Employment References will be conducted for the final candidates and may include verification of education.

It is the general policy of the County that new employees should be hired at the lower steps of the applicable range and advance through the range at the normal progression.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:  

  • How the built environment impacts public health  
  • Tools and strategies used to improve public health outcomes through city and county planning, sustainability initiatives, housing policy, community economic/development and transportation investments 
  • Key components of cultural competency; awareness of differences, attitude to examine believes and values, knowledge of differences and skills to effectively and appropriately work across cultures  
  • The impact of socioeconomic status, race, racism, ethnicity, mental or physical ability, religion, gender, gender expression, gender identity on behavior, attitudes and values related to health   

Skills:  

  • Conduct effective outreach, build awareness and capacity by engaging the community and internal partners in the land use, urban planning and transportation planning processes 
  • Demonstrated skills in technical assistance in planning, transportation and activity-friendly environments  
  • Demonstrated project management and facilitation skills  
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills 

Ability to:  

  • Design and implement community engagement strategies related to public health and the built environment 
  • Identify and share knowledge of root causes of chronic diseases, social determinants of health, risk and protective factors, community empowerment and positive/meaningful community engagement 
  • Work autonomously with strategic supervision in the development and implementation of a project  
  • Demonstrate use of good judgment and the knowledge of when to seek additional help  
  • Confer with colleagues and partners about issues of public health significance  
  • Effectively work with persons from diverse backgrounds including age, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, socioeconomic status, physical characteristics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, veteran status, health status, genetic predisposition, political belief or mental or physical ability 
  • Prepare effective correspondence, policy briefs, and reports
  • Respond to public health emergencies or exercise at any time, except while on scheduled vacation or other leave.  In addition, leaves may be cancelled under public health emergencies

General Statement

Organizational responsibilities include understanding and promoting the public health mission of the department; providing courteous, respectful, efficient customer service to all department clients; honoring diversity of all department employees and constituents; participating in department training; and striving for personal excellence in public health work.

Knowledge of:

Key components of cultural competency; awareness of differences, attitude to examine beliefs and values, knowledge of differences and skills to effectively and appropriately work across cultures.

Skills:

  • Apply understanding and knowledge of cultural differences and similarities when working with diverse populations.

Other Necessary Qualifications:

  • Must be able to respond to public health emergencies or exercises at any time, except while on scheduled vacation or other leave.  In addition, leaves may be cancelled under public health emergencies.
  • Must protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal law.
  • Must adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines, including but not limited to timely completion of mandatory trainings.
  • Possess a valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance and has access to reliable transportation.
  • Must adhere to the Department employee immunity policy and provide documents as requested. 
  • Maintenance of specific licenses (if appropriate).
  • Possess a valid driver’s license, insurance and have access to reliable transportation.  
  • Must be able to attend in-person/virtual 1-2 regional, state and/or national meetings/conferences annually  

Recruiter: Rori Jones | Rori.Jones@clark.wa.gov

Equal Opportunity Employer

Clark County is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, access, and delivery of all county services. Clark County’s Equal Employment Opportunity Plan is available at http://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents.

Employee Benefits and Additional Compensation

Clark County provides regular full-time and part-time employees with a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, vision and dental insurance, paid leave, flexible spending accounts, life insurance and long-term disability, retirement, and deferred compensation.  Some types of employees in some positions and bargaining units might have different benefits and additional compensation.  More specific benefit information for the different bargaining units can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/employee-benefits. Also please refer to the specific bargaining unit contract for additional compensation at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents.

Retirement Information:

All Clark County employees must participate in a WASHINGTON STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PLAN (PERS, PSERS or LEOFF). Employee contributions begin the first day of work. Current contribution rates vary by plan but could range from 5% to 15% of gross pay, depending on the plan choice. 

For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems’ web site here: http://www.drs.wa.gov/

If you are in need of ADA/Section 504 assistance for accommodations, please contact Human Resources at (564) 397-2456; Relay (800) 833-6388.