Public Health Toxicologist

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division (PHD), Environmental Public Health section in Portland, OR is seeking an Public Health Toxicologist to provide expert consultation to develop and implement policies that regulate or mitigate environmental risks to communities from toxic contaminants.

The Environmental Public Health Section identifies, assesses and reports on threats to human health from exposure to environmental and occupational hazards, and advises the people and communities of Oregon to best understand potential risks where they live, work and play in order to remain healthy and safe.

What will you do?
As the Public Health Toxicologist, you will quantitatively evaluate human health risks from exposure to environmental contaminants. You will conduct analysis of exposure pathways, evaluate and summarize toxicological literature, and make recommendations to reduce exposures. In addition, you will evaluate toxicity threshold values established by other jurisdictions and make recommendations for use in Oregon as well as advise and participate in the development of policies and laws that regulate or mitigate risks posed to communities from exposure to toxic contaminants in the environment.

In this position, you will provide information concerning the health effects of environmental contaminants to state and local partners and the public. You will review and provide input on environmental sampling plans; provide toxicological consultation to agencies and the public;  and develop policies and laws that control environmental hazards.

This position assists in the development of public outreach materials (health advisories, news releases, fact sheets, brochures, etc.) regarding potential health risks from exposure to environmental contaminants; gives presentations to agencies, the medical community and the public; responds to the public’s toxicological health questions; and communicates and engages the community with best practices to mitigate risk.

What’s in it for you?
You will work with a team of public health professionals who are passionate about the work they do to keep Oregonians safe from environmental and occupational hazards. Do you have experience in environmental toxicology? Do you have experience providing environmental health expertise? Do you have experience in community engagement?  If so, we want to connect with you!

Qualifications, Required & Requested Skills

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A Master’s degree in Toxicology or a closely-related field (such as Chemistry, Biology, or Physiology) and one year of local, federal or state environmental-health agency or university experience applying toxicology to related environmental contaminants.

Note: Transcripts are required to be attached to your application to meet the minimum qualifications. Transcripts must be from an accredited institution and clearly show 1) your name; 2) the name and address of the institution; 3) the degree received and; 4) required courses completed with a passing grade. For application purposes, photocopies are acceptable; however official or original documents may be requested to validate education. 

REQUESTED SKILLS

• Experience applying scientific knowledge to solve environmental health problems according to accepted theory and practice
• Experience applying health assessment techniques and methodologies, which may require some modification depending on details, technique or method appropriate to the issue at hand
• Experience conducting toxicological investigations, including dose-response evaluations and carcinogen risk assessment
• Experience assigning health hazard categories and recommending risk management strategies or public health actions for agency consideration
• Experience managing projects with many partners and stakeholders
• Experience developing personal work plans and priorities; and regulating workload
• Knowledge of the human health effects of chemicals
• Knowledge of biochemistry and pathology which relate to the field of toxicology
• Knowledge of laboratory procedures for scientific investigation of biological systems and environmental sampling
• Knowledge of principles of environmental fate and transport of toxins, and use in conducting human exposure assessments and statistics
• Knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations
• Knowledge of principles of epidemiology and related statistical tools and procedures.
• May serve as an agency expert in contested case hearings involving health effects of toxic substances
• Experience in promoting a culturally competent and diverse work environment.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications and most closely match the desired attributes will be invited for an interview.Additional Information

PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING WITH YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION

Please attach a cover letter that clearly addresses your experience as related to the requested skills listed above in the job announcement, Qualified applicants whose background most closely matches the requested skills will be invited to interview. Please save and attach as Cover Letter OHA18-0906.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
To apply, please follow these steps.

1. Complete the online application by clicking ‘to apply’ above. Resumes or position descriptions  will not be accepted in place of a completed application. Because of the volume of applications that apply, we do not review any attachments that are not specifically requested.
2. The work experience and/or education section of your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all of the minimum and special qualifications listed in the job announcement. If it does not, we are required to disqualify it.
3. Complete the supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be substantiated with the experience you listed in the work experience section of the application. If you say you have 10 years of experience in customer service, but don’t show 10 years of experience in the application, you may be disqualified.
4. Always attach your transcripts. We highly encourage you to attach your transcripts to every application you submit, even if you believe you qualify without them.

Caution: If you fail to follow these instructions, your application will be disqualified. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered nor will attachments such as transcripts be accepted after the close date.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT CHECKS:
If you are offered employment, the offer will be contingent upon the outcome of an abuse check, criminal records check and driving records check. The information will be shared with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Office of Human Resources (OHR) to determine employability with the agency. Any criminal or founded abuse history will be reviewed and could result in the withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment.

VETERANS INFORMATION:
If you are an eligible veteran and wish to claim veterans preference points AND you also meet the minimum qualifications for this position, veteran’s preference points will be awarded with verification . To receive veteran’s preference points you MUST attach the following required documentation to your electronic application.

>  A copy of your DD214/DD215 form; OR a letter from the US Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs indicating you receive a non-service connected pension for the five (5) point preference.
>  A copy of your DD214/DD215 form; AND a copy of your veterans’ disability preference letter from the Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs for the ten (10) point preference.

For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org, and select veterans’ preference.

NEED HELP?
If you need assistance to participate in the application process, you are encouraged to call Cyndi Phipps-Roman at 503-945-6377(voice) 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) Monday through Friday. TTY users please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service: 1-800-735-2900.

For technical support, please call toll free 1-855-524-5627, for customer service assistance.

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US!
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) includes most of the state’s health care programs, including Public Health, Health Policy and Analytics, Health Systems Division, and Oregon State Hospital. Incorporating the state’s health care programs within one agency gives the state greater purchasing and marketing power to begin tackling the issues of cost, quality, and access to care.

OHA strives to create inclusive environments that welcome and value the diversity of the people we serve. OHA fosters fairness, equity, and inclusion to create workplace environments where everyone is treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, physical stature, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political affiliation and any other factor applicable by state or federal law.

The Oregon Health Authority does not offer VISA sponsorships or transfers at this time.  Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States.