Education & Outreach Specialist

Job Description

The salary range for this position is $5,405.00 - $7,189.00 monthly.

Thurston County Public Works is recruiting for an Education & Outreach Specialist I to join our dynamic, energetic, and innovative Solid Waste team. The successful candidate will have experience implementing planning efforts to build community awareness, education, and outreach activities.

• Serves as primary staff member responsible for creating and updating outreach materials for the Public Works Solid Waste Division, including websites, social media, videos, and print materials.
• Serves as support staff for residential, commercial, youth, and multi‑family outreach programs, including assisting with waste sorts, attending events, making presentations to groups, and teaching recycling and waste reduction classes.
• Serves as liaison for county‑owned facilities, including updating outreach materials, signage and recycling information, and employee informational materials.
• Analyzes and interprets technical information and assists in developing new programs targeted to effectively reach appropriate audiences. Uses social marketing and behavior change theory to develop specific strategies to identify and reach target groups to promote participation and awareness.
• Develops, reviews, updates and revises informational and educational brochures. May oversee graphic design and production of materials. Develops materials for and assembles components of media campaigns targeted toward appropriate audiences. Evaluates the effectiveness of program information materials and methods and makes suggestions for modification.
• Conducts education seminars, workshops, “training the trainer” sessions in a group or individual setting.
• Collaboratively works as a team member with others to ensure program effectiveness. Coordinates activities and efforts to maximize program success in the community.

This position is considered to be an essential worker and may be required to work during non‑business hours or closures in order to meet operational requirements and needs.

• Work Environment – Office setting in Olympia, Washington.
• Schedule – Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Workload demands may occasionally require work outside the assigned work hours.
• Travel Requirements – Occasional travel may be required to attend, provide, and facilitate meetings or trainings.
• Customer Interactions – Daily interactions via phone, in‑person, and video with Thurston County staff and the public.

The Thurston County Public Works Department
, located in Olympia, Washington, is a national award‑winning agency in delivering quality projects to our community. Our mission is to provide excellent public services in all areas of our business. We actively help our staff develop and grow professionally, bring together resources across divisions to achieve organizational goals, and are always ready to respond to community needs. We are an American Public Works Association accredited agency, consistently meeting industry best practices benchmarks.

• Accountability – We take responsibility for our actions and the resulting outcomes.
• Customer Service – We provide our customers with the highest level of service and quality.
• Innovation – We strive to continuously improve processes, performance, and results.
• Safety – We demonstrate an uncompromising commitment to safety.
• Teamwork – We work together toward achieving a common recognized end.

To provide excellent public services in all areas of our business.

The premier public works organization, accountable and transparent in all services we provide to our community.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values.

Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion…