Primary purpose:
Responsible for conducting primarily sanitary inspections of selected food and beverage service establishments, food preparation, production, storage, sale or distribution establishments, schools, recreational and swimming pools, tanning salons, massage establishments, and other facility and/or site inspections for conformance to and violations of accepted health regulations, maintaining and promoting community health. Enforces various state government, municipal ordinances and other regulations, and sanitary and environmental codes regarding public health and safety.
Supervision:
Scope and Judgment: Performs inspections, answers questions, reviews plans and reviews relevant regulations and scientific information in order to enforce appropriate regulations and assist businesses and residents in problem solving a wide variety of environmental health concerns. Duties require mature and independent judgment and initiative to analyze, solve problems and make decisions based on departmental, city, state and federal policies and regulations. Exercises considerable judgment and initiative in performing duties.
Supervision Received: Position reports to the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, with additional support/oversight from the Deputy Commissioner. Operates in accordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations, department policies and procedures, requiring the ability to plan and perform operations to independently complete assigned tasks according to a prescribed time schedule. Incumbent independently establishes own daily work plan based on regular routine and special assignments.
Supervision Given: N/A
Job Environment:
Some work is performed under typical office conditions and other settings include: restaurants, private residents, school facilities, other facilities and outdoors environments.
Frequent contact with the general public, other town departments and officials, outside agencies, businesses, vendors, and other governmental organizations and attorneys, etc. Communication is by means of telephone, online meeting platforms, personal discussion, and correspondence and involves discussing routine information, requiring patience and courtesy.
Has access to confidential and sensitive information. Errors in judgment could result in significant delay or loss of services, legal ramifications, adverse public relations, and monetary loss.
Essential Functions:
(The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)
Responsibilities:
- Conducts food service establishments, food cart, bakery, day care centers, supermarkets and other retail or wholesale kitchens and other building and facility inspections for conformance to established regulations, ordinances and codes. Ensures sanitary and health codes are adhered to; violation citations are recommended and if approved, issued. Recommends facility or activity suspension or closure for violations.
- Educates food handlers in sanitary and food safety procedures.
- Periodically tests swimming pools or areas for contaminated or unsafe conditions; checks dumpsters, storage areas, and surroundings for improper or excessive refuse disposal, improper cleanliness, and care; records frozen desserts samplings.
- Investigates and/or follows up on reports of public health, welfare and safety complaints, food illnesses, noxious odors, animal and insect infestations, and septic problems. Responds to other public health emergencies. Interprets and enforces codes, statutes, and ordinances. Notes variances and violations and follows up accordingly.
- Collects food, ice cream, fluid and other samples for laboratory analysis and evaluations. Conducts some on-site tests. Reviews test or evaluation reports. Issues food cart permits. Reviews submitted plans. Makes recommendations on evaluations and approval as required.
- Responds to, follows up and documents received complaints of unsanitary conditions and other violations of regulations. Makes court and hearing appearances and presents expert testimony.
- Attends and participates in staff, department or other meetings, hearings. Serves on assigned committees. Maintains required contacts to keep abreast of developments within field or areas of interest; liaison with community and other groups.
- Follows and adheres to departmental, City and other government rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
- Performs other duties as required.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications:
Education, Training, and Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge of sanitary and health science or administration
Strong computer skills including Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel and experience using data bases.
A strong commitment to public service required.
Knowledge, Ability and Skill:
Knowledge: Background knowledge in environmental health standards. Strong organizational skills and the ability to work under pressure.
Ability: Position requires the ability to comprehend the scope of laws, rules and regulations pertaining to specialty area. Ability to organize time, work independently and accomplish tasks despite frequent interruptions. Ability to maintain detailed records and data base. Ability to operate various types of office equipment. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information. Ability to organize clerical and statistical records. Ability to maintain detailed and extensive records and to prepare reports from same. Ability to work effectively under time constraints to meet deadlines. Ability to deal tactfully and appropriately with the general public and City departments in an effective manner. Ability to interpret and follow departmental procedures and guidelines. Ability to be a strong team player. Ability to absorb and learn quickly and maintain a departmental sense of urgency. Ability to use judgement in the analysis of facts and circumstances to solve practical problems and deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. Ability to be a strong team player. Ability to absorb and learn quickly and maintain a departmental sense of urgency.
Skills: Expertise and skill in using personal computers and common computer programs (Outlook, Word, Powerpoint, Excel) and database and spreadsheet applications. Excellent customer service skills.
Physical requirements:
(The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, equipment, machinery or controls, and reach with hands and arms as in picking up/accessing paper, files, and other common office objects as well as equipment and supplies relating to programs and needs in the HHS Department. Lifts and/or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Manually operates all office equipment and other necessary equipment. Needs to operate a computer keyboard at an efficient speed.
Performance Standard:
Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.
(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)
THE CITY:
The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.
OUR GOVERNMENT:
Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Marc C. Laredo was sworn in on January 1, 2026 after serving on the City Council. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.
AS AN EMPLOYER:
The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing [email protected].
Human Resources Diversity Statement
We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:
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Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
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Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
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Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
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Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
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Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
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Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.
The targeted salary range reflects what the City of Newton reasonably and in good faith expects to offer for this position at the time of posting, but the final salary determination may be within or outside this range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and market factors. The range will be reviewed regularly and is subject to change.
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Health insurance
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Dental insurance
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Tuition Reimbursement
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Flexible Spending Accounts
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457 Deferred Compensation plans
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Metro Credit Union
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Verizon Wireless discount
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Employee Assistance Program
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Generous paid leave time benefits and paid holidays.
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City Retirement (Mandatory)
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Weekly Direct Deposit
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Opportunity to serve the public and join a dynamic team of dedicated employees
