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Environmental Health Inspector

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:
  • 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. 
Valid Massachusetts Driver’s License is 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:
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.