Primary purpose:
Responsible for inspection and investigatory work pertaining to the enforcement of applicable health and safety codes, protection of public health, and control of disease. Conducts sanitary inspections in food establishments, private residences, pools, tanning salons, recreational camps for children, and other facilities. Enforces various state and municipal laws and regulations related to public and environmental 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 Director of Public Health Services. 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:Provides day-to-day supervision of Environmental Health Inspectors including training, assigning and reviewing work, resolving ordinary difficulties, and providing guidance and constructive feedback.
Job Environment:
Some work is performed under typical office conditions. Other settings include: restaurants, private residences, school facilities, businesses, and outdoor environments.
Frequent contact with the general public, other city 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.)
• Enforce laws and regulations related to food safety by reviewing plans and issuing permits, inspecting food service establishments for adherence to relevant laws and regulations, investigating foodborne illnesses, and issuing violation citations or taking other enforcement action as appropriate.
• Investigate and respond to reports of unsanitary, dangerous, and/or unsafe living conditions and environments. Enforce related laws and regulations.
• Enforce laws and regulations related to pools, bathing beaches, tanning, body art, keeping of animals, recreational camps for children, and other public and environmental health related laws and regulations by reviewing plans and issuing permits, conducting inspections, collecting samples, reviewing test reports, and issuing violation citations or taking other enforcement action as appropriate.
• Investigate and respond to reports of code violations and unsanitary conditions including, but not limited to, rodents and other pests, public health nuisances, solid waste, hazardous waste, etc.
• Interpret and enforce laws and regulations fairly and impartially. Assess the seriousness of public and environmental health problems and respond appropriately based on the relevant regulations and using a public health approach.
• Educate business owners, homeowners, residents, and other community members on laws and regulations and best practices for maintaining sanitation and preventing disease or injury.
• Prepare complete and accurate inspection reports. Prepare order letters, violation notices, and other documents.
• Participate in staff meetings. Serve on assigned committees and working groups, serve as liaison to community organizations.
• Assist with departmental initiatives including, but not limited to, quality improvement projects, data collection, developing standard operating procedures, and completing grant deliverables.
• Maintain knowledge of regulation changes and current public and environmental health trends and science.
• Provide testimony at hearings and court proceedings.
• Follow and adhere to departmental, City and other governmental rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Coordinate and review work assigned to the environmental health unit according to departmental standards and policies/procedures developed by the Director of Public Health Services.
• Provide training, retraining, and support to Environmental Health Inspectors including having them shadow on inspections, resolving ordinary difficulties, offering guidance in problem resolution, and sharing best practices.
• Participate in critical thinking and research for less common issues that arise. Resolve complex cases not clearly defined by precedent or established procedures.
• Performs other duties as required.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications:
Education, Training, and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in science, public health, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional two years of experience as a municipal environmental health inspector or equivalent experience as determined by the Commissioner of Health and Human Services.
Attainment of certifications and trainings for inspections performed based on the needs of the department, such as certified food safety manager, housing inspection training, certified pool operator/inspector, lead determinator, soil evaluator, septic system inspector, and other certifications and trainings as determined by the department or the MA Department of Public Health.
Attainment of national or MA state level Registered Sanitarian Certification.
A strong commitment to public service required.
Valid Massachusetts Driver’s License is required.
Knowledge, Ability and Skill:
Knowledge.Strong knowledge of public health, environmental health, and principals of sanitation. 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 database. 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. Ability to oversee and direct personnel.
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. Strong written and oral communication 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 hr@newtonma.gov.
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:
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.