Wellness & Safety Officer
Salary
$68,030.47 - $87,579.00 Annually
Location
Portsmouth, VA
Job Type
Full-Time Regular
Job Number
FY2025-01411
Department
Human Resource Management
Opening Date
06/04/2026
Closing Date
6/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions
GENERAL STATEMENT
Under general supervision, this position is responsible for administering a comprehensive city-wide health management program to include advanced professional level planning, research, and implementation of wellness, fitness and nutritional programs, and building close partnerships with health, medical, and nutritional professionals to promote positive lifestyle changes and the wellness of city employees. Reports to Director of Human Resource Management or Human Resource Manager.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Manages and develops the citys employee wellness program; develops resources, conducts research, plans and coordinates a variety of health training programs and events to promote supportive programs, in areas of wellness, to encourage healthy life choices; creates awareness, motivates, and provides employees with tools to adapt and maintain a well-rounded healthy lifestyle; plans and develops programs to education and promote overall wellness.
Organizes base participation by building committees, departmental teams, and developing partnerships with departments and agencies; designs and coordinates newsletters, health bulletins and awareness campaigns; and evaluates effectiveness of wellness programs; and coordinates the public safety fitness assessment process/facility, and pre-employment testing.
Makes use of current resources, solicits and develops partnerships and resources; creates opportunities for employees to take advantage of fitness assets available in the community; coordinates activities with other recreation teams and related agencies; evaluates programs and dedicated events through feedback from team members, surveys and program participants.
Establishes policies and procedures related to fitness and wellness programs and serves as a liaison and resource to community organizations; solicits and develops partnerships with businesses and other agencies to further fund and support programs.
Coordinates with other city departments or outside agencies as necessary; may serve on special committees or projects; maintains and manages contractual arrangements for specialized consulting services, and prepares reports; coordinates wellness events.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Knowledge of Job: Knowledgeable of health, wellness, medical and safety guidelines and regulations. Has knowledge of the city's organization and operational policies and procedures. Has considerable knowledge of safety principles, practices and techniques. Has considerable knowledge of the current literature, trends, and developments in the field of wellness and health. Has general knowledge of administrative, managerial, and team building practices and techniques involved in directing a health and wellness services. Is able to operate a variety of office machines, including popular computer driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs. Is able to provide leadership and to supervise the planning, development and establishment of new wellness programs, services and activities. Is able to make oral presentations before large groups of people. Is able to work with a variety of officials at different levels of government under differing managerial controls and at different physical locations. Is able to exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with employees, outside service vendors or agency representatives, and the public. Is able to exercise tact and discretion in handling confidential personnel matters. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all city departments and divisions, co-workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons and departments within the city.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public so as to maintain good will toward the city and project a good city image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain goodwill within the city. Interacts effectively with department heads, legal department, fellow employees, Budget Manager, Employee Benefits Manager, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events.
Planning: Plans, directs and uses information effectively in order to enhance activities and production of the department. Knows and understands the expectations of the city regarding the activities of the department and works to see that these expectations are met. Designs and formulates ways, means and timing to achieve the goals and objectives of the department and the city. Within the constraints of city policy, formulates the appropriate strategy and tactics for achieving departmental and city objectives. Organizes, arranges and allocates manpower, financial and other designated resources in an efficient and effective way so as to achieve the goals and objectives of the department and city.
Organizing: Organizes work and that of subordinate staff well. Ensures that staff members know what results are expected of them and that they are regularly and appropriately informed of all city and department matters affecting them and/or of concern to them.
Staffing: Works with other city officials and management to select and recommend employment of personnel for the department who are qualified both technically and philosophically to meet the needs of the department and the city. Personally directs the development and training of department personnel in order to ensure that they are properly inducted, oriented and trained.
Leading: Provides a work environment which encourages clear and open communications. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of the principles of effective leadership and how such principles are to be applied. Provides adequate feedback to staff so that they know whether their performance levels are satisfactory. Commends and rewards employees for outstanding performance yet does not hesitate to take disciplinary action when necessary. Exercises enthusiasm in influencing and guiding others toward the achievement of city goals and objectives.
Controlling: Provides a work environment which is orderly and controlled. Coordinates, audits and controls manpower and financial resources efficiently and effectively. Coordinates, audits and controls the utilization of materials and equipment efficiently and effectively. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of city standards, methods and procedures.
Delegating: Assigns additional duties to staff as necessary and/or appropriate in order to meet department goals, enhance staff abilities, build confidence on the job and assist staff members in personal growth. Has confidence in staff to meet new or additional expectations.
Decision Making: Uses discretion and judgment in developing and implementing courses of action affecting the department. When a particular policy, procedure or strategy does not appear to be achieving the desired result, moves decisively and definitively to develop and implement alternatives.
Creativity: Regularly seeks new and improved methodologies, policies and procedures for enhancing the effectiveness of the department and city. Employs imagination and creativity in the application of duties and responsibilities. Is not adverse to change.
Human Relations: Strives to develop and maintain good rapport with all staff members. Listens to and considers suggestions and complaints and responds appropriately. Maintains the respect and loyalty of staff.
Policy Implementation: Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of city policies regarding the department and city function. Adheres to those policies in the discharge of duties and responsibilities and ensures the same from subordinate staff.
Policy Formulation: Keeps abreast of changes in operating philosophies and policies of the city and continually reviews department policies in order to ensure that any changes in city philosophy or practice are appropriately incorporated. Also understands the relationship between operating policies and practices and department morale and performance. Works to see that established policies enhance same.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Education, Experience & Special Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Health, Exercise Science, Business Administration or a related field, and 3-5 years of experience developing and implementing wellness programs, or an equivalent combination of education and training.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Must have a CPR Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days. An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check.
Physical Demands
Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines which includes computers, calculators, etc. Must be able to lift and/or carry weights of twenty to fifty pounds. Must be able to exert up to ten pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for periods of time.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to subordinates and assistants.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, health care claims, actuarial valuation, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence such as but not limited to, using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to plan work and develop procedures; to learn and/or evaluate complex information in order to make judgments and decisions.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to use and interpret various medical, legal, computer and government accounting terminology and language.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide; to utilize decimals and percentages, interpret graphs, compute discounts, interest and perform calculations.
Form/Spatial Aptitude:Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination:Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under moderate to high levels of stress.
Physical Communication: This position may require a moderate amount of walking and must have the ability to occasionally twist, turn, push, pull bend, crawl, crouch, stoop, kneel and climb. The office work portion of this position requires sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis and routine keyboard operations.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS
The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
The city of Portsmouth offers a complete and comprehensive benefit package to full-time employees including: medical, dental, vision, legal, Flexible Spending Accounts, basic and optional life insurance, short-term disability insurance, Virginia Retirement System (includes a mandatory 5% employee contribution), holidays, vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plan, and Chartway Credit Union. To learn more details, visit http://va-portsmouthhr.civicplus.com/.
01
Do you have at least a Bachelor's degree in Health, Exercise Science, Business Administration or a related field?
02
Do you have a valid drivers license with an acceptable driving record?
03
Do you possess a CPR certification or have the ability to obtain within 60 days from date of hire?
04
Do you have at least 3-5 years of experience developing and implementing wellness programs?
05
Please describe your experience developing and implementing wellness programs.
Required Question
Employer City of Portsmouth
Address 801 Crawford Street
2nd Floor Human Resource Management
Portsmouth, Virginia, 23704
Phone (757) 393-8626