Employment Opportunities
Regional Director of Public Health/Leicester Regional Public Health Coalition
The Town of Leicester is currently accepting applications for the full-time, benefitted role of Public Health Director for the Town of Leicester, the host community of the Leicester Regional Public Health Coalition. The Public Health Director will be responsible for overseeing a wide range of professional, administrative, and technical duties essential to the planning, management, and promotion of all municipal public health initiatives, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Public Heath (DPH), which funds the Coalition. This position requires interpreting, implementing, and enforcing public health laws, while also writing, managing, and reporting on regional grants, coordinating staff, and fostering communication with DPH and communities within the Coalition.
Recommended Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with a master’s degree preferred in Public Administration, Public Health, Business Administration or a related field; three to five (3-5) years of office/field experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Applicants must have a passion for enhancing public health through licensing/inspections, as well addressing other health issues such as hoarding, opioid abuse and youth/senior issues. Anticipated Hiring Range: $100,000 +/- (DOQ) based on a 38-hour work week. Please send resume and cover letter to: hr@leicesterma.org. Resumes will be reviewed as received. Position open until filled. The Town of Leicester is an equal opportunity employer.
Statement of Duties: Provides administrative management and technical oversight of the Town's public health programs; enforces public health laws and regulations; supervises nursing and inspectional services; and all other related work as required. Performs highly responsible work of a complex nature, requiring the exercise of considerable judgment in the interpretation and application of laws and local regulations to frequently changing conditions and problems. Administers regional public health grants for Leicester and several neighboring communities.
Supervision Required: Under the general direction of the Town Administrator, and the policy direction of the Board of Health, the employee plans and carries out regular work assignments in accordance with standard practices and previous training, with substantial responsibility for determining the sequence and timing of action and substantial independence in planning and organizing the work activities, including determining the work methods. The employee is expected to solve through experienced judgment most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve the particular problem. Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities.
Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with supervisor, but ordinarily the employee plans the work, lays it out and carries it through to completion independently. Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements; the methods used in arriving at the end result are not usually reviewed in detail.
Supervisory Responsibility: The employee is accountable for the provision of direction and guidance to other office staff and ensures the accomplishment of all office work. Plans, schedules, and coordinates work operations to meet schedules, deadlines and priorities; revises work schedules to meet changes in workload or availability of staff; makes recommendations to management regarding operational matters. The employee supervised works at the same location and work schedule.
Supervises the equivalent of seven or fewer full-time employees.
Confidentiality: The employee has access to department-oriented confidential information such as bid proposals, personnel records, and health records and should not be disseminated to non-involved parties.
Judgment: Work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Guidelines include a large body of policies, practices, and precedents which may be complex or conflicting, at times. Independent judgment is used to analyze and/or evaluate specific situations to determine appropriate actions.
Complexity: Work consists of the practical application of a variety of concepts, practices, and specialized techniques relating to a professional or technical field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact-finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work.
Work Environment: The employee performs work in a municipal office setting subject to frequent interruptions. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally pleasant. The employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in order to attend evening meetings or town-sponsored events. When working in the field, the employee will be subjection to existing weather and site conditions.
Nature and Purpose of Relationships: Relationships are primarily with subordinates, co-workers, elected and appointed officials and the public involving frequent explanation, discussion or interpretation of practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines in order to render service, plan or coordinate work efforts, or resolve operating problems. Other regular contacts are with service recipients and employees of outside organizations such as vendors doing business with the Coalition and representatives from other local and state agencies. More than ordinary courtesy, tact and diplomacy may be required to resolve complaints or deal with uncooperative or uninformed persons. The employee may furnish news media with routine information such as meeting agendas or departmental procedures.
Accountability: Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may result in adverse public relations, legal repercussions, lost financial opportunities, or jeopardized programs.
Essential Functions: The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type 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. Employee works with other office staff to ensure that all work coming into the Town Administrator’s Office is completed in a timely basis.
Develops, implements and evaluates preventive and environmental public health programming, including but not limited to nursing services, inspectional services, emergency preparedness and regulatory oversight of solid waste management.
Coordinates public health regulatory, and planning activities with diverse town boards and officials. Seeks funding opportunities and writes grants as needed.
Makes frequent contacts with state and local health officials, town officials, contractors, engineers, medical establishments, restaurants and other food establishments, and the general public to create new policies and promote public health.
Ensures Town is compliant with all state laws and regulations by issuing appropriate permits and licenses, and developing and implementing public health policies including, but not limited to:
Title V requirements
Complaints and investigation of alleged nuisances
Housing inspections: MRVP, and EEC (including initiation of legal action and appearing in court as necessary)
Mandatory Environmental Health Inspections, including restaurants, food handling and processing establishments, nursing homes, group residences, childcare centers, recreational camps for children, public pools and beaches, places of assembly, and other areas required by law.
Communicable diseases and hazardous waste reporting.
Any other areas a required by law.
Acts as the Right-to-Know Coordinator and is responsible for the implementation and administration of the program; investigates citizens' petitions under the Right-to-Know laws and responds accordingly.
Responsible for the maintenance of public health records and prepares monthly and annual reports; prepares budgets and payroll; schedules and plans all regular and special meetings of the Board of Health and prepares and recommends regulations for their adoption.
Maintains regular office hours.
Responsible for creation and submission of municipal grant applications, and management of awarded grants, including reconciliation and grant close out.
Performs other related duties as may be assigned.
Recommended Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree with a Master’s degree preferred in Public Administration, Public Health, Business Administration or a related field; three to five (3-5) years of office experience in an executive office; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: Knowledge of the principles and practices of public health administration. Working knowledge of the codes and laws relevant to public health conditions.
Working knowledge of current inspection and control procedures.
Ability to plan, coordinate and direct the activities of technical personnel. Ability to enforce and interpret regulations firmly, tactfully and impartially. Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
Basic computer skills are essential, with a working knowledge of MS-Word, MS-Excel and related computer programs.
.Ability: Ability to interact effectively and appropriately with the public, state and local officials, and other personnel and to perform work under stressful situations; ability to perform multiple tasks in an independent, detailed, and accurate manner; ability to deal with disgruntled members of the public; ability to use office software including word processing and spreadsheet applications in support of department operations. Ability to work with confidential, sensitive information.
Skill: Proficient computer skills including word processing and spread sheet applications, organizational skills, ability to read certain testing equipment, recordkeeping and clerical skills; proficient oral and written communication skills. Effective organizational skills.
Good public relations skills are a prerequisite. Massachusetts Class D driver's license required.
Errors could seriously endanger public health and safety, result in inadequate conditions of sanitation, and present legal ramifications for communities in the Coalition.
Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those 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 position’s essential functions.
Physical Skills: Minimal physical effort generally required for work performed in office; moderate effort required periodically in the field. May be required to stoop, bend, reach and smell at an inspection site. Must be able to access all areas of an inspection site. Frequently required to spend several hours walking or standing. Inspection oversight work is performed under varying conditions with frequent exposure to various weather conditions and the hazards associated with environmental emergencies, construction sites; potential exposure to communicable diseases and hazardous waste. Ability to operate a keyboard and conduct tests which require fine motor skills.
Motor Skills: Position requires basic motor skills for activities such as: operating a personal computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, moving objects and the sorting of papers.
Visual Skills: The employee is required to routinely read documents and reports for understanding and analytical purposes. The employee is rarely required to determine color differences. Normal ability to hear and understand verbal statements such as answering the department's telephone and to meet and greet customers at a counter.
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.
Mechanic – DPW Highway
Wanted: Mechanic. This is a full-time, benefited, union position. Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Under the direction of the Director of Public Works, the Mechanic performs highly skilled and complex mechanical repairs including inspecting, repairing, fabricating, rebuilding and maintaining municipal light and heavy duty equipment. The Mechanic performs all engine and emission maintenance as well as repairs on all trucks and equipment and, where necessary, performs all drive train component work, as well as suspension and steering systems repairs and maintenance on light and heavy-duty trucks and other vehicles. This position requires advanced knowledge of snow plows, snow equipment and sanders, engine drive trains, suspension and steering systems, electrical and hydraulic systems, advanced air brake and valve systems, as well as advanced knowledge of engine chassis, body control systems, and heating and air conditioning systems, to be able to perform advanced-level repair and maintenance in compliance with safety procedures and requirements. In addition, responsible for welding to repair equipment, ensuring adherence to all safety requirements. Starting Salary: $26.04 per hour. Interested applicants please send cover letter and resume with three professional references to: Assistant Town Administrator, Town of Leicester, 3 Washburn Square, Leicester, Massachusetts 01524 or e-mail hr@leicesterma.org AA/EOE