Health Agent

Position Title:  Health Agent

Department:  Board of Health Department

Reports To:  Municipal Services Director

FLSA Status:  FLSA exempt, full-time, benefit eligible

Position Grade:  Personnel Policies, Grade 11 (Grade 12 eff. 7/1/25)

Rate:  Pay range $75,806 - $98,548 ($86,904 - $117,320 eff. 7/1/25) actual pay based on qualifications

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, Mon.- Fri.

Nature of Work: The Health Agent manages a wide range of health programs in accordance with local policies, bylaws and state mandates. The Health Agent provides leadership to Health Department staff for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a broad range of public health programs in the following areas: Environmental Health (sanitation and environmental protection), Community Health (public health nursing, social services/mental health plus health education and wellness programming), Administration (resources, personnel, communications and emergency preparedness) and any other duties as assigned. The Health Agent works closely with the appointed Board of Health, administers the Title 5 septic regulations, oversees the communicable disease program, coordinates health education and health promotion programs, develops and strengthens Town-wide community health partnerships, and works to improve access to high quality health services for all Town residents. 

Supervision Required:  Employee works under the direct supervision of the Director of Inspectional Services.  The employee plans, prioritizes, and carries out the regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training.  The employee interprets instructions and/or adapts methods to resolve particular problems.  Instructions for new assignments usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines, and priorities.  Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with supervisor.  Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions of decisions, and conformance with policy, or other requirements.

3.     Supervisory Responsibility:  Employee has direct supervision of all subordinate full time and part time positions and interns.

Confidentiality:  Employee has regular access to confidential information of the department.  Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy and the Public Records Act.

Accountability:  Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include adverse public relations, monetary loss, personal injury, and danger to public safety and legal repercussions to the Town.

Judgment:  Guidelines may be in the form of administrative or organizational policies, general principles, legislation or directives that pertain to a specific department or functional area. The employee is recognized as the functional area’s authority in interpreting the guidelines, in determining how they should be applied, and in making recommendations for operating policies, standards, or criteria.

Complexity:  The work consists of a variety of duties which generally follow standardized practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines.  The sequence of work and/or the procedures followed vary according to the nature of the transaction and/or the information involved, or sought, in a particular situation.

Nature and Purpose of Relationships:  Employee constantly interacts with co-workers 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 property owners, business owners or contractors.  Excellent communication and customer service skills are required involving courtesy, tact, and diplomacy in resolving complaints or concerns of the public.

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 logical assignment to the position.

1. Provide advice, documentation, and support to the Board of Health in identifying and establishing programmatic priorities, promulgating regulations, and developing policies; provide clear and timely communications to the appropriate parties, and provide factual reporting.
2. Enforces state and local public health codes; oversees the daily operation of the department; performs field inspections to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Ensure the administration and enforcement of the department’s numerous sanitation codes and environmental health regulatory obligations, including education, inspection, licensing and enforcement functions; encompassing food establishments, schools, housing, camps, and others.
3. Conducts inspections of restaurants, retail food establishments, temporary food service establishments, mobile food units, school cafeterias, nursing homes, church kitchens, motels, bed and breakfast establishments, recreational camps, campgrounds, tanning salons, semi-public and public swimming pools, body art/body works establishments, mobile home parks and tobacco selling establishments to ensure compliance with local and State codes, as necessary.
4. Conducts housing inspections and investigates nuisance complaints and issues enforcement orders and issues letters of non-compliance when necessary.
5. Reviews all disposal works construction permits; reviews building permit applications when septic compliance may be an issue.
6. Inspects septic installations (excavation and final); schedules and conducts septic certifications; assists installers and the public with septic design issues
7. Witness and oversees soil and percolation tests of sites for private sewage disposal systems.
8. Reviews and approves permit applications for irrigation and potable wells.
9. Assists citizens with complaints or requests for information such as Lyme disease, disaster preparedness; coordinates disbursing of flu vaccine.
10. Responds to questions pertaining to septic systems, air quality, housing, water quality, nuisances, solid waste, lead paint and any other public health issues from the public, businesses, contractors, etc.
11. Maintains records of all phases of inspections including related correspondence and inspection results.
12. Prepares and reconciles all monies and invoices for the Board of Health and Medical Reserve Corps. Including set up and maintaining escrow accounts for Consultants.    
13. Prepares detailed and accurate reports and makes presentations as required; observes conditions and issues notices of correction and related violations.
14. Conducts visual surveys of the Town in order to identify dilapidated structures, renovation or repair activity and abatement of nuisances.
15. Assists with collection of weekly beach water samples seasonally (required by State).
16. Prepares Agenda for Board of Health meetings, attends all BOH meetings; responsible for   drafting and issuance of the Boards’ decisions from regular meetings; provides information and advice to the elected Board of Health pertaining to variance hearings and other agenda items.
17. Attends various DEP, DPH, and MHOA seminars to obtain information and maintain accreditation
18. Serves as the Town’s Coordinator of Medical Reserve Corps in accordance with the Emergency response Plan.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience:  Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health or Environmental Science and three to five (3-5) years prior work experience in the building or code enforcement field; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements: 

Valid Driver’s License

Registered Sanitarian

Certified Health Officer (CHO)

MA DEP Certified Title 5 Soil Evaluator

MA DEP Certified Title 5 System Inspector

Certified ServSafe Manager

Certification as Pool Operator (CPO)

Lead Determination Certification

MA Housing Inspection Training (PHIT)

MA Camps Inspector (PHIT)

MA Food Inspector Training (PHIT)

ICS 100, 200, 300 and NIMS 700

Maintains certification and license requirements through continuing education programs. 

Maintains state continuing education requirements to stay abreast of current health code regulations, inspection techniques and practices.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

Knowledge:  Knowledge of Town ordinances and state laws/regulations pertaining to the enforcement of health and safety codes and public nuisance complaints.  Knowledge of emergency preparedness practices and procedures as they apply to public health services; working knowledge of department inspection and permit practices and techniques; knowledge of office software (word processing and spread sheet applications).

Abilities:  Ability to manage multiple tasks in a detailed and accurate manner, ability to deal with members of the public tactfully and effectively and maintain positive public relations, basic computer skills, ability to read and interpret construction plans, diagrams and blue prints; ability to establish effective working relationships with contractors and the public.

Skills:  Excellent organization skills and excellent written and oral communication skills.

Work Environment:  Working conditions involve frequent exposure to intermittent machine or related noise or a combination of unpleasant elements such as odors, chemical fumes, dust, smoke, heat, cold, oil, dirt, toxins or fumes, traffic, bio hazards and communicable diseases.  Outdoor work is generally suspended when weather conditions are poor.  Work may involve occasional work at heights or in confined or cramped quarters, or work around machinery and its moving parts.  The employee is required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings and in response to emergency situations.

Occupational Risk:  Duties regularly involve present potential risk of injuries from improper exposure that could result in loss of time from work.  Personal injury could occur through employee’s failure to properly follow safety precautions or procedures.  Examples of injury include bruises from falls, minor cuts or burns, or minor muscular strains from lifting or carrying heavy equipment or materials.  Special safety precautions, training, or protective clothing such as gowns, coats, gloves, glasses, hard hats or boots may be required.

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:  Work requires some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain, or standing or walking most of the work period.  Occasionally, work may require lifting (up to 30 lbs.), pushing or pulling objects.  There may be need to stretch and reach to retrieve materials.

Motor Skills:  Duties require motor skills for activities such as accessing work sites, operating a telephone system, personal computer and/or other office equipment; typing and operating a motor vehicle.

Visual Skills:  Employee is routinely required to read documents for general understanding and to read documents for analytical purposes.  Employee is constantly required to review non-written materials (e.g. blue prints, maps etc.) for analytical purposed and with a need for color vision.

(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.)

Applications are being accepted for internal candidates starting on April 17, 2025, and will close on April 25, 2025.