Environmental Health Coordinator

Somerville is a city that upholds progressive principles for both employees and residents alike. If you are looking for a culture that embraces innovation, empowerment, and collaborative involvement, Somerville not only embraces these talents, but encourages them. Creative, hands on collaboration with passionate dedication are at the core of the City’s workplace culture.  Challenging and fast paced, Somerville also offers a generous benefits package that embodies a strong work life balance. Not only is it a “Model City”, as termed by The Boston Globe, but it is also a model employer.

Statement of Duties

The Environmental Health Coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing programs and policies related to environmental health issues in the City of Somerville. This role is focused on vector control, primarily rodents, and will contribute to policy discussion around other environmental health issues confronting the City as needed. The Environmental Health Coordinator will lead public outreach to residents and businesses on rodent issues, as well as serve as a liaison to the Board of Alderman on related matters.

Essential Functions:

• In coordination with Inspectional Services Department, Department of Public Works, Capital Projects and Health and Human Services Department leadership, develops and formulates  programs, policies, and procedures related to rodent control at the property and neighborhood level
• In partnership with DPW and ISD manages City rodent control contracts and budget
• Compiles and analyzes data for weekly, monthly, and annual reports, and manages database for citywide rodent control
• Develops monitoring and evaluation systems to assess rodent control efforts
• Serves as case manager for persistent rodent issues and coordinates response at the property and neighborhood level
• Serves as a liaison to the Mayor’s Office and Board of Alderman  and responds to public inquiries related to rodent control and other related health issues
• Contributes to policy discussion around other environmental health issues that Somerville confronts, including but not limited to air quality, lead paint, soil contamination, and asbestos, as needed

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in environmental, biological, chemical, or physical sciences, public health, public policy, urban planning, or a related field from an accredited college or university and three to five (3-5) years’ 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 job. Experience working with diverse stakeholders required and exceptional writing and speaking experience required. Master’s degree preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Knowledge of federal, state and local integrated pest management (IPM) and related environmental laws and regulations; IPM techniques and methods; and environmental health sciences as well as their application in resolving environmental health problems.

Abilities: Ability to use and navigate a computer, handheld device or tablet that may be used to conduct, capture and record inspections and investigations; evaluate and to interpret findings from environmental health investigations and surveys to determine the maintenance of community health standards; manage multiple projects and work effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders such as public officials, groups and businesses on said projects.  Bilingual ability in Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Haitian-Creole is preferred.

Skill: Strong analytical, writing, and speaking skills. Preferred skills in GIS and/or programming languages.

Work Environment                                                                                        

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Employee is regularly required to work beyond normal business hours to lead programs and to attend evening meetings. When at events, employee can be in a variety of environments.

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 demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment or photocopy paper (up to 30 lbs.).  Employee is often required to perform physical work in set up of events and classes. Occasionally, events require extended periods of physical exertion.

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Position opoen until filled. Send your resume and cover letter to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.