Environmental Health Specialist- Land Program Manager

The Environmental Health Specialist - Land Program Manager position at Gallatin County, MT, involves supervising a team of sanitarians, conducting environmental health inspections, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Responsibilities include managing daily operations, training staff, overseeing complaint investigations, and preparing reports. The role requires leadership in program planning and quality improvement initiatives. This is a full-time position based in Bozeman, MT.
Salary : $71,988.80 - $79,476.80 Annually
Location : Bozeman, MT
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 00722
Department: Environmental Health Services
Opening Date: 04/15/2025
Closing Date: Continuous

POSITION OVERVIEW

This position is located in the Environmental Health office of the Gallatin City-County Health Department (department) and performs duties that support the vision, mission and goals of the department. This position provides supervision, leadership and expertise to a team of sanitarians in their assigned work area. The land program manager ensures standardization in practice, provides training, mentoring and coaching, monitors workload indicators, performs quality assurance and acts as a direct connection with state agencies such as DEQ and DPHHS. The program manager has a demonstrated competence in conducting environmental health inspections and reviews of community settings in assigned area such as wastewater treatment systems, Sanitation in Subdivision Act reviews, and licensed establishments such as restaurants, hotels, swimming pools, etc. The land program manager monitors changes and updates to applicable regulations, recommends changes to local policies as needed, prepares reports for the Director and Health Officer, applies innovation, and seeks and leads opportunities for improvement. The land program manager may be asked to lead an investigation of a disease outbreak and assists fellow sanitarians and community partners investigating citizen concerns related to public health nuisances and emergencies. Position reports directly to the Environmental Health Director and supervises staff in the program area (Land).

Each duty listed below makes up at least 80% of the job, and all other functions are included in Other Duties as Assigned. All duties below are essential functions unless otherwise indicated.

Leadership and Program Planning
• Manages daily operations of program team. Completes operations by developing schedules; assigning and monitoring work; gathering resources; implementing productivity standards; resolving operations problems; maintaining reference manuals; implementing new procedures; auditing inspection reports and application reviews; ensuring compliance with regulatory review timelines.
• Interviews,selectsandhirespermanentemployees inconjunctionwith Environmental HealthDirector.
• Performssupervisoryfunctionsincludingstaffing,orienting,training,conducting performanceevaluations,assistingstaffwiththedevelopmentofcareergoals,anddisciplinaryaction.
• Oversees complaint investigations and recommends appropriate level of response.
• Provides consultation, orientation and mentoring of new health department staff.
• Consistently locates, interprets, and applies resources within established policies, procedures, and regulations. Maintains reference manuals and electronic files for training and reference.
• Plans, implements and evaluates initiatives to include strategic planning, quality improvement, performance management, and innovation.
• Monitors workload for staffing adequacy.
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with immediate supervisor and others and accurately informs of work progress including potential concerns and suggestions for improved ways of addressing problems in a timely and efficient manner.
• Prepares and delivers educational presentations and materials. Actively participates in local and state meetings.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed and working collaboratively with other health department programs.
• Serves as the department's liaison to DEQ and DPHHS for program to ensure local input.
• Receives, resolves, and reports to Environmental Health Director any consumer concerns or complaints relative to program services or staff.
• Serves as a department representative, leader, and technical expert with local, state, and federal officials and policymakers at public meetings, formal proceedings, with community groups and the media.
• Collaboration with other community organizations and the public. Participates in meetings and coalitions with other groups to enhance the work of the Environmental Health Services Land or Establishment Program.

Environmental Public Health Inspections and Reviews
• Schedules and conducts field inspections in assigned area to determine compliance with state and local regulations. Completes review of applications in assigned program area. Maintains permit and inspection workload of 20% that of sanitarians on team.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory review timelines and Cooperative Agreement deliverables in assigned program area.
• Reviews, evaluates, and approves documents, licenses, plans and permits for compliance with local, state, and federal regulations in a timely and effective manner.
• Independently investigates and oversees complaint investigations as assigned. Recommends appropriate corrective action or enforcement action based on nature and severity of identified violations. Maintains accurate and up to date documentation of violations and corrective actions in appropriate database in a timely, accurate, and factual manner. Consistently conducts follow-up with inspection or other means to ensure corrective actions are implemented. Provides education and guidance in correcting area of nonconformity.
• Provides technical and regulatory assistance and expertise to the community and environmental health staff in the evaluation and interpretation of applications and regulations related to a broad range of environmental health conditions.
• Keeps current on environmental health issues and law and rule updates and keeps staff updated in a timely manner.

Budget, Grants, and Contract Management
• Assists with determining and prioritizing the budget needs for program by providing input to the Environmental Health Director.
• Seeks, procures, and administers program grants.
• Ensures compliance with grant requirements.
• Prepares quarterly and annual report for Environmental Health Director.

Other Duties as Assigned
• Perform a variety of other duties as assigned by supervisor. This includes coordinating special projects, system analysis, attending meetings and special events, and attending continuing education and training as required.
• On a rotating schedule assumes responsibility of answering the health department's 24/7 duty phone.
• If the County Commission proclaims a local emergency due to an actual or threatened disaster such as an earthquake, fire, riot, flood, etc., County employees may be required to provide services during the emergency and for a subsequent period of assessment and recovery.

QUALIFICATIONS

This work requires computer and data entry skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and specialized programs such as ArcGIS); knowledge of data and records management; excellent skills in grammar and spelling; proficient written and verbal communication skills; ability to prioritize tasks according to deadlines, work independently and follow instructions; ability to multitask and seek appropriate guidance when needed. This position requires increasing experience working in environmental health. Must possess self-initiative but be able to work as part of a team. Position also requires customer services standards with a high-level of skill in dealing with the public including anticipating customer needs, responding in a timely manner, taking responsibility for handling complaints, being professional, and showing respect for each customer; sometimes under stressful situations and must be able to perform highly detailed work with constant interruptions and concurrent tasks.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Current registration and licensing from the Montana State Board of Sanitarians and the required knowledge, skills, and abilities typically acquired through a combination of education and experience in the practice of environmental health and the combination of experience and training with provides two or more years of specific abilities necessary to perform the work.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Licenses and Certifications: Applicants for this position must possess a valid driver's license and be insurable under the County's liability policies.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
As a condition of hire, the final candidate will be required to successfully pass a criminal history check and background investigation.

To be considered for this position please be prepared to attach the following required documents to your online application:
• Cover letter
• Resume
• Three (3) references
• The above documents are required. Incomplete packets may not be considered.*

Gallatin County does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
Excellent Medical Health Benefits - Group health benefits, including dental and vision coverage, are available to eligible County employees. The medical health benefits premium is covered for full-time employees. The County contribution is pro-rated on hours paid for part-time employees. The employee pays the premium portion for dependent coverage. Family health benefits coverage is $205.00 per pay period.

Medical deductible is $400 for an individual and $1,000 for a family.
Flexible Benefits Plan - Pre-tax out-of-pocket medical expenses and day care expenses.
Supplemental Medical Coverage and voluntary Life Insurance Coverage are offered through Mutual of Omaha..
Public Employees Retirement System - Montana public employees of the state, university system, local governments and certain employees of school districts are covered by the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). New members to the PERS have an opportunity to choose between two retirement plan options: the Defined Benefit Plan or the Defined Contribution Plan.
Sheriffs' Retirement System (SRS) - A public pension plan for all Montana Sheriffs hired after July 1, 1974 and Detention Officers hired after July 1, 2005.
Supplemental Retirement Benefits are offered through Nationwide and Empower.
Sick Leave - Full-time employees accrue 7.40 hours per month and are eligible to use sick leave once it is accrued. The accrual is pro-rated for part-time employees.
Vacation Leave - Full-time employees accrue 9.20 hours per month and are eligible to use leave once it is accrued. The accrual is pro-rated for part-time employees.
Holidays - The County observes eleven legal holidays in even numbered years and ten legal holidays in odd numbered years.

Paid Parental Leave (PPL)- In recognition of the importance of bonding and care of a newborn child or a child placed for adoption, Gallatin County provides 240 hours of PPL to eligible full-time employees. The hours are pro-rated for part-time employees.

Tuition Assistance- Because we value the professional and personal development of our employees, Gallatin County is proud to offer reimbursement of certain education expenses.

Bilingual Pay - Gallatin County allows for bilingual pay to employees that provide translation services to County departments and offices. The bilingual pay allows for extra compensation to employees that provide this service.