Job Summary:

The Environmental Health Director is responsible for the professional-level administration of the Big Horn County Health Department (BHC Health Department). This includes overseeing the activities and staff of Environmental Health, Health Promotion. The role involves carrying out statutory duties designated by the local Health Officer, ensuring the department’s operational success, and engaging in community health initiatives.

The Environmental Health Director’s decision-making authority is delegated from the Board of Health through MCA 50-2-116 and MCA 50-18-107. The director also has substantial decision-making authority during public health emergencies including epidemiological investigations, seizure of potentially harmful items under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, disaster mitigation in emergency situations, and decisions aiding emergency response. Departmental decisions are delegated from the Big Horn County Commissioners.

Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Expectations:

Health Officer Duties: Perform statutory duties assigned by the local Health Officer as required by law.
Strategic Leadership: Lead, implement, and monitor the BHC strategic plan in collaboration with the Big Horn County Board of Health (BHCHD), managing the department's annual budget with BHC approval.
Community Health Planning: Use data and community engagement to assess, plan, and implement Community Health Assessments and Improvement Plans. Mobilize community partners and citizens toward improving public and environmental health and health equity.
Policy Development & Advocacy: Propose, advocate, and implement public and environmental health policies with the BHCHD, local elected officials, and state legislature.
Public Health Emergency Management: Plan for and respond to public health emergencies, serving as the lead spokesperson for the department, including media relations, emergency housing, and mitigation of potential disease spread through disasters.
Accreditation: Maintain Registered Sanitarian accreditation as determined by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
Agency Collaboration: Serve as liaison to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Environmental Health and Food Safety Section.
Management & Team Building: Build and maintain a strong management team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Implement County policies regarding human resources, finances, and legal and risk management.
- Collective Bargaining & Labor Relations: Participate in negotiations and ensure adherence to collective bargaining agreements.
- Senior Leadership Team Role: Act as a senior member of the Big Horn County Senior Leadership Team. Perform additional duties as assigned by the BHC Commissioners.
- Working Relationships: The Environmental Health Director regularly interacts with County elected and appointed officials, County department heads and managers, County staff, community leaders, and both local and state agencies. These relationships are key to establishing productive working partnerships, ensuring compliance, and achieving public health goals.
- Board appointments: Participate and report to the Big Horn County Planning Board which reports to the BHC Commissioners with approvals, and denials regarding new subdivisions, Boundary Line Relocations, and change of land use proposals.
- Community Engagement: Be able and certified to teach and proctor ServSafe Food Manager training to the community members.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of public health practice, epidemiology, communicable disease control, budgeting, personnel management, strategic planning, population health, determinants of health, biology and microbiology, and health equity.
Extensive understanding of applicable local and state laws and regulations, including community engagement, public health policy, accreditation requirements, and disaster preparation.
Considerable knowledge of decision-making processes, regulatory implementation, and enforcement, particularly related to health and environmental laws.
Working knowledge of community agencies, and public health workforce competencies.
Proficient in technology and software for budgeting, word processing, presentations, GPS and GIS software.
Strong skill in data collection, interpretation, non-degradation, and public speaking.
Capable of managing remote meetings and producing high-quality reports and presentations.
Ability to lead a large, complex organization and attract and retain a talented workforce.
Expertise in interpreting technical and legal regulations and effectively communicating them.
Ability to solve problems collaboratively and manage competing priorities.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present public and environmental health information clearly.
Ability to appear and be an expert witness or testify in court trials for matters pertaining to public health, environmental health, or criminal matters.
Assisting with animal bites, locating the animal, and quarantining the animal.
Organizing rabies tests and investigations for animals.
Performing quality health inspections on state licensed facilities annually and upon complaints.
Investigate complaints of public and environmental health.

Minimum Qualifications (Experience/Education):

Bachelor’s Degrees with microbiology and biology courses.
Registered Sanitarian license through the State of Montana and Registered Environmental Health Specialist license through the National Environmental Health Association.
Subdivision Contracted Reviewer certificate for State reviewed subdivisions with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

Minimum of 5 years of experience in environmental health.

Minimum Qualifications, Continued:

Immunization or proof of immunity to certain infectious diseases and a TB test.
Must possess a valid Montana driver’s license with no major violations within the last 5 years and be an insurable driver.
Ability to work with very minor supervision.
Flexible working hours to accommodate for truck wrecks and health inspections that are not open during normal business hours which may include early mornings, late evenings, or middle-of-the night call outs.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions:

The work environment and physical demands described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:

Work is primarily performed outside of the office either outside in afield or in a licensed establishment.
Attendance at off-site meetings and Continuing Education trainings as necessary, with potential night and weekend meetings and frequent out-of-town travel.
Remains on-call at all times for truck wrecks involving the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or Public Health emergencies.
Work may involve negotiating controversial matters and achieving settlements, dealing with aggressive behaviors, and working in dangerous environments involving animals, extreme weather, and hazardous materials.

Employee Benefits:

Paid health insurance: Full-time employees may choose from six health plans at no cost to employee. Three plans are high deductible plans with potential County contributions to a Health Savings Account. Affordable Vision and Dental plans.
Retirement: Montana Public Employee Retirement plan.
Paid vacation and sick leave: New employees earn paid vacation leave (15 leave days per year available 6 months after first day of employment) and sick leave (1 day earned per month available after 90 days of employment).
Life insurance- $25,000 of Life Insurance (at no cost to the employee) and affordable, voluntary, supplemental Life and AD&D insurance up to $100,000 upon health insurance enrollment.
Free Wellness Screenings.
Discounted Gym Membership.
10-11 paid Holidays per year.

Big Horn County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Big Horn County does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

Environmental Health Director

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Environmental Health Director