POSITION:  Director of Food Services and Pools

DEPARTMENT:  St. Joseph County Department of Health

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. M-F

JOB CATEGORY:  PAT (Professional, Administrative, Technological)

SALARY:  Up to $70,053.00

STATUS:  Full-Time

FLSA STATUS:  Exempt

DATES: March 23, 2026 until filled

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. St. Joseph County provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job unless those accommodations would present an undue hardship.

Incumbent serves as Director of Food Services for the St. Joseph County Department of Health (SJCDoH), responsible for supervising and directing assigned personnel in conducting food service and pool inspections, overseeing programs and operations, and ensuring compliance with food and pool health laws, ordinances, and regulations.  

Benefits 

Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans

Paid Time Off (PTO) with generous accruals

Employer Paid Life Insurance coverage

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care

Gym Membership Discounts to encourage wellness

Employer-Funded PERF (Public Employees' Retirement Fund)

Access to additional voluntary benefits and resources 

Responsibilities 

Incumbent will ensure proper implementation of food and pool health laws/codes and supervision of assigned operations. Incumbent will address unusual problems and/or circumstances and may discuss these with a supervisor. Incumbent’s decisions have substantial impact on departmental operations, and work product is periodically reviewed upon conclusion for soundness of judgment and conformity with departmental standards. Work is primarily reviewed for technical accuracy, effect on department goals/objectives, and continuing quality of SJCDoH services for St. Joseph County.

Provides oversight and leadership to the Food Services Unit of the St. Joseph County Department of Health, establishing policies, procedures, priorities, and requirements for Unit programs. Develops strategies and goals for programs and issues within the Unit and monitors for changes in laws, legal requirements, and services in entities and agencies that affect food service operations across establishments, mobile food trucks, home vendors, and any other related entity. 

Supervises and directs personnel, including administering personnel policies/procedures, informing staff of organizational developments, interviewing/hiring job candidates, ensuring proper training of staff, planning/delegating work assignments, establishing goals/standards, reviewing position responsibilities/salaries, evaluating performance, and recommending promotions/demotions as appropriate. Recommends discipline and/or termination of employment as warranted. 

Oversees assisting food establishments in developing and conducting training programs for personnel to both meet mandatory certification requirements and to comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Provides education to food establishment personnel and consumers on food sanitation laws. 

Reviews and approves preoperational plans for new establishments. Reviews submitted architectural plans, menus, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for food establishments.

Recommends progressive remedial corrective actions for non-compliant establishment inspections.

Qualifications 

Supports the Assistant Director in organizing Inspectors’ work calendars, including entering appointments and events, and planning locations for staff to conduct all assigned duties. Assists with determining which events with food require inspections, and coordinates with staff to determine weekend and event scheduling. Reviews assigned work given to staff for corrections or further enforcement action. 

Supports the Assistant Director in conducting consultations, opening inspections, routine inspections, abatement inspections, probation inspections, and pool and spa inspections. Verifies status of permitted locations, updating the database as needed. Issues information for letters to be drafted by Administrative Assistant, including hearings, abatements, repeat violation letters, civil penalties assessments, and letters associated with invoicing. Sends letters to Health Officer to sign for abatements and hearings. 

Serves as primary Unit responder to conduct follow-up inspections at food establishments after a fire. 

Maintains detailed records of inspections, complaints, and investigations and prepares a variety of reports as required by Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), St. Joseph County Board of Health, and other government and regulating agencies. 

Corresponds with IDOH regarding foodborne investigations. Reviews Food and Drug Administration (FDA) code to compare to State adoption and interprets level of priority for critical items. Conducts epidemiological surveys at food establishments in response to foodborne illness outbreaks using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and FDA survey forms.

 Education/Experience 

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, public health, biology, or related field. Minimum of two to three years of related work experience required, with five years of related work experience being preferred. 

Possession of or ability to obtain Food Protection Manager and Pool Operator certifications.

 Physical Requirements 

As required by the Health Officer, will represent the SJCDoH at meetings, including meetings of the St. Joseph County Board of Health, County Council, and the Board of County Commissioners. These and other required meetings may occur after normal business hours. Will be a sitting member on any Board or meeting where the Department of Health Food Services Unit is mandated to provide membership. 

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to state requirements. 

Shall comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct. 

Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with irate or hostile persons.