POSITION:             Assistant 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 $63,945/yr.

STATUS:                Full-Time

FLSA STATUS:       Exempt

DATES:                  May 15, 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 Assistant 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, in conjunction with the Director of Food Services, 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 Department of Health services for St. Joseph County.

Assists the Director of Food Services in providing 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. Develop 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.

Assists the Director of Food Services in supervising and directing 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. Recommend discipline and/or termination of employment as warranted.

Responsible for updates to and the maintenance of the Inspectors’ work calendar, including entering appointments and events, and planning locations for staff to conduct all assigned duties. Determines which public events with food will need inspections and coordinates with staff about who will attend weekend and evening events. Reviews assigned work given to staff for corrections or further enforcement action.

Responsible for 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.

Qualifications

Practical knowledge of standard budgeting and accounting practices and procedures, with ability to prepare and administer budgets, prepare detailed financial statements, and maintain complete and accurate financial records.

Practical knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing food sanitation, with ability to conduct effective investigations of food-related establishments and take action to ensure compliance with all legal requirements.

Ability to effectively assist the Director to supervise and direct assigned personnel, including analyzing human resource needs, reviewing documentation for newly created and significantly revised positions, interviewing candidates and making hiring decisions, providing orientation and training, planning and delegating work assignments, establishing work goals, developing and motivating staff, determining significant changes in responsibilities, evaluating performance, reviewing salaries, implementing personnel or corrective actions, keeping supervisor and subordinates informed of organization developments, maintaining discipline, and communicating and administering personnel programs and procedures.

Education/Experience

Bachelor’s degree in environmental health, 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 Pool Operator and Food Protection Manager certifications.