Tobacco Control Coordinator

Posting number: 04378

Department: Health & Human Services

Job classification: Tobacco Control Coordinator

Posting type: Open

Categories: Health Services, Social Services, Community and Social Services

SummaryResponsible for developing and managing all programs and activities focused on reducing tobacco usage in the City of Springfield. Responsibilities include actively recruiting, training, and assigning inspectors on a weekly basis. Work is performed under the supervision of the Commissioner of Health and Human Services or their designee. This position supervises contracted inspectors and youth secret shoppers. Examples of duties

• Provides culturally appropriate education about local and state tobacco laws and regulations to workplaces, tobacco retailers, and residents.
• Conducts inspections to monitor compliance, including youth access compliance checks, store inspections, second-hand smoke inspections, and inspections of new tobacco retailers or workplaces with smoke-free violation complaints.
• Ensures penalties for violations are fairly and consistently enforced against workplaces and tobacco retailers.
• Maintains an updated list of tobacco retailers, establishment profiles, compliance checks, inspection records, and associated violations. 
• Coordinates and facilitates Board of Health hearings in collaboration with the City of Springfield’s Law Department.
• Participates in community health fairs to provide anti-tobacco education and fosters partnerships that promote tobacco cessation and youth prevention programs.
• Recruits, hires, and trains youth purchasers to conduct compliance checks according to Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) guidelines.
• Issues annual tobacco sales permits and conducts outreach and education for prospective and new tobacco retailers to ensure permit compliance. 
• Performs data entry, data cleaning, and administrative tasks as the state reporting platform’s administrator.
• Serves as a liaison and grant contact for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, ensuring timely submission of all programmatic and fiscal reports, including quarterly reports and annual work plans. 
• Develops enforcement strategies and retailer education programs.
• Collaborates with city officials, departments, and the Public Health Council to strengthen local tobacco control policies and regulations.
• Participates in MTCP Coalition meetings, required trainings, and other professional development opportunities throughout the Commonwealth.
• Travels throughout Springfield as needed to conduct routine retail inspections and occasionally attends events or meetings outside of regular working hours.
• Performs similar or related work as required.

Qualifications

• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and develop detailed reports.
• Strong understanding of laws, regulations, and policies related to tobacco use and sales, with the ability to implement them effectively.
• Excellent presentation skills and experience facilitating smoking cessation classes.
• Proficiency in processing paperwork for violations and enforcing state and local tobacco laws.
• Strong communication skills, both orally and in writing, with the ability to collaborate effectively with other City Departments, such as the Law Department.
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to engage effectively with the public and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of tobacco-related issues, state laws, town by-laws, and government regulations, or the ability to acquire this knowledge.
• Skilled in data analysis and reporting.

Supplemental information

• Bachelor’s in Public Health, Public Policy, or related field AND a minimum of three (3) years of experience in health-related issues, community-based programs, and local government preferred; OR any equivalent combination of seven (7) years. 
• Advanced degree in public health education preferred.