Human Services Assistant

Job Description

Primary Purpose

This position supports the Human Services Division to support Newton residents using a social determinants of health approach, with a particular emphasis on marginalized residents to improve their quality of life and assisting with Human Services programming.

Supervision

Scope and Judgment: This position requires the ability to work on a wide range of human services issues and the ability to learn new human services arenas quickly to respond to the wide-ranging and ever-changing needs in our community. The position must be able to take fast, decisive action when matters are time sensitive, while recognizing the municipal setting and limits to resources.

Supervision Received: Position reports to the Director of Human Services and operates in accordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations, department policies and procedures, requiring the ability to plan and perform operations to independently complete assigned tasks according to a prescribed time schedule. Independently establishes own daily work plan based on regular routine and special assignments.

Supervision Given: N/A

Essential Functions

• Meet with residents to assess needs and facilitate access to services
• Assist with filling out and submitting benefit paperwork
• Maintain accurate and confidential case notes and other documentation
• Assist in creating communication, outreach, and educational materials
• Assist in planning, implementing, and evaluating the impact of human services programs
• Perform other related job duties as required

Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience

Knowledge, Ability, and Skills:

Knowledge of human services trends and best practices, appropriate responses in a wide range of situations, and appropriate documentation and confidentiality protection approaches.

Ability to comprehend the scope of laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to specialty area. Ability to organize time, work independently and accomplish tasks despite frequent interruptions. Ability to maintain detailed and extensive records and to prepare reports from same. Ability to operate various types of office equipment. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information. Ability to work effectively under time constraints to meet deadlines. Ability to be a strong team player. Ability to organize clerical and statistical records. Ability to deal tactfully and appropriately with the general public and City departments in an effective manner. Ability to absorb and learn quickly and maintain a departmental sense of urgency.

Expertise and skill in using personal computers and common computer programs (Outlook, Word, Powerpoint, Excel) and database and spreadsheet applications. Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Job Environment

Work is performed under typical office conditions as well as other settings including home visits and community-based settings. Frequent contact with the general public, other city departments and officials, outside agencies, businesses, vendors, and other governmental organizations and attorneys, etc. Communication is by means of in person, telephone, online meeting platforms, personal discussion, and correspondence and involves discussing routine and confidential information, requiring patience, courtesy, and judgment. The work is often unpredictable, and the position should expect sudden requests for assistance, walk-in clients, responding to off-site settings to support colleague or resident needs. Has access to confidential and sensitive information. Errors in judgment could result in significant delay or loss of services, legal ramifications, adverse public relations, and monetary loss.

Physical Requirements

Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, equipment, machinery or controls, and reach with hands and arms as in picking up/accessing paper, files, and other common office objects as well as equipment and supplies relating to programs and needs in the HHS Department. Lifts and/or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Manually operates all office equipment and other necessary equipment. Needs to operate a computer keyboard at an efficient speed.

Performance Standard

Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.

Expected Hiring Range

The anticipated starting salary for this position will generally fall within a portion of the posted pay range. Initial placement will be based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and other relevant factors.

(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)

Company Description

THE CITY

The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.

OUR GOVERNMENT

Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Marc C. Laredo was sworn in on January 1, 2026 after serving on the City Council. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.

AS AN EMPLOYER

The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io.

Human Resources Diversity Statement

• Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
• Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
• Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
• Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
• Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
• Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

The targeted salary range reflects what the City of Newtonreasonably and in good faith expects to offer for this position at the time of posting, but the final salary determination may be within or outside this range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and market factors. The range will be reviewed regularly and is subject to change.

Benefits

This is a non-benefited position