Recycling Education Environmental Specialist/Sr. Environmental Specialist Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washingtonmn/jobs/newprint/5048370) Apply  Recycling Education Environmental Specialist/Sr. Environmental Specialist Salary $32.93 - $44.92 Hourly Location Stillwater, MN Job Type Full Time Job Number 25-00125 Department Public Health & Environment Dept Opening Date 08/19/2025 Closing Date 9/1/2025 11:59 PM Central + Description + Benefits + Questions JOB SPECIFICS Washington County, MN, is seeking a talented and motivated environmental health professional to join our team as a Recycling Environmental Specialist. Come join our innovative and progressive Department of Public Health and Environment in our mission to protect, promote, and improve the community's health and environment. Our environmental health management and staff work together within a nationally accredited public health department (Public Health Accreditation Board, 2016) to ensure a safe and healthy Washington County. Our values of collaboration, innovation, integrity, being equity-driven and prevention-focused unite us and ignite us. Washington County Public Health & Environment values your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. We are committed to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive work environment and believe diversity benefits and enriches our programs, our staff and communities we serve. This position will be primarily responsible for managing school waste and recycling programs, community event guidance, as well as leading recycling and environmental stewardship education efforts . This position requires regular evening and weekend hours. This position may include coordinating with other metropolitan counties for joint programming. Examples of duties include: + Plan, implement, and/or assist with waste reduction, reuse, and repair education topics and programs such as fix-it clinics + Serve as lead for education programs such as event tabling, school lesson plans, community presentations and classes, etc. + Serve as lead for the school recycling program and grant management + Serve as liaison for Washington County at program-specific regional meetings + Determine goals and execute activities for program areas and prepare related data for reports and performance measures + Provide guidance and monitor technical assistance consultant contracts + Provide ongoing input, information, and tools to support community engagement efforts across various stakeholders + Coordinate, develop and maintain partnerships with communities and organizations to engage on events and activities related to waste and recycling + Develop educational materials and presentations (i.e. education toolkits, display boards, etc.) + Support strategic communications planning + Support educational communication campaigns and efforts + Work with immediate supervisor, senior leadership and other staff to plan, implement, and evaluate other Washington County waste management plan initiatives. DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE: + Paid experience developing and presenting environmental communication and education materials/programs + Experience working with or for the public sector (federal, state, city, township, school, etc.) + Professional experience working on waste & recycling related programs and initiatives SELECTION TECHNIQUE: Your training and experience will be rated based on the required application material submitted and the top-scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration. HOURS / DAYS: Position is based at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater, with remote work options available. Work hours are primarily Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Evening and weekend hours are required. Work location and hours are subject to change based on business need. ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $32.93 - $44.92 Hourly (This position may be hired at the Senior Environmental Specialist (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washingtonmn/classspecs/811684?keywords=environmental%20specialist&pagetype=classSpecifications) level depending on qualifications.) E-Verify Participation: Washington County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Washington County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Washington County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9. E- Verify Participation Poster (https://web1.co.washington.mn.us/NeoGovNotices/HR/2024/E-Verify\_Participation\_Poster\_Eng\_Es.pdf) Right to work Poster JOB SUMMARY The Environmental Specialist is an entry-level professional position involving work of a varied nature to promote and protect public health and the environment. The position includes a basic range of duties relating to environmental health, including ensuring compliance with applicable laws and providing assistance and education within the community. The position may also assist senior staff and management with developing and evaluating programs. Areas of assignment can include subsurface sewage treatment systems; solid waste management; hazardous waste management; food, beverage and lodging establishments; pools; recreational camping areas; manufactured home parks; public health nuisance; complaints; public water supplies; or other environmental health programs. Work involves collaborating with cities, townships, businesses, citizens and government and private agencies. EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Recycling): Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's Degree in environmental areas, planning, communication, research analysis, or project management or a related field. A background check is required. Must have means of reliable transportation for business purposes; individuals operating a motor vehicle for county business must possess a valid driver's license. A driver's license is required. CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE Core Competencies (https://web1.co.washington.mn.us/NeoGovNotices/HR/CoreCompetenciesDefined2025.pdf) outline essential business and professional traits necessary to perform this job. • Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace; • Knowledge of environmental problems that affect public health; • General knowledge of federal state and local laws, rules and regulations; • Knowledge of investigation methods including basic epidemiological methods; • General knowledge of basic public and environmental health sciences; • Ability to prepare written reports; • Ability to build effective relationships with fellow employees; • Ability to attend inter-agency meetings; • Ability to understand complex technical information; • Ability to use program specific equipment or instruments such as GPS, temperature probe, pool titration test kit, test strips, thermometer, and thermocouple. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Performs regulatory compliance activities: • Conducts routine and follow up inspections of regulated entities to ensure compliance with environmental health laws and regulations; • Prepares inspection reports and corrective action orders, documents compliance, and maintains facility or establishment records; • Assists with investigating public health nuisances and environmental health complaints in the community and with regulated entities; • Communicates state and local rules and regulations, policies, and procedures to community representatives, regulated entities and citizens; • Assists with review of proposed facility plans, management plans, menus, technical and scientific data, test results, chemical analyses, license applications, and other submittals; • Determines compliance with requirements and standards in assigned programs; • Provides technical assistance to regulated entities; Performs community environmental health activities: • Assists in responding to disease outbreak investigations in coordination with department staff and other health agencies; • Prepares for and responds to public health emergencies and disasters; • Responds to community requests for information and technical assistance; • Assists citizens in understanding environmental health issues or problems; Provides program support: • Assists in implementing performance measurements and quality improvement process within environmental programs; • Assists in planning developing and evaluating assigned programs and new initiatives; • Assists with training sessions for public and private entities on requirements, regulations and methods of compliance; • Assists with developing various forms of education and outreach for environmental and public health programs; Perform other duties as assigned. WORK ENVIRONMENT Work involves office (40-60%) and field work (40-60%). Field work may be done outside or in various business or community settings. Work may include hot, cold, noisy, wet, dirty or filthy conditions. Work may include proximity or potential exposure to dust, disagreeable odors, infectious agents or vectors, physical or chemical hazards, or animals. Employees may encounter reluctant, angry, aggressive or threatening people. Job duties often require daily driving to complete inspections and attend meetings. The job requires lifting, pushing or pulling up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Frequent position changes including stooping, kneeling, crouching and reaching are routine when performing inspection functions. Use of sense of sight and smell are necessary in this work. Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions. This job description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and level of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. The County retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this job description at any time. Washington County offers a comprehensive benefit package (https://web1.co.washington.mn.us/NeoGovNotices/HR/2025/BenefitsGuideBook2025.pdf) including paid time off, holidays, medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance. For a more detailed overview of our AFSCME exempt (salaried ) benefit package, click here (https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/50324/AFSCME-Exempt-Benefit-Synopsis-PDF) . For a more detailed overview of our AFSCME non-exempt (hourly) benefit package, click here (https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/55122/AFSCME-Non-Exempt-Benefit-Synopsis-PDF) . 01 This position requires graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's Degree in environmental areas, planning, communication, research analysis, or project management or a related field. Please indicate below whether you possess these minimum qualifications: + Yes + No 02 Do you have a valid driver's license? + Yes + No 03 Do you have paid experience developing and presenting environmental communication and education materials/programs? + Yes + No 04 If you answered "Yes" to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box.) 05 Do you have experience working with or for the public sector (federal, state, city, township, school, etc.)? + Yes + No 06 If you answered "Yes" to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box.) 07 Do you have paid experience working on waste & recycling related programs and initiatives? + Yes + No 08 If you answered "Yes" to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box.) Required Question Employer Washington County (MN) Address 14949 62nd Street North Stillwater, Minnesota, 55082 Phone 651-430-6081 Website https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov Apply Please verify your email address Verify Email