Environmental Health Specialist - Water Specialist (Hybrid)

Job Posting End Date: August 25, 2025 at 11:59pm CST

Hiring range: $64,480 to $77,355 ($31.00 to $37.19 per hour). Starting rate will depend on experience, education, and qualifications. Advancement opportunities exist for individuals motivated to move up within Anoka County.

Come join our team at Anoka County where you can serve your community while enjoying the benefits of work-life balance! This includes 24 days paid of flexible time off and up to 12.5 holidays your first year.

In order to be considered for this position, information to support your answers must be included in your application. A resume attachment is optional and cannot be used in place of this application. Applications must be received by the closing deadline of 11:59pm on 08/25/2025 in order to be considered.

Position Description
The Public Health & Environmental Services team at Anoka County is looking for an inspired individual to join their team. Improving public health and safety through regulation, education, prevention, service, and advocacy is the mission of the Public Health & Environmental Services Department in Anoka County. They lead the community in promoting healthy behaviors, responding to emergencies, and maintaining local public health infrastructure. This team is seeking an energetic environmental health professional with a passion for customer service and experience with environmental health regulatory programs.

As an Environmental Health Specialist, you will be responsible for providing investigative, consultive, educational, and enforcement activities. This opening is in ground water protection and requires specialty knowledge in geology, hydrology, wastewater treatment through septic systems and/or soil science. Additional activities will include a variety of environmental areas such as food, pools, and lodging, with the possibility of working in solid waste, hazardous waste, water supply, body art, and public health nuisances. Education, consultation, and public health outreach activities are critical for the safety of the community and, as an Environmental Health Specialist, you are directly involved in ensuring that safety as well as helping protect our county from environmental factors that may adversely impact the ecological balances essential to health and environmental quality. 

Emergency Preparedness is a core Public Health responsibility. As a Human Services employee, your roles and responsibilities include: participating in Public Health Emergency Preparedness training and exercises, responding to notifications and activation drills during business hours and periodically outside of business hours, and responding to Public Health emergencies and department responsibilities at the time of need (during business hours, outside of business hours, on weekends and holidays) in order to protect the health and well-being of our residents.

This is a full-time, exempt, hybrid position. Interviews will take place the week of September 1st, 2025, for those selected to move forward in the hiring process. 

Pay & Benefits

• Salary: $64,480 to $77,355 ($31.00 to $43.38 per hour).

• 2025 Anoka County Salary Schedule Grade 32: $64,480 to $90,230 ($31.00 to $43.38 per hour).

• 24 days of paid flexible time off and up to 12.5 paid holidays.

• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, flex benefits and more at www.anokacountymn.gov/benefits

• Medical and dental clinic exclusive to employees, located at the Anoka County Government Center.

• Pension plan and other retirement investment options.

• Advancement/professional development opportunities.

Work Location

• This position will work at the Anoka County Government Center, located at 2100 3rd Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303.

• This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work, with some days working remotely and some days working in the office.

• This position will require over 70% of the work time in the field.

• Expected work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Recurrent after hours and weekend work is required.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Environmental Health Specialist.

• Administers Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) drinking water protection program.

• Conducts licensed establishment well water testing and performs sanitary surveys of licensed establishment’s well water systems.

• Provides consultation services to municipalities, the public, and businesses regarding drinking water, water pollution, and private well management.

• Provides support for local cities and townships regarding shoreland permits, septic system permits and city water plans.

• Maintain and update the County’s Comprehensive Water Report.

• Participates in the annual Children’s Water Festival.

• Facilitates private well water sampling program.

• Facilitate meetings for the Water Resources Management Task Force and the Joint Wellhead Implementation Group.

• Performs inspections and consultations with licensed businesses such as restaurants, schools, daycares, and lodging facilities to determine compliance with the applicable ordinances, codes, and regulations.

• Performs investigations of unlicensed activities such as unsafe food sources or home-based kitchens to ensure compliance with regulations or recommended public health practices.

• Prepares inspection and investigation reports documenting deficiencies and outlining corrective action needed.

• Verifies requirements for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Plan (HACCP) and FDA/CDC regarding Food Safety Plans at all licensed food establishments.

• Provides technical assistance and education for newly licensed businesses, government partners, and the public.

• Helps create guidance documents and educational videos for operators/establishments to access via our department website.

• Provides education and consultation to the community related to current, new, or emerging environmental health issues.

• Assists in the preparation of cases for action by department management and the County Attorney.

• Participates in emergency preparedness and response activities as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 30 semester credits in environmental health, food science, or natural science.

• Two years (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience in environmental health or a closely related field.

• Possess or able to obtain within 2 years registration as an Environmental Health Specialist.

• Successfully pass driver’s license background check. 

• Must have valid driver's license and vehicle available for business use.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• One year (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience as an Environmental Health Specialist or equivalent role.

• Specialty knowledge in geology, hydrology, wastewater treatment through septic systems and/or soil science.

• Possess registration as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.

• Possess one or more of the following certifications: Standardized Food Inspection Officer, Certified Hazardous Waste Site Worker, Licensed Subsurface Treatment System Designer/Inspector, Licensed Solid Waste Inspector, or Certified Pool Operator.

• Fluency in a language in addition to English.

• Experience using Constant Contact, establishing and maintain email lists and web design software.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Standard office environment, travel to various county work sites both indoor and outdoor, may include emergency or disaster response sites in uncontrolled environments depending on assignment.

• Public safety equipment may include but is not limited to radios, cameras, GPS devices, radiological testing equipment such as portal monitors and Geiger counters depending on assignment, and personal protective equipment.

• Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle.

• Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions.

• Exposure to bodily fluids, infectious agents, radiation, toxic or caustic chemicals, airborne particles, fumes, or other hazards is possible while performing essential duties.

• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. 

Selection Process

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.

Pre-employment Requirements

Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

About Anoka County

As the fourth largest county in Minnesota, we depend on the diversity, dedication, determination, and innovation of our employees. We offer a wide range of career opportunities for people with a variety of personalities, abilities, knowledge, and life experiences who can come together for the single purpose of serving Anoka County’s 369,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative, and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County! Hear from other Anoka County employees here.

Commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employment

Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.

If you require accommodations or have any other questions regarding this job posting, please call the Anoka County Human Resources Department at 763-324-4300 and reference the posting title and number. If you have questions about the hiring process, please visit: http://www.anokacountymn.gov/er-faq

Anoka County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy: https://www.anokacounty.us/401/Diversity-EEO