Environmental Health Specialist

Closing Date: April 8, 2026
$33.88 to $44.61

Position Objective

Performs Intermediate work implementing the protection and promotion of the health of county residents through promotion and provision of environment and population-based public health services. Performs daily activities involving investigation, public education and outreach, and engagement with community partners. This work involves planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based environment/community health strategies and policy. Work is performed under the limited supervision of public health supervisor.

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Coordinates efforts to provide environment/population based public health initiatives with internal and external partners and acts as environmental health practice liaison.

• Research best practices and evidenced based models for broad population health, with emphasis on those in relation to environmental factors (i.e... tobacco policy, asthma, climate change issues, well water, air quality)
• Conduct surveys and collect data to review monitor and analyze environmental health approaches.
• Develop, initiate, and evaluate environment/community health approaches and strategies as identified.
• Develop an environmental health prevention plans and reports.
• Create and deliver health messaging to targeted populations for the purpose of development of health in all policies and the improvement of the population’s health in Chisago County.
• Acts as a community resource for assuring environment/public health best practice.
• Provides technical assistance, resources, and training in environmental policy development, implementation, evaluation, and compliance with federal guidelines.
• Seeks grant opportunities and assists with writing, reports, management, and evaluation of grants.

• Engages the community through public presentations, meetings with organizational leaders, residents, and others to promote health in all policies.
• Engage community partnership to build the community's health promotion capacity and strengthen systems that support community health and health policy. Identifies gaps in the community for partnerships to address a health needs.
• Educates others on the focus of policy, systems, and environment initiatives.
• Provides mentorship to staff regarding environment/community health initiatives.
• Assists in developing the community health assessment and community health improvement plan to align with the environmental health needs of the community.
• Collaborates with partners on environment/community initiatives and strategies to improve population health.

Public Health Nuisance

• Investigates public health nuisance complaints.
• If appropriate, issue written orders to mitigate public health nuisances, lead hazards, or clandestine drug labs and take action to enforce orders if needed.
• Collaborate and engage other agencies to address nuisance.
• Conduct outreach and education on environmental health issues.

Emergency Preparedness

• Participates with public health emergency response functions as trained and assigned within the department’s emergency response plan.
• Collaborates and provides strategic direction with emergency plans in relation to environmental issues.

Miscellaneous Duties

• Other duties as assigned.
• Participates in training as assigned.
• Demonstrates adherence to miscellaneous County and HHS Department policies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of foundational public health work. Ability to apply principles of public health to communities, families, and individuals.
• General knowledge of health promotion (population and community-based primary prevention).
• Knowledge of community organization systems, norms, and resources
• Knowledge of educational, training and consultation principles, practices, materials, and tools with various populations.
• Ability to speak and present publicly.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, community, and professional groups.
• Ability to exercise tact, judgment, initiative.
• Ability to work independently and set work priorities complimentary to the work of the Department.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Employee must have demonstrated ability to work effectively and efficiently in a wide variety of computer programs and systems.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, respectful, relationships with clients, agency staff members, and the public.
• Ability to apply previously acquired knowledge and skills to new situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively using a variety of method.
• Must be able to maintain positive working relationship with County Attorney, County Administration, Department Administrative team, and other county and community committees, State offices of the State of Minnesota for miscellaneous programs.

Desired Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and moderate experience, or a combination of equivalent education and experience.

Special Qualifications

None.

Tools and Equipment Used

Computer, telephone, copier, fax, and general office equipment.

Working Conditions

The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical demands, physical agility, sensory requirements, and environmental exposures required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• This classification regularly involves physical agility requirements such as: climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, repetitive motions and manual dexterity.
• Sensory requirements include standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing ideas by means of the spoken word; and hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels;
• The noise level can range from moderately quiet in the office to loud and noisy in the field.

Applicants for appointment to this position will be required to submit a formal application and may be subject to rating of education and experience, oral interview and/or reference check, background investigation, criminal history check, drug testing. Job related tests may be required of any applicant.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

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