Salary: See Position Description
Location : Downtown Minneapolis
Job Type: Grant - Full-time (benefit earning)
Job Number: 26EE380LV18
Department: Environment and Energy
Division: Water Resources General
Opening Date: 10/01/2026
Closing Date: 10/22/2026 11:59 PM Central

Description
Hennepin County's Environment and Energy department is seeking a Conservation Specialist, Senior to direct education and outreach initiatives and to serve as liaison to a partnership between Hennepin County and the WMWA is a coalition of watershed commissions, cities, and other organizations seeking to protect and improve water resources through better coordinated education and resident outreach. This position will support the launch, coordination, and implementation of community engagement initiatives, pollution reduction education programs, and stormwater and water quality improvement projects.

Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visit thepage.

Targeted starting salary range:
$71,643.66 - $97,000.00 Annually

Full salary range:
$71,643.66 - $107,465.50 Annually

Location and hours:
This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at the 625 Building located at 625 Fourth Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415, and remote as job duties require. This position will also routinely travel to field sites throughout Hennepin County. Work hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend work for community events and meetings. While this position is designated as hybrid, based on current requirements hires must reside in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin. New Employee Orientation (NEO) for all new benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis. Details about NEO will be provided upon hire.

About this position type:
This is a full-time, benefit-earning position with a limited duration. The role is primarily funded through grants, and current funding is expected to continue through at least December 31, 2028.
This position is internally classified as an Environmentalist, Senior.
Click to view the job classification specification.

In this position, you will:

• Work with the WMWA steering committee to set goals and strategies and develop annual workplans defining priorities, intended outcomes, and key milestones.
• Provide monthly updates at WMWA meetings and work with the WMWA steering committee to coordinate activities, evaluate and improve program outcomes, and prepare and present an annual report.
• Coordinate with partners, residents, and vendors to schedule, promote, and/or conduct workshops; attend watershed commission and city meetings and community events.
• Assist with design and writing support, direct the creation of outreach tools such as flyers, brochures, videos, displays, interpretive signs, and hands-on activities.
• Develop materials and conduct programming to assist city partners with enhancing MS4 permit education programming for residents, businesses, and community groups.
• Deliver education programming in an equitable manner that serves residents and water-users who tend to be under-represented in water resource programming.
• Create and implement an outreach strategy on behalf of the partnership.
• Work with partners and County staff to provide technical assistance to participants, inspect completed projects, and assist partners to secure project funding.
• Manage projects that improve water quality and coordinate with consultants and stakeholders to implement projects.
• Build and leverage partnerships with entities doing complementary work (e.g. East Metro Water Resource Education Program, Blue Thumb Partners, volunteer programs, and community groups).
• Conduct audience research to evaluate effectiveness of programming.

Need to have:

• One of the following:
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in business administration, public administration, the sciences or a field related to the position, and two or more years of experience planning or operating environmental programs such as recycling, solid waste, or other public works programs involving inter-agency coordination.
  • Associates degree in a field closely related to the assignment and four or more years of experience planning or operating environmental programs such as recycling, solid waste, or other public works programs involving inter-agency coordination.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County drivers permit within six months of employment.

Nice to have:

• Experience:
  • Working in an environmental field implementing conservation, natural resources, and/or water resource projects and initiatives.
  • Using communication strategies and technologies (e.g. e-newsletter, social media, or web content platforms) to deliver environmental messaging to residents and/or diverse audiences.
  • Working to address water quality and stormwater issues, including the development and implementation of best management practices (BMPs) in residential settings.
  • As a professional in the environmental or communications field, including internships or graduate school projects, working with conservation, water resources management, natural resources management, environmental outreach and engagement, or other work related to this position.
  • Tailoring outreach approaches and content for specific and often diverse audiences and communities.
  • Creating educational content for a variety of communication channels.
  • Giving public presentations; facilitating large group discussions.
  • Making scientific, environmental, technical, or other complex information understandable and relatable to a general audience.
  • Managing project teams of staff, contractors, and partners from various organizations and agencies.
  • Coordinating and developing environmental and conservation projects and practices that improve water quality.
• Ability to:
  • Develop outreach approaches and content for a wide array of audiences and tailor approaches for specific audiences.
  • Work effectively with and gain input from various staff members and partners.
  • Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including updates to partners and customers, creating educational content for a variety of channels, giving presentations, and providing outreach at events.
  • Operate effectively in a fast-paced, hybrid (remote and in-person environment) environment.

About the department:
The Environment and Energy department protects and preserves the environment to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. We engage communities to develop and enact sustainable solutions. We focus on reducing and responsibly managing waste, protecting and preserving ecosystems, delivering clean energy and promoting environmental stewardship.

A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit within six months of employment.

Are you willing and able to meet these requirements?

• Yes
• No

02

Select the highest degree/certificate you have completed in business administration, public administration, the sciences or other field appropriate to the position.

• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree or higher
• Neither of the above

03

Describe your relevant education including area(s) of study, school(s) attended, and degree(s)/certification(s) earned. If you do not have relevant education, type "None" in the space provided.
04

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have in planning or operating environmental programs such as recycling, solid waste, or other public works programs involving inter-agency coordination?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

05

Describe your experience in planning or operating environmental programs such as recycling, solid waste, or other public works programs involving inter-agency coordination, referencing positions listed on your resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
06

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have in an environmental field implementing conservation, natural resources, and/or water resource projects and initiatives?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more, but less than 6 years
• 6 years or more

07

Describe your experience in an environmental field implementing conservation, natural resources, and/or water resource projects and initiatives, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
08

How many years of experience do you have using communication strategies and technologies (e.g. e-newsletter, social media, or web content platforms) to deliver environmental messaging to residents and/or diverse audiences?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more, but less than 6 years
• 6 years or more

09

Describe your experience using communication strategies and technologies (e.g. e-newsletter, social media, or web content platforms) to deliver environmental messaging to residents and/or diverse audiences, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
10

How many years of experience do you have working to address water quality and stormwater issues, including the development and implementation of best management practices (BMPs) in residential settings?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more, but less than 6 years
• 6 years or more

11

Describe your experience working to address water quality and stormwater issues, including the development and implementation of best management practices (BMPs) in residential settings, type "None" in the space provided.
12

Please choose the one recruitment source that best describes how you first learned about this job opening. Please review all possible choices before making your selection. Your response to this question helps us evaluate the effectiveness of our recruitment methods.

• College or university (job board, career services, or instructor)
• Community or nonprofit organization (counselor, job board, etc.)
• Employee or recruiter of Hennepin County (supervisor/manager, colleague, or Human Resources)
• Friend or family member that is not a Hennepin County employee
• Hennepin County job notification emails
• Indeed.com
• Job fair or networking event
• LinkedIn
• Print advertisement (flyer, postcard, billboard, transit ad, e