Salary: $71,643.66 - $107,465.50 Annually
Location : Hennepin County
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26EED380MN08
Department: Environment and Energy
Division: HHW General
Opening Date: 08/24/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 11:59 PM Central

Description
The Solid Waste division seeks a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Specialist to manage Household Hazardous Waste collection event collections, and to oversee the development and implementation of disposal contracts for hazardous waste materials.

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 the page.

Location and hours:
This position will work at two of our drop-off facilities: the Brooklyn Park Transfer Station at 8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445, and the South Hennepin Recycling Center and Problem Waste Drop-off Center at 1400 West 96th Street, Bloomington, MN 55431. Work hours will be Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with flexibility based on operational needs. 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.
This position is internally classified as an Environmentalist, Senior.
Click to view the job classification specification.
In this position, you will:

• Coordinate Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) events; review event invoices and program documents.
• Write and submit state and contractual notifications.
• Schedule collection events and review, approve, and direct event logistics; work with the Education & Outreach division on event communications.
• Schedule and coordinate with contractors (e.g., waste management, operational staff, county staff, and other partners).
• Review, establish, and audit on-site safety and regulatory compliance; review wastes delivered for acceptability.
• Coordinate and maintain medicine program.
• Review and sign shipping documents; enter and file all pertinent data and paperwork.
• Compile and report on each year's collection event data and financials.
• Participate in the development and management of hazardous waste disposal contracts.
• Participate in the development and implementation of product stewardship initiatives.
• Conduct technical review on proposed federal, state, and local laws, rules, or policies affecting county HHW and medicine collections.

Need to have:

• One of the following:
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry or chemical engineering or a closely related field and two years of experience in hazardous waste management or industrial chemical testing and analysis.
  • Associates degree in a field closely related to the assignment and four years of experience in work related to the assignment.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a within six months of hire.

Nice to have:

• Certification as a Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) or a Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP) or the ability to become certified within two years of employment.
• Experience:
  • Managing HHW collections, including identification, sorting, packaging, and shipping hazardous wastes.
  • In chemical safety.
  • Developing, managing, and evaluating HHW disposal contracts and agreements.
  • Evaluating programs by collecting and analyzing outcome data.
• Project management experience within a hazardous waste setting.

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations related to hazardous waste.
• Ability to:
  • Establish and maintain effective relationships with others.
  • Organize programs and maintain effective relationships with municipal officials, contractors, and the general public.

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.

This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.

Watch this videofor application best practices and tips.

Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience. Final candidates may be required to complete a criminal background check.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Marita Nguyen

01

This position will work at two of our drop-off facilities: the Brooklyn Park Transfer Station at 8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445, and the South Hennepin Recycling Center and Problem Waste Drop-off Center at 1400 West 96th Street, Bloomington, MN 55431. Work hours will be Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with flexibility based on operational needs. New Employee Orientation (NEO) for all new benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis. Details about NEO will be provided upon hire.

This position requires a valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit within six months of hire.

Are you willing and able to meet these requirements?

• Yes
• No

02

In which of the following areas have you earned a degree? Check all that apply.

• Chemical engineering
• Chemistry
• Other related field
• None of the above

03

Select the highest degree you have completed in the field(s) above.

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

04

Describe your education including area(s) of study, school(s) attended, and degree(s)/certification(s) earned. If you have not completed a degree/certificate/course(s), type "None" in the space provided.
05

Indicate your Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) certification(s). Check all that apply.

• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
• Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP)
• Certified Dangerous Goods Professional (CDGP)
• I have the ability to obtain the CHMM/CHMP Certification within two years of employment
• None of the above

06

How many years of work experience do you have in hazardous waste management or industrial chemical testing and analysis?

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

07

Describe your work experience in hazardous waste management or industrial chemical testing and analysis, referencing positions listed on your resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
08

How many years of experience do you have managing household hazardous waste collections, including identification, sorting, packaging, and shipping hazardous wastes?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

09

Describe your experience managing household hazardous waste collections, including identification, sorting, packaging, and shipping hazardous wastes, 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 in chemical safety?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

11

Describe your experience in chemical safety, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
12

Do you have project management experience within a hazardous waste setting?

• Yes
• No

13

Describe your project management experience within a hazardous waste setting, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
14

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, etc.)
• Professional association (ASCE, APWA, ISACA, etc.)
• Social media (Handshake, Facebook, X, Instagram, etc.)
• hennepin.jobs or governmentjobs.com

15

For the recruitment source selected above, please provide the specific name of the person, website, or media source.
Required Question