Job Details Working Title: Wellhead Protection Hydrologist Job Class: Hydrologist 3 Agency: Health Department - Job ID: 97373
- Location: St. Paul
- Telework Eligible: Yes, hybrid
- Full/Part Time: Full-Time
- Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
- Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers. Open to bidders through 11/05/2026.
- Date Posted: 10/30/2026
- Closing Date: 11/19/2026
- Hiring Agency: Health Department
- Division: Environmental Health
- Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift, 8:00am - 4:30pm
- Days of Work: Monday - Friday
- Travel Required: Yes - Up to 25% of the time
- Salary Range: $35.30 - $52.35 / hourly; $73,706 - $109,306 / annually
- Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)
- FLSA Status: Exempt - Professional
- Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes
Job Summary Join a mission-driven team at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and help protect, maintain, and improve the health of all Minnesotans. As a Wellhead Protection Hydrologist in the Source Water Protection (SWP) Unit in Environmental Health, you will ensure public water systems have accurately delineated wellhead protection areas and vulnerability assessments in compliance with state wellhead protection rules. You will also provide technical leadership by mentoring staff to ensure scientific consistency across the unit and represent MDH in technical forums. In addition, you will provide technical expertise for complex inquiries and projects related to the mitigation of drinking water supply problems as they relate to public health groundwater protection. Further, the successful incumbent will conduct alternate source evaluations, environmental reviews, potential contaminant source inventories, lead or participate in technical studies, and coordinate wellhead protection plan implementation activities, primarily in central Minnesota.
This is an opportunity to apply advanced hydrologic knowledge in a highly impactful role that supports environmental protection and safe drinking water across Minnesota.
Primary Responsibilities: - Ensure current wellhead protection plans exist for all relevant public water supply wells within assigned area, including delineating wellhead protection areas and drinking water supply management areas (DWSMAs) and conducting vulnerability assessments for public water supply wells and DWSMAs, as specified under the State wellhead protection rules.
- Assist public water suppliers with implementation of hydrogeologic aspects of their wellhead protection plans.
- Provide senior-level technical leadership and representation for broader aquifer protection efforts outside of DWSMAs, via efforts such as Groundwater Restoration and Protection Strategies (GRAPS) and One Watershed, One Plan. Maintain familiarity with, and provide support as appropriate for, Source Water Protection's surface water protection program.
- Respond to inquiries concerning the wellhead protection program and drinking water supply problems as they relate to public health and groundwater protection and perform public outreach functions of the program.
- Assist public water suppliers and other MDH staff in evaluating the suitability of new well sites.
In accordance with
HR/LR Policy #1422 Telework, this position is eligible for up to 50% telework for applicants who live in Minnesota or in a bordering state within 50 miles of the assigned work location. The telework policy may exempt employees who live more than 50 miles from their primary work location from the 50% in-office requirement, depending on job requirements, helping the State of Minnesota access top talent across the state.
Qualifications Minimum Qualifications To facilitate proper years of service crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held: Three (3) years of experience in groundwater hydrology including
two or more of the following:
- Hydrogeologic site characterization and assessment in fractured bedrock and glacial deposit settings.
- Interpretation of well and borehole records and groundwater chemistry relevant to crystalline bedrock or glacial aquifers.
- Preparation of technical reports related to groundwater issues typical of central Minnesota, such as glacial and buried-sand aquifer systems, till-dominated landscapes, localized fractured bedrock settings, and surface water and groundwater interactions.
- Groundwater modeling, including conceptual and numerical models applicable to heterogeneous glacial aquifers and bedrock systems.
AND
- Registered Professional Geologist or Engineer in Minnesota or initiate the process for licensure within 12 months of hire.
*A bachelor's degree in geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, geophysics, geological engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering or a closely related field will substitute for one (1) year of professional experience.
*A master's degree in geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, geophysics, geological engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering or a closely related field will substitute for eighteen (18) months of experience.
*A doctoral degree in geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, geophysics, geological engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineeringor closely related will substitute for two (2) years of experience.
Additional minimum qualifications to be assessed during the interview process: - Ability to communicate clearly, orally and in writing, to convey complex hydrogeological concepts and data to diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently and to organize work to address numerous competing priorities.
- Intermediate skills in using Microsoft Office applications.
Preferred Qualifications - Advanced degree in hydrogeology, geology, hydrology, geophysics, geographical engineering, civil engineering, or closely related field.
- Familiarity with central Minnesota's geologic formations and hydrologic systems, including glacial sediments, buried and surficial sand aquifers, till-dominated landscapes, and localized fractured bedrock settings, and the ability to conduct fieldwork in support of hydrogeologic investigations, including groundwater sampling, monitoring well installation oversight, aquifer testing, and geological and hydrogeologic mapping.
- Ability to apply hydrogeologic principles in practical settings, develop and validate conceptual hydrogeologic models, evaluate aquifer and confining unit characteristics, and analyze contaminant fate and transport in fractured bedrock or heterogeneous glacial systems.
- Ability to interpret geologic maps, cross-sections, and drill core data to assess groundwater flow paths and identify potential aquifer vulnerabilities in fractured bedrock and glacial environments.
- Strong familiarity with geographical information systems (GIS) software such as ArcGIS or QGIS.
Physical Requirements - Ability to work outdoors during all seasons.
- Ability to lift as much as 20 pounds for short time periods.
- Ability to frequently lift from ground to waist height, and from waist to shoulder height.
- Ability to walk on even/uneven or sloping ground, including snow covered ground, for up to a mile.
- Ability to perform gross and fine motor tasks, sometimes with unprotected fingers and hands, in varying indoor/outdoor temperature extremes.
Additional Requirements - This position may require the employee to have a flexible schedule to be able to accommodate travel.
- This position requires successful completion of a background check and employment reference check.
- This position does not require a driver's license; however, it does demand travel which the candidate is responsible for meeting.
Application Details How to Apply Select "Apply for Job" at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers .
Contact If you have questions about this position, contact Laura Jones at laura.m.jones@state.mn.us or 651-201-4842 .
To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Laura Jones at laura.m.jones@state.mn.us .
If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation for an interview, you may contact the Department of Health ADA Coordinator at heatlh.hr.ada@state.mn.us .
