Environmental Health Specialist

The City of Bloomington, MN is hiring an Environmental Health Specialist to conduct inspections and investigations related to public health and environmental compliance. The role involves enforcing municipal and state codes in areas such as food safety, rental housing, and pollution control. Applicants should demonstrate effective communication and teamwork skills. This is a full-time position based in Bloomington, MN, with a salary ranging from $44.65 to $49.22 hourly.
Salary: $44.65 - $49.22 Hourly
Location : Bloomington, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2025-00024
Department: Community Development
Opening Date: 02/11/2025
Closing Date: 3/2/2025 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: AFSCME

Primary Objective

The City of Bloomington is seeking an individual to perform inspections, investigations, education and compliance work in the field of Environmental Health and to protect public health through enforcement of municipal and state codes. Applicable program areas include nuisance, zoning code inspections, and rental housing inspections.

CITY VALUES & EXPECTATIONS
• Models and contributes to a positive work environment, culture of communication, engagement and safety
• Communicates effectively and respectfully with employees and the general public, including but not limited to those of diverse racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Works cooperatively as a member of a team; develops and maintains effective working relationships with diverse coworkers and community members; consistently brings a high level of self-awareness and empathy to all personal interactions
• Embrace the City's shared values and contribute towards accomplishing the City's vision and goals by being creative, innovative, continuously learning, and communicating clearly

Examples of Duties
• Perform inspections/investigations in a wide variety of facilities or settings to determine conformance with federal, state, and City codes; applicable program areas include: food safety assurance; rental housing; property maintenance; nuisance control; zoning code enforcement; wells; food and water-borne illness investigation; lodging sanitation; swimming pool safety and sanitation; beach water monitoring; noise, water and air pollution control; manufactured home parks and recreational camping areas; vector control; tanning and massage; body art; radon; laundromats; emergency response (i.e., spills, fires); and special events
• Inspect and obtain compliance in the Environmental Health Division's programs
• Prepare inspections reports, issue written orders for violations and maintain records on violations and corrective actions
• Apply relevant codes to respective environmental health disciplines to ensure compliance
• Perform routine or specialized inspections when assigned
• Assist with plan reviews and on-site construction inspections to ensure compliance with approved plans
• Monitor noise, water and air pollution sources
• Perform inspections of air control devices in permitted facilities
• Conduct food and water-borne illness investigations at licensed establishments
• Prepare and disseminate environmental health reports
• Assist in legal proceedings by preparing and providing pertinent information
• Interact with City staff of other departments and divisions to provide effective training and compliance with regulations
• Communicate matters that are important to the City's interest and the public's health, safety, and welfare to the supervisor and manager
• Research and conduct education programs on environmental health topics, for example food safety, radon or lead awareness
• Assist in training employees
• Maintain credentials necessary for program areas
• Provide subject matter expertise as requested
• Assist in maintaining computer programs/software
• Conduct nuisance complaint investigations. Assist in responding, investigating, and resolving complicated nuisance issues
• Perform other duties as apparent or assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED
• Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills
• Long and short-term goals are developed and met
• Work is completed on schedule
• Works effectively with team members and maintains effective working relationship with supervisor and manager
• Exercise good judgment in evaluating environmental health issues and proposing alternatives for conflict resolution
• Promptly identify and effect correction of violations
• Demonstrate knowledge of applicable federal, state and City regulations
• Reports and written communication are clear and accurate
• Effective oral communication
• Public communication is respectful and done in a professional manner
• Keeps up to date and complies with administrative policies and procedures
• Improves and updates environmental health knowledge and skills

Minimum/Desirable Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health, Biological or Physical Sciences, Public Health or closely related field
• Minnesota Department of Health or NEHA registered Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian or eligible to be registered within one year
• Valid driver's license

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
• Master's degree in one of the above fields
• Depending on specific needs of the Environmental Health Division at the time a position is open, specific experience in rental housing inspection, zoning code enforcement, nuisance control, or property maintenance code enforcement
• Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office, inspection, and geographic information software (GIS)
• Ability to speak a second language, in addition to English, that has a recognized presence in the community (Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese Mandarin, Cambodian, etc.)

Supplemental Information

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS
This position does not supervise others
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
• Depending upon the assigned work area, there may be additional certifications, standardizations, or training to be completed or maintained
• Not remote
Anticipated Hiring Range: $44.65 - $49.22 Hourly
2024 Full Salary Range: $44.65 - $55.40 HourlyFull-Time; Non-Exempt; Union (AFSCME); Benefits Eligible per Union Contract
The City of Bloomington is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Applicants who are black, indigenous or persons of color are encouraged to apply. We also encourage women, veterans, members of the LGBTQIA community, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
Benefits for regular, full-time employees of the City of Bloomington (with the exception of 24 hour firefighters and 24 hour fire fighter/paramedics) include the following:
• 10 days paid vacation per year
• 13 days paid personal leave per year
• 13 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Employee health and dental insurance
• Paid employee life insurance
• Paid employee disability insurance
• Employer/employee paid pension
• Deferred compensation
• Tuition assistance program
• Health club membership reimbursement
• Flexible spending account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Other optional benefits
• Great suburban location, on bus line
• Free employee parking
• (Union contracts may vary from the above list.)
01

The City of Bloomington (City) is asking you to supply information (data) as part of your application for employment with the City. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) classifies this data as private data about you.The law does not require you to provide the data and there is no legal consequence for refusing to provide the data. However, if you do not provide the requested data, the City may not have enough information to consider your application and you may not move forward in the selection process.If you do provide the data, City employees and its agents may have access to your private data if their work assignments reasonably require access. The hiring manager or supervisor, human resources employees, and members of an interview panel, which may include non-City employees, will have access to some of your private data during the application and selection process. State or federal law or a court order may allow others to have access to your data also. The City will not disclose any of your private data to any member of the general public without your permission.The MGDPA classifies the following information as public data about applicants: veteran status, relevant test scores, rank on eligible list, job history, education and training, and work availability. If you are a finalist for the position, your name is also public. A "finalist" is a person the City selects for an interview.Do you agree to supply the data the City is requesting as part of your application for employment?
• Yes
• No

02

This is a reminder that you should check your Spam/Junk folder as emails from the City of Bloomington might end up being received in those folders and not your inbox. Please note that the City won't send out communications until after the job posting has officially closed unless the posting clearly states otherwise. Please acknowledge that you have read and understood this informational message.
• Yes
• No

03

I understand that in order for my application to receive every consideration in the selection process, I must complete the following supplemental questionnaire completely for this position. Attaching a resume is NOT a substitute for completing an answer. If a question is answered by the statement "See Resume", the question will be treated as if there is no answer. The information I provide will be reviewed and used to determine my eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Unanswered questions, incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. If the supplemental question is not applicable to you, please indicate N/A.
I have read and understand the above instructions regarding supplemental questions.
• Yes
• No

04

Did you read and review the Working Conditions and Physical Demands checklist and the Remote Work availability? Once you click on the link , scroll down to the Other Necessary Requirements section of the Job Description to view information.
• Yes
• No

05

Please indicate if you have a degree in one of the following fields: Environmental Health, Biological or Physical Sciences, Public Health or closely related field?
• I possess an Associate Degree in one of the fields listed
• I possess a Bachelor's Degree in one of the fields listed
• I possess a Master's Degree in one of the fields listed
• I do not possess a degree in one of the fields listed above or a related degree

06

If you indicated you possess a degree in Environmental Health, Biological or Physical Sciences, Public Health, or a closely related field, please list the degree earned, name of the school, and the dates you attended. If not applicable, indicate N/A.If considered for an interview, but you are not currently a MDH or NEHA registered Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian, you will be required to provide a copy of your college transcript demonstrating that you possess the required degree and have at least 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in the biological or physical sciences.
07

Are you a Minnesota Department of Health or NEHA registered Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian? (or will be eligible to be registered within 1 year)
• Yes I am currently registered
• I will be eligible to be registered within 1 year of date of hire
• None of the above

08

Do you possess a valid driver's license?
• Yes
• No

09

Please select the following areas in which you possess work experience. If not applicable, indicate N/A.
• Food
• Lodging and Pool Safety Assurance
• Rental Housing Inspections
• Zoning Code Enforcement
• Nuisance Control
• Property Maintenance Code Enforcement
• Pollution Control
• Plan Review
• N/A

10

If you indicated you possess work experience in any of the above areas please describe your experience for EACH area checked. If not applicable, indicate N/A.
11

Do you have experience using Microsoft Office?
• Yes
• No

12

If you answered have experience with Microsoft Office, please describe your experience and skill level with Word, Excel, and Outlook. If not applicable, please indicate N/A.
13

Do you have experiencing using Inspection software?
• Yes
• No

14

If you answered have experience with Inspection software, please provide the name of software used, for what type of inspections and for which employer. If not applicable, please indicate N/A.
15

Do you have experience using Geographic Information Software (GIS)?
• Yes
• No

16

If you answered have experience with GIS, please describe your skill level with the name of software used and for which employer. If not applicable, please indicate N/A.
17

Do you fluently speak a second language, in addition to English, that has a recognized presence in the community? Recognized prevalent languages in the City of Bloomington are Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese Mandarin, and Cambodian (Khmer). Fluent means you can sustain a conversation, demonstrate intelligible pronunciation which doesn't interfere with understanding, and communicate at informal and some formal levels.
• Spanish - FLUENT
• Somali - FLUENT
• Vietnamese - FLUENT
• Chinese Mandarin - FLUENT
• Cambodian (Khmer) - FLUENT
• I am not FLUENT in those languages or I am FLUENT in another language

18

If you indicated you speak a language other than English that you are FLUENT in, please list the language(s) and years spoken. If not applicable, please indicate N/A.
19

This question is to determine your status as a veteran under the Veteran's Preference Statute, Minnesota Statutes, 43A.11. Please check the statement below which best describes your current Veteran's status:
• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran who served more than 180 consecutive days and received an Honorable Discharge or Separation
• I am the spouse of a deceased Veteran who served more than 180 consecutive days and received an Honorable Discharge or Separation
• I am a disabled Veteran who served more than 180 consecutive days and received an Honorable Discharge or Separation
• I am the spouse of a disabled Veteran who served more than 180 consecutive days and received an Honorable Discharge or Separation and is unable to use the preference due to the disability

20

If you are a Veteran and achieve the minimum passing rating, do you wish to apply your veteran's preference bonus points?If you answer yes, you MUST complete the City of Bloomington's Veteran Preference Questionnaire () and either attach it to this application or send/deliver/fax it to the Human Resources Division with a copy of your form DD-214. Disabled veterans must also supply form FL-802 or an equivalent letter from a service retirement board. Spouses applying for preference points must supply their marriage certificate, the veteran's DD-214 and FL-802 or death certificate. Your veteran's preference points cannot be considered without supporting documentation. All documentation must be received in the Human Resources Division no later than 7 calendar days after the deadline date for the position.
• Yes
• No
• Not Applicable

Required Question