Health Educator -Environmental Health

Ramsey County, MN is hiring two Health Educators for the Environmental Health Division, focusing on solid and hazardous waste management, including waste reduction and recycling programs. Responsibilities include coordinating the Fix-it Clinic Program, developing reuse programming, and supporting the Food Scraps Pickup Program. The roles emphasize community engagement, health equity, and environmental justice, involving partnerships with various organizations and conducting community health assessments.
Basic Function

There are two vacancies being filled in the Environmental Health Division, working in solid and hazardous waste management, specifically related to waste and toxicity reduction, reuse, repair, recycling, and resource recovery.

One of the Health Educators will have primary responsibilities at the Environmental Center in Roseville that include: 1) Coordinating and continually improving Ramsey County’s Fix-it Clinic Program which takes place monthly on the weekend, 2) developing and implementing reuse programming for Ramsey County and supporting partner reuse efforts, and 3) supporting communications and programming for the Environmental Center and the Health Division with focus on racial equity, health equity and environmental justice.

The Environmental Center opened April 1 2025, and is part of Enhancing Environmental Health Services, a Ramsey County initiative to redesign and add recycling and waste disposal services to better meet community needs.

The second Health Educator will have primary responsibilities that include: 1) Support of the Food Scraps Pickup Program, a program being implemented in collaboration with Washington County and Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy.

The food scraps pickup program will offer collection of food scraps from residents so that this material can be recycled. The health educator role will provide expertise in communications, outreach, customer service, website, and community engagement to ensure a residents first approach as this program is developed and launched in Ramsey County.

The position also involves close collaboration with Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy for joint programming emphasizing racial equity, health equity, and environmental justice.

To develop, implement and evaluate community educational programs related to a specialty area of public health; and to perform related duties as assigned.

Examples of Work Performed
• Perform community health assessments and identify areas of need in community health services provision; establish criteria for evaluation of community health promotion programs and activities; prepare reports based on community health assessments and program evaluations for use in addressing community health goals and regarding disease specific interventions.
• Develop contacts and partnerships with community agencies and individuals, schools, health care professionals and social service providers in order to conduct health education activities and identify health care problems or needs and appropriate referral process.
• Participate as a member or chair of department task forces and committees for strategic planning, service delivery design and other topics; provide leadership and coordination with other health organizations, volunteer health agencies (e.g. American Lung Association, etc.) and other public health departments for the development and implementation of community health promotion projects; work with state agencies to coordinate programs and exchange information.
• Prepare and assemble educational materials including web resources, brochures, exhibits, posters, newsletters, slides and other audio-visual materials; develop new or adapt existing materials for use with diverse cultures or communities; translate or arrange for the translation of materials for use with non-English speaking populations.
• Develop and conduct training sessions for county staff, for staff members of other public health or service organizations or schools, and for volunteer personnel concerning health programs and facilities, or public health issues; and conduct information sessions on developing multicultural competency skills and culture specific knowledge.
• Organize and conduct health education meetings and conferences for community groups and organizations.
• Plan and prepare publicity material including news releases, radio and television copy and related art materials for public health education activities; appear on camera or radio to discuss topics related to public health programs or issues.
• Compile and maintain health information containing web resources, books, media, slides and other materials; compile and maintain a health information resource file for use by other staff members.
• Assist in compiling and preparing statistical and narrative sections of annual reports and other agency publications; provide recommendations regarding department funding of projects.
• Receive and respond to inquiries from the general public related to information concerning health services and health educational resources.

(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position’s management approved work schedule is required.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in health sciences, education, behavioral sciences or a related field.

Experience: None.

Substitution: Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Certifications/Licensure: None.

Exam/Screening Process Information

Exam/Screening Process Information

The examination process will consist of the following section with each section weighted as indicated:
• Training and Experience Rating = 100%

The examination for Health Educator will consist of a training and experience rating, comprised of the questions in the attached supplemental questionnaire. Not all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will pass the training and experience rating. The rating on this supplemental questionnaire will depend on your answers to the questions – do not mark “see resume” or “see work history” Do not cut and paste resume as a response. Please answer all of the supplemental questions clearly and completely, failure to do so may affect your ability to move forward in the hiring process.

Eligible List:

The names of all applicants who have submitted a completed application and passed the examination/screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for an employment opportunity as a Health Educator. This list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to conduct interviews to fill a vacancy. Applicants will remain on the list for 30 days or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted.

Veteran's Preference: This is a classified position requiring an open, competitive selection process. Veteran's Preference points will be applied after a candidate passes the examination process. Applicants who are eligible for veteran's preference should update their veteran's DD214, and other supporting documents, and submit them as an attachment at the time of application.

Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.
In addition, you may be subject to one or more of the following:
• Pre-employment Health Screening

E-Verify Participation: Ramsey County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance or national origin.

Ramsey County is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of its workforce. The county strives being equitable, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and impactful in how we serve and engage with residents, as well as Ramsey County employees. Advancing racial equity ensures all people who need access to opportunities and services we provide, will receive them. Racial equity is achieved when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and outcomes for all are improved.

. You will need to print this posting and answer the supplemental questions associated with this exam and submit them with your completed paper application.

For further information regarding this posting, please contact nirvana.wallace@co.ramsey.mn.us

Ramsey County provides a wide range of employee benefits to support health, well-being, and work/life balance. Benefits eligibility can vary depending on union status/contract language. A summary of benefits is provided below. Detailed information is available for review at https://www.ramseycounty.us/employees/employee-open-enrollment-2025-benefits
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• The County contributes a bargained percentage to the medical and dental monthly premium
• Employees choose from four enrollment tiers: Single, Employee + legally married spouse, Employee + Child(ren), Family
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance – three plan options including a High Deductible Plan with a Health Saving Account offered. Earn up to $20/month in electronic gift cards for each enrolled employee or spouse for wellness activity
• MetLife Dental Insurance – two plan options offered
• VSP Vision Insurance – Advantage Plan offered
• Pre-tax Benefit Program
• Pre-tax medical, dental, vision monthly premium deduction option
• Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• County monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees who elect the High Deductible medical plan
• Paid time off
• Vacation hours, accrued based on years of service, ranging from 12 to 25 days per year (pro-rated for part-time employees)
• 11 scheduled holidays and two floating holidays
• Up to eight weeks of 100% paid parental leave, plus additional use of sick time as noted below
• Sick hours accrued at a rate of three weeks per year, which can be used for medical and dental care; injury or illness for you, your spouse or children; the birth or adoption of a child (up to 80 hours) or the death of a family member (up to 40 hours)
• Wellness incentive allows conversion of unused sick time to vacation or pay
• Retirement benefits
• Pension - The county contributes at least 7.5% of your salary to your pension, depending on bargaining unit. Unlike other retirement investments, pension payments are a lifetime benefit once you start collecting payments
• New employees become vested after three years. For the Police and Fire union, employees are vested after 10 years
• Deferred compensation - 457(b) account with employer match
• Health Care Savings Plan - all benefits-eligible employees contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan account for eligible health care expenses after retirement. Interest accrues tax free. County provides a scheduled contribution after five years of participation
• Transit and parking
• Fully funded Metropass.
• Transportation/parking expenses reimbursement account
• Employee well-being
• Employee assistance program, including telephone counseling, financial counseling, rideshare benefits, etc.
• Wellness programming
• Flexible work policy with hybrid work options for eligible positions
• Life Insurance and Disability leave
• County provided Basic Life coverage - 1x annual salary, minimum $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000. Optional supplemental coverage available
• Long-term Disability – County provided coverage replaces 40% of the employee’s lost income after six months of disability, subject to a $5,000 monthly maximum. Option to purchase an additional 20% income replacement up to $7,500 monthly maximum
• Short-term Disability – option to purchase 60% income replacement coverage with 30, 60 or 90-day waiting period
• Career development
• Tuition reimbursement, up to $4,000 per year
• Online professional development opportunities through the Learning & Development Center
• County employment qualifies as a public service organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employee resource groups – help employees build connections through common bonds with colleagues

For information about Ramsey County's 2025 benefits, visit: https://www.ramseycounty.us/employees/employee-open-enrollment-2025-benefits