Waste Reduction Specialist
Salary
$68,888.14 - $103,332.21 Annually
Job Number
25EED380MN15
Closing Date
10/13/2025 11:59 PM Central
Description
Hennepin County's Environment and Energy department is seeking to hire a Waste Reduction Specialist focused on plastic waste. This position will be responsible for identifying, developing, and coordinating new policies, programs, and initiatives to reduce and divert plastic waste, supporting both the county's Zero Waste and Climate Action plans.
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 employee referral program.
Find us here at upcoming career fairs!
Location and hours:
This position is hybrid and will be performed at various locations within Hennepin County, with the main office located in the Hennepin County Environment and Energy Department at 625 Fourth Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55415, and remote as job duties require. Work hours will typically be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., with the possibility of some occasional evening and weekend hours. 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.
This position is internally classified as an Environmentalist, Senior.
Click here to view the job classification specification.
In this position, you will:
• Research plastic reduction policies and initiatives, provide analysis and recommendations for county consideration, and develop a plan for legislative and policy priorities, as well as new programs and initiatives that reduce the plastics in the waste stream and environment.
• Propose and draft policies that address plastic waste and pollution.
• Develop and coordinate new programming and initiatives that reduce and divert plastic waste and reduce plastic pollution.
• Develop and foster public/private partnerships to advance efforts to reduce and divert plastic and prevent pollution.
• Educate the public on plastic reduction, plastic recycling, and the impacts of plastic pollution.
• Develop, administer, manage, and evaluate requests for proposals, grant solicitations, and contracts.
• Prepare communications on plastic waste and pollution prevention for internal and external audiences.
• Represent the county at public meetings and conferences.
Need to have:
• One of the following:
o Bachelor's degree or higher in business administration, public administration, the sciences, or a field related to the position and two years or more of experience planning or operating environmental programs such as recycling, solid waste, or other public works programs involving inter-agency coordination.
o Associate's degree in a field closely related to the assignment and four years or more 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 access to reliable transportation for travel to various sites throughout Hennepin County.
Nice to have:
• Four years or more of full-time experience in a lead role:
o Developing and implementing new environmental programs and initiatives for a broad public audience.
o Administering grants or contracts.
o Developing and coordinating multi-stakeholder projects.
• Experience:
o Writing and editing content for a public audience.
o Researching, data collection and tracking, analysis, and reporting.
o With materials management, reuse systems, and plastic polymers.
o Interpreting or implementing Extended Producer Responsibility or similar policies.
• Ability to:
o Manage multiple active projects.
o Work independently and as a part of a team.
o Interpret federal, state and county policies, laws, rules, and regulations.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Marita Nguyen
#LI