Sanitarian Apprentice / Sanitarian

Recognized as one of the best places to work in Southeast Minnesota for three consecutive years, at Olmsted County every role helps to foster a vibrant community where everyone thrives. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, driving public service excellence and community well-being.

We don’t just offer a job, we offer a career filled with purpose, growth, and fulfillment. Our benefits package ensures your wellbeing, while career advancement opportunities and professional development empower you to reach your full potential.

Join us, and you'll be part of a purpose-driven team where your work truly makes a difference. Together, we build a sustainable, healthy, and welcoming community.

Under supervision, assists businesses, residents, and visitors of Olmsted County in identifying and developing policies, training, and systems that address public health risk and safety conditions associated with food, drinking water, housing, and recreational environments. Conducts and coordinates required inspections for State, County and local environmental health ordinances, rules, and regulations. Prepares for and responds to outbreaks of disease and public health emergency situations. Collaborates with local governing bodies and agencies on matters related to environmental health. May be required to work outside of normal business hours to support non-emergency situations and special events. Supports a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workplace.

• Conducts assessments of licensed facilities and assists managers to assess and improve policy and procedure, training, and verification systems of operation to reduce health and safety risks.
• Advises business clients and the public.
• Completes documentation related to assessments, complaints, and reports.
• Identifies complex situations with licensed facilities that are not responding to usual processes and communications. Consults with staff and management as appropriate.
• Investigates complaints concerning all areas of environmental health and implements steps for resolution or abatement, including referral to other agencies.
• Gathers and interprets information regarding health risks, laws, and services.
• Assists community event organizers with developing plans to safely operate special event infrastructure including drinking water supplies, camping facilities, waste disposal, and food service.
• Assists with evaluating the community’s environmental health and safety risks.
• Assists with outbreak investigations and other emergency response exercises.
• Supports the department during disease outbreaks or emergency situations that may require non-standard work hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

• Considerable knowledge of the nature and scope of environmental health services.
• Considerable knowledge of risk assessment, epidemiology, and other environmental health sciences related to food, water, air, and housing and recreational environments.
• Knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations for controlling health risk.
• Knowledge of effective education and behavior modification principles.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices for recognition, elimination, and control of environmental health hazards.
• Skill in conducting investigations.
• Skill in the use of computers and technology.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skill in presenting complex information in simplified manner
• Ability to make independent decisions when appropriate.
• Ability to recommend solutions to problems.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and others.
• Ability to remain calm under stressful or emergency situations.
• Ability to document inspections, complaints, and reports in a comprehensive and clear manner.
• Ability to use equipment such as temperature, distance, and chemical measurement devices, cameras, calculators, and group-education equipment.
• Ability to analyze potential environmental health hazards.
• Ability to train and mentor others.
• Ability to support a quality improvement culture by growing knowledge, identifying performance improvement opportunities, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.

Persons with disabilities: the above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.

One (1) position available. Candidates may be considered at either the Sanitarian or Sanitarian Apprentice level based on experience and certification requirements.

Sanitarian (Expected starting salary is $34.62 - $46.23 hourly. Full salary range is $34.62 - $57.83)
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental health, public health, physical, biological, or sanitary sciences, or related field and one (1) year of similar experience as listed in the work functions.
OR
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health or related field. 

Special Requirement:

• Must be certified by the State of Minnesota as a Registered Sanitarian.
• Must be able to work non-standard hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed to support the department during emergencies.

Sanitarian Apprentice (Expected starting salary is $32.07 - $42.83 hourly. Full salary range is $32.07 - $53.58)
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental health, public health, physical, biological, or sanitary sciences, or closely related field, with at least 30 semester or 45 quarter hour credits in physical or biological sciences per Minnesota Statute 214.13. 

Special Requirement:

• Must be registered as an Environmental Health Sanitarian/Specialist within two (2) years of employment and maintain registration thereafter according to Minnesota law.
• Must be able to work non-standard hours including evenings, weekends and holidays as needed to support the department during emergencies.

Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of the position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver’s license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.