Environmental Health Manager

The Public Health department is seeking an Environmental Health Manager to join a team of Environmental Health professionals.This position will provide strategic leadership and direction overseeing food pools lodging and septic inspection teams while driving regulatory compliance strengthening interagency partnerships and advancing countywide environmental health priorities through strategic leadership high-level decision-making and data-driven program management.

Location and hours:
This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at the Hennepin County Eden Prairie location at 479 Prairie Center Drive Eden Prairie MN 55334 and remote as job duties require. Work hours will primarily be Monday through Friday 8 a.m. 5 p.m.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 the position type:
This is a full-time benefit earning position.

This position is internally classified as a Human Services and Public Health Program Manager.
To view the job classification specificationclickhere.

In this position you will:

• Provide strategic leadership for inspection teams to ensure consistent policies effective service delivery and alignment with county goals.
• Oversee managerial-level supervision including hiring staff development and performance management across work areas.
• Manage workload distribution and performance for environmental health programs to ensure compliance with state and county ordinances.
• Represent Hennepin County in coordination with local state and federal partners to strengthen interagency relationships.
• Oversee and delegate resolution of complex or escalated public complaints related to environmental health issues.
• Lead environmental healths role in planning training response and coordination for outbreaks and public health emergencies.
• Direct the development implementation and evaluation of environmental health programs and long-term strategies.
• Interpret and apply federal state and county food protection regulations to make high-level regulatory decisions.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other regulatory partners and act as the countys retail food standardization expert.
• Oversee the preparation of program performance reports and develop data-driven budget proposals aligned with strategic and operational priorities.

Need to have:

• One of the following:
  • Seven years or more of supervisory experience in an area related to the position.
  • A bachelors degree in behavioral/social sciencebusiness administration public administration public health or a related fieldandthree years or more of supervisory experience in an area related to the position.
  • A masters degree or higher in one of the above fieldsandtwo years or more of supervisory experience in an area related to the position.

Nice to have:

• Current registration as an Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian.
• Experience:
  • Overseeing food beverage lodging and related environmental health inspection programs.
  • Managing multiple environmental health program areas such as pools septic systems lodging wells or similar regulatory fields.
  • Leading staff training facilitation and team development.
  • With state laws rules regulations county ordinances and local codes governing environmental health programs.
  • Applying leadership strengths to support team performance and dynamics.
• Knowledge of:
  • Departmental policies operational procedures and regulatory frameworks.
  • Food protection principles foodborne illness prevention and associated control strategies.
  • Environmental health program operations inspection standards and public health risk mitigation.
• Ability to:
  • Lead and coordinate multiple teams while ensuring consistent application of standards and policies.
  • Make high-level informed decisions manage program workloads balance priorities and ensure operational efficiency.
  • Demonstrate effective communication and relationship-building skills with internal teams and external partners.
  • Educate staff partners and stakeholders on environmental health principles and regulatory requirements in both verbal and written formats.