(#R5285) Program Specialist – Recycling & Resource Solutions (Hybrid)

Hiring range: $64,480 to $77,355 ($31.00 to $37.19 per hour). Starting rate will depend on experience, education, and qualifications. Advancement opportunities exist for individuals motivated to move up within Anoka County. 

Come join our team at Anoka County where you can serve your community while enjoying the benefits of work-life balance! This includes 24 days paid of flexible time off and up to 12.5 holidays your first year.

In order to be considered for this position, information to support your answers must be included in your application. A resume attachment is optional and cannot be used in place of this application. Applications must be received by the closing deadline of 11:59pm on 11/09/2025 in order to be considered.

Position Description

Find your path working for a department committed to the health and safety of the community. Anoka County Public Health and Environmental Services (PHES) currently has two openings for a Program Specialist in Recycling and Resource Solutions. One position is in Waste Prevention and Organics and one position is Multi-Family Residential and Schools. These position assists with activities and partnerships needed to reach state-mandated and county waste management and recycling goals. We are looking for energetic environmental services professionals with a passion for customer service and experience with integrated waste management programs.
 

Waste Prevention and Organics

• Independently manage the county organics, waste prevention and material reuse programming.
• Develop and implement new strategic solutions to organics, waste prevention and material reuse programming.
• Oversee the county’s compost site contract.
• Work with the county partners to increase organics waste diversion.

Multi-Family Residential and Schools

• Independently manage the county schools and multi-family residential programming.
• Conduct site visits to assess waste diversion opportunities.
• Provide technical assistance for waste diversion opportunities.
• Develop and implement new strategic solutions to schools and multi-family residential programming.

Emergency Preparedness is a core Public Health responsibility. As a Human Services employee, your roles and responsibilities include: participating in Public Health Emergency Preparedness training and exercises, responding to notifications and activation drills during business hours and periodically outside of business hours, and responding to Public Health emergencies and department responsibilities at the time of need (during business hours, outside of business hours, on weekends and holidays) in order to protect the health and well-being of our residents.

Consider joining a team of professionals dedicated to providing services and support to the community! If your career ambitions resonate with our mission, we invite you to apply with Anoka County today!

This is a full-time, exempt, hybrid position. Interviews will take place the week of November 17th, 2025, for those selected to move forward in the hiring process. 

Pay & Benefits

• Salary: $64,480 to $77,355 ($31.00 to $37.19 per hour).
• 2025 Anoka County Salary Schedule Grade 32: $64,480 to $90,230 ($31.00 to $43.38 per hour).
• 24 days of paid flexible time off and up to 12.5 paid holidays.
• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, flex benefits and more at  www.anokacountymn.gov/benefits.
• Medical and dental clinic exclusive to employees, located at the Anoka County Government Center.
• Pension plan and other retirement investment options.
• Advancement/professional development opportunities.

Work Location

• This position will work at the Field Operations Building, located at 1530 Bunker Lake Blvd, Andover, MN 55304.
• This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work, with some days working remotely and some days working in the office.
• Expected work hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Evenings and weekends may be required.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Program Specialist.

• Independently manage the day-to-day operations of Anoka County’s recycling programming in waste prevention, organics, multi-family residential, or schools.
• Lead efforts to develop and implement new strategic solutions to organics waste management, waste prevention and material reuse programming in the County.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with related rules and regulations on behalf of the County.
• Waste Prevention and Organics: oversee the county’s compost site contract to ensure that compost sites and organics drop-off programs are managed properly and within contractual specifications and serve as a liaison between the contractor and the county.
• Multi-family residential and schools: oversee the county’s schools and multi-family residential property contracts to ensure that they are managed properly and within contractual specifications and serve as a liaison between the contractor and the county.
• Assist with developing and monitoring programming budget for the assigned service area.
• Work with the county partners and residents within Anoka County to systematically increase organics waste diversion throughout the County.
• Work with the county partners and residents within Anoka County to systematically prevent waste from being generated and reuse product and materials wherever possible before resorting to recycling or disposal as trash.
• Conduct onsite visits to assess organics waste management, waste prevention and material reuse opportunities.
• Provide technical assistance as it relates organics diversion, waste prevention, and material reuse opportunities including data gathering and data analysis.
• Participate in Public Health Emergency Preparedness trainings and exercises, respond to notifications and activation drills during business hours and periodically outside of business hours as needed.
• Participate in emergency preparedness and response activities as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental protection, sustainability, science, planning, public administration, business administration, or related field.
• Two years (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience in solid waste management, recycling, or waste prevention.
• In lieu of the required education, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle available for business use.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• One or more years (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience in project planning.
• One or more years (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience in project management.
• One or more years (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience in contract management.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Standard office environment, travel to various county work sites and meetings as needed.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus, such as to work on computers. Ability to see colors, shades and brightness.
• Hearing abilities required for general and phone communication, signals, and machine sounds.
• Assignments are sedentary, occasionally alternating between sitting, standing, walking, crouching, and kneeling as required to perform job responsibilities.
• Frequent wrist and finger manipulation to complete computer work.
• Occasional lifting of 10-20 lbs.
• Equipment used includes computers, phones, and standard office equipment.
• Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Selection Process

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.

Pre-employment Requirements

Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

About Anoka County

As the fourth largest county in Minnesota, we depend on the diversity, dedication, determination, and innovation of our employees. We offer a wide range of career opportunities for people with a variety of personalities, abilities, knowledge, and life experiences who can come together for the single purpose of serving Anoka County’s 369,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative, and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County! Hear from other Anoka County employees here.

Commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employment

Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.

If you require accommodations or have any other questions regarding this job posting, please call the Anoka County Human Resources Department at 763-324-4300 and reference the posting title and number. If you have questions about the hiring process, please visit: https://www.anokacountymn.gov/4411/Application-Process

Anoka County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy: https://www.anokacounty.us/401/Diversity-EEO