Environmental Communications Specialist (Internal Hennepin County applicants only)

Hennepin County•Downtown Minneapolis, MN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Hennepin County’s Environment and Energy Department (EED) is seeking a Communications Specialist to create compelling content for a wide range of digital and print channels and to support environmental communication and outreach strategies for key department initiatives, including zero-waste efforts and natural resource protection. The Environmental Education and Outreach Unit leads the department’s work to educate and engage the community, promote environmental stewardship, and inspire individuals to take meaningful action to preserve and enhance the environment for future generations. This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at the 625 Building in downtown Minneapolis and remote as job duties require. Work hours will typically be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some evening and weekend hours to attend meetings and events around the county. This position is designated as hybrid, and hires must reside in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin. This is a full-time benefit earning position. You must be a current regular or probationary employee of Hennepin County to apply for this position. Limited duration employees are not eligible. This position is internally classified as a Communications Specialist.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in journalism, English, communications, mass communications, marketing, media studies, graphic design, photojournalism, telecommunications, visual communications, public administration or a closely related field.
Two years of college plus two years of related professional experience.
Experience can be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Nice To Haves

Translating scientific, environmental, technical, and other complex information into content that is understandable and relatable for general audiences.
Coordinating, developing, and producing high-quality content across multiple formats.
Creating communications tailored to diverse audiences and channels, adapting messaging to meet specific needs.
Communicating clearly and accurately about environmental topics and issues.
Organizing and maintaining an editorial and social media calendar to support consistent content planning and delivery.
Researching, developing, and implementing communication plans and messaging strategies.
Organizing, updating, and analyzing communication and outreach data to support decision-making.
Collaborating on photo, video, and graphic design projects to enhance storytelling and engagement.
Using communication tools such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Express, e-newsletter platforms, web content management systems, and social media in a professional setting.
Coordinating effectively with teams of staff and partners across multiple work areas, organizations, and agencies.
Operate confidently and efficiently in fast-paced environments, including hybrid, remote, and in-person settings.
Collaborate effectively with diverse staff and partners, ensuring meaningful input and shared understanding.
Prioritize and manage multiple projects at once, using proactive planning to consistently meet deadlines.
Track, organize, and maintain content to deliver clear and consistent messaging across multiple communication channels.
Build strong working relationships with individuals and organizations representing a wide range of cultures, values, backgrounds, and lived experiences.

Responsibilities

Develop environmental education and awareness content—including articles, videos, graphics, and campaigns—for digital newsletters, websites, social media, factsheets, flyers, presentations, and reports.
Assist in managing the editorial and social media calendar to support consistent and strategic content delivery.
Maintain, support, and enhance the use of communication tools and best practices across websites, forms, social media, online ordering systems, and newsletters.
Implement communication and environmental education plans and messaging strategies for department programs.
Research content, audience needs, resources, educational approaches, and messaging strategies to inform program development and planning.
Evaluate the effectiveness of communication and environmental education efforts and identify opportunities for improvement.
Deliver environmental education by presenting and training youth and adult audiences on the department’s environmental topics.