Environmental Communications Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $56,134.69 - $84,202.03 Annually
Location : Downtown Minneapolis
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26EED153TF028
Department: Environment and Energy
Division: ES Education General
Opening Date: 08/19/2026
Closing Date: 9/2/2026 11:59 PM Central
Description
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.
Location and hours:
This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at the 625 Building in downtown Minneapolis located at, 625 Fourth Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55415, 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. 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 Communications Specialist.
Click to view the job classification specification.
In this position, you will:

• 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.

Need to have:

• One of the following:
  • 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.
• Note: Experience can be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Nice to have:

• Experience:
  • 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.
• Ability to:
  • 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.

About the department:
The Environment and Energy department protects and preserves the environment to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. We engage communities to develop and enact sustainable solutions. We focus on reducing and responsibly managing waste, protecting and preserving ecosystems, delivering clean energy, and promoting environmental stewardship.
About Hennepin County:
Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align with our mission to serve residents through transformative services that eliminate disparities, eliminate inequities, and create opportunity for all and our vision of a community where all people are healthy, all people are valued, and all people thrive.
Our employees receive a combination of competitive benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at (login as Guest).
Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the elimination of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.
Your future. Made here.
This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.
Watch this video for application best practices and tips.
Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience. Final candidates may be required to complete a criminal background check.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Talent Acquisition division
Hennepin County Human Resources department
Submit a request at or 612-348-7855
Why work here?
Hennepin County embraces the Total Rewards philosophy. We want our employees to succeed - not only at work but as they move through life and its milestones. We offer advantages and opportunities others can't - including:

• Meaningful work
• Public service
• Competitive pay
• Work-life balance
• Generous benefits
• Opportunities to grow
• Commitment to your success

By working in public service, we are a part of something larger than ourselves. Together, we support those in need. We help people access information and services. We empower vibrant and diverse communities. We serve residents.
Visit our benefits page to learn more: bridge.hennepin.us/eligibility.
If you are a current Hennepin County employee please be aware that any change in job classification may affect your current benefits (such as a conversion from Vacation/Sick Leave to Paid Time Off and/or enrollment in a Health Care Saving Plan.) Information about the impact of job changes on benefits can be found
01
This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at the 625 Building in downtown Minneapolis located at, 625 Fourth Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55415, 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. 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.
Are you able and willing to meet these requirements?

• Yes
• No

02
Which of the following options describes your experience and/or education? Check all that apply.

• Bachelor's degree or higher 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.
• None of the above

03
Describe your related experience and/or education, referencing area(s) of study, school(s) attended, and credits/certificate(s)/degree(s) earned. If you do not have any related experience and/or education, type "None" in the space provided.
04
How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have translating scientific, environmental, technical, and other complex information into content that is understandable and relatable for general audiences?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

05
Describe your experience translating scientific, environmental, technical, and other complex information into content that is understandable and relatable for general audiences, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
06
Which of the following activities have you performed to coordinate, develop, and produce high-quality content across multiple formats? Check all that apply.

• Wrote and produced educational resources such as factsheets, brochures, articles, social media posts, and web content on environmental topics
• Converted technical information into plain language content
• Coordinated images, graphics, design and videos
• Developed key messages
• Developed an editorial calendar or other methods for tracking content across multiple channels
• Edited and proofread articles
• Generated ideas for potential articles or content
• Interviewed people for articles or other content development
• Summarized information gathered from multiple sources
• None of the above

07
Describe your work experience coordinating, developing, and producing high-quality content across multiple formats, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
08
Do you have experience creating communication tailored to diverse audiences and channels, adapting messaging to meet specific needs?

• Yes
• No

09
Describe your experience creating communication tailored to diverse audiences and channels, adapting messaging to meet specific needs, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
10
Do you have experience researching, developing, and implementing communication plans and messaging strategies?

• Yes
• No

11
Describe your experience researching, developing, and implementing communication plans and messaging strategies, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do have this experience type, "None" in the space provided.
12
Which of the following communication tools do you have experience using? Check all that apply.

• Adobe Express or other Adobe Creative Suite tools
• GovDelivery or other email newsletter software tools
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Web content management platforms
• None of the above

13
Describe your experience using the computer software/programs indicated above, referencing jobs listed on your application/resume. If you do not have this experience, type "None" in the space provided.
14
Please choose the one recruitment source that best describes how you first learned about this job opening. Please review all possible choices before making your selection. Your response to this question helps us evaluate the effectiveness of our recruitment methods.

• College or university (job board, career services, or instructor)
• Community or nonprofit organization (counselor, job board, etc.)
• Employee or recruiter of Hennepin County (supervisor/manager, colleague, or Human Resources)
• Friend or family member that is not a Hennepin County employee
• Hennepin County job notification emails
• Indeed.com
• Job fair or networking event
• LinkedIn
• Print advertisement (flyer, postcard, billboard, transit ad, etc.)
• Professional association (ASCE, APWA, ISACA, etc.)
• Social media (Handshake, Facebook, X, Instagram, etc.)
• hennepin.jobs or governmentjobs.com

15
For the recruitment source selected above, please provide the specific name of the person, website, or media source.
Required Question