Environmental Science Jobs in Brainerd, MN (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $42,806.00 - $64,210.00 Annually
Location : Land Services Building, 322 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-00074
Department: Land Services
Division: Environmental
Opening Date: 08/17/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 4:30 PM Central
Position Objective
This position is manual labor work in the performance of a variety of tasks related to the County Landfill, County Parks, County Trails and County Public Water Accesses throughout the county. Assisting with miscellaneous issues that arise with tax forfeited properties is another common task. The position requires a basic level of customer involvement, fostering productive relationships with communities and the public to identify needs, interests, and priorities and ensure service excellence.
Work involves responsibility for monitoring and assisting the public with the disposal of household hazardous waste and recycling material at the County landfill facility. Ensuring compliance with all safety regulations and standard procedures. Assist the Environmental Services Supervisor in a variety of light-to-medium weight tasks and the performance of a variety of related solid waste-related tasks.
The position will also be responsible for maintaining and improving County Recreational Sites and Tax-Forfeited Property for the facilities and resources they contain while ensuring a safe and clean environment for users. Individual may perform a variety of landscaping, mowing, building maintenance, and custodial duties.
Environmental Services Technicians perform work in a group setting or independently according to oral or written assignments or established policies/practices under limited supervision with direction from the Environmental Services Supervisor. Environmental Services Technicians are accountable for performing quality work, safely and efficiently, while achieving department objectives.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Solid Waste
• Assist customers with recycling needs and questions throughout the landfill operation.
• Maintain and keep organized the mattress recycling facility by segregating and preparing for shipment the used mattresses and loading pallets onto a semi-trailer.
• Coordinating with the landfill team on temporary and seasonal staff assisting or assigned to the Landfill operation.
• Maintain cleanliness of the electronics recycling area; Pack used electronics into gaylord boxes or process the larger electronics onto pallets for shipment. Also, double stacking pallets to maximize the load for each shipment and assist in loading pallets into a semi-trailer.
• Using a push rod, ensure the recycling bin capacity is maximized and remove any contamination.
• During monthly or scheduled appointments, help unload vehicles of HHW, sort the materials that come in, and assist in the preparation of this material for shipment.
• Collecting, segregating, processing, and preparing for shipment of household hazardous waste (HHW);
• Maintain and keep organized County HHW facilities and buildings.
• Maintain an ongoing product exchange program.
• Maintaining cleanliness of the used oil/oil filter and antifreeze drop off-site at the landfill site.
• Monitor and manage the recycling drop off area; maintaining the cleanliness of the recycling drop off area;
• Assist with grounds upkeep including lawn mowing and snow removal from all the county-operated areas at the landfill site;
• Performs cleaning and maintenance duties necessary to maintain, clean, safe, and orderly working conditions in County vehicles and at collection sites and the collection facility.
• Maintains awareness of chemical hazards and safe handling procedures.
Recreational Site and Tax-Forfeited Property Duties
• Performs the necessary maintenance activities and improvement of county public accesses, parks, forest roads and trails and tax-forfeited parcels to ensure they are clean, safe, scenic and functional for the public. These activities include the mowing of grass; brushing of trails; cleaning of facilities; and similar tasks.
• Controls, prunes, removes, transplants, or plants trees and shrubs; controls noxious weeds to ensure the public is able to safely use walking trails and well-maintained park lands.
• Performs cleaning duties such as washing floors, walls, tables, grills, and toilets ensuring a pleasant and hygienic experience for the public.
• Performs maintenance and inventory on gates, signs, and docks.
• Inspects and secures tax forfeited properties with structures by installing padlocks and boarding up broken windows and open doors.
Additional Duties
• Work safely to accomplish tasks in accordance with safety and OSHA regulations.
• Establish and maintains supplies and equipment for assigned programs
• Performs equipment and machinery maintenance including routine safety inspections and servicing, preventative maintenance, unit inspections and maintenance record keeping to ensure safe and proper working condition of all tools and equipment.
• Performs general facility maintenance and repairs.
• Reports required information for evaluation of programs and procedures including the necessary equipment and supplies necessary to complete required tasks to ensure continued operations are run smoothly and safely.
• Installs 911 address signs, as needed.
• Perform administrative duties as required for program areas including manual record-keeping and data entry.
• Performs all other duties as assigned in a professional and effective manner.
Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum high school diploma or equivilant.

• 1 year of work experience of a similar nature and scope of responsibility.

• State issued driver's license.
• Forklift certification or ability to obtain within 3 months of hire.

Desirable Qualifications

• Safely operate a telehandler.

• Household Hazardous Waste Certification
• Experience in the field of solid waste disposal, principles and practices
• Experience in parks, grounds or facility maintenance or related field.
• Knowledge of the operations and maintenance of a variety of light construction and maintenance equipment.
• Knowledge of the operating hazards and safety precautions related to such equipment.
• Skill in operation of trucks, tractors, mowers and other industrial equipment.
• Ability to analyze problems and make sound and prompt decisions with appropriate coordination with the supervisor.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Must be able to wear all types of personal protective equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work productively with limited supervision.
• Ability to perform strenuous work under varying labor and weather conditions
• Operate various computer programs at a basic level.
• State Issued CDL Class A driver's license with Hazardous Materials Endorsement, or the ability to obtain within 12 months of hire.

This summary is intended for general information purposes and does not represent the legal description of our benefit package. The summary plan descriptions, Crow Wing County personnel manual, or applicable labor contract contains more complete information and will prevail in the event of a discrepancy.
Compensation
The county strives to be a market competitive employer with compensation rates that are externally competitive and internally equitable. Compensation rates are governed by the county pay matrix and applicable labor contract. Information regarding the county pay programs is available in the Human Resource Department.
Paid Time Off (PTO)
PTO benefit accrues at the rate of 21 days per year for the first 3 years for regular full-time staff and is pro-rated for regular part-time staff.
Holidays
The 12 calendar holidays that are observed by Crow Wing County are as follows: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday following, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Health Insurance
Regular full-time employees and their dependents are eligible for group health insurance coverage, administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. Eligibility begins on the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
Regular part-time employees regularly scheduled 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health insurance coverage on a pro-rated basis.
Dental Insurance
Delta dental benefit is available to those participating in a health insurance plan. Calendar year annual maximum of $1000 per person.
Life Insurance
Regular full-time employees shall be provided a term life insurance policy of $50,000. Optional life insurance is available at the employee's expense.
Short-Term Disability
Regular full-time and part-time staff regularly scheduled at least 30 hours per week are eligible for short-term disability following 6 months of qualifying employment. Short-term disability payments begin on the first day following 14 consecutive calendar days of absence attributable to a qualifying disability. The plan provides income replacement of up to 50% of regular pay subject to a maximum limit of $1,000 per week.
Long-Term Disability
Regular full-time and part-time staff regularly scheduled at least 30 hours per week are eligible. Long term disability pays 50% of salary up to a maximum of $4,000 per month beginning on day 91 of total disability. The maximum benefits duration is up to the social security normal retirement date.
Retirement Plan
Retirement benefits are provided through the Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA). For more information on PERA visit their at
01
Which best describes your highest level of education completed?

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Certificate Program
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor Degree
• None of the Above

02
Do you have a valid state issued driver's license?

• Yes
• No

03
Which best describes your experience operating equipment such as a forklift, bobcat, tractor or similar types of medium to heavy equipment?

• No Experience
• Some but less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 4 years
• 4 or more years

04
Which best describes your experience working in the field of solid waste disposal?

• No Experience
• Some but less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 4 years
• 4 or more years

05
Do you have HazMat and/or Household Hazardous Waste Certification?

• Yes
• No

06
This position involves performing a variety of manual labor tasks associated with the collection, segregation, and preparation for shipment of solid waste items in an accurate and efficient manner. Please describe your experience handling heavy workloads as it pertains to manual labor.
07
I verify that all of my responses to the supplemental questions are true and accurate. I understand that if my supporting documentation and/or later steps in the selection process do not support one or more of my responses to the supplemental questions that I may no longer be considered for the position.

• Yes
• No

Required Question