Environmental Health Specialist II

Overview

Position Description

Are you ready to take on a rewarding career that makes a real difference in your community? The City of Edina is seeking a licensed Environmental Health Sanitarian to make an immediate impact while growing within a collaborative public health team. This role is designed for a professional who can operate independently from day one and values sound judgment, partnership, and continuous improvement over checklist enforcement.

You will lead food establishment inspections and work with business owners, colleagues, and community partners to solve real-world public health challenges in a city that is engaged, supportive, and complex enough to keep the work interesting.

What You’ll Do

• Lead food establishment inspections with an emphasis on education, compliance, and risk reduction
• Apply professional judgment to evaluate conditions affecting public health
• Collaborate with operators and partners to achieve practical, sustainable solutions
• Support additional Environmental Health programs and cross-functional initiatives
• Contribute to program evaluation and continuous improvement efforts

Why Edina

Edina is large enough to offer meaningful complexity and small enough for your work to truly matter. Environmental Health Specialists here are trusted professionals whose expertise influences decisions—not just enforcement outcomes.

What We Offer

• Competitive, market-based salary
• Strong leadership and a supportive, people-centered City culture
• Opportunities to influence Environmental Health work at the City, State, and National level
• Ongoing training, conferences, networking, and continuing education
• City-provided vehicles for inspections and field work

Work environment

The Public Health Division is part of the Edina Fire Department and will be based at the newly constructed Fire Station #2 at 4401 76th St W, Edina, MN.

Job Description

The Environmental Health Specialist II will assist the Community Health Administrator in planning and administering the Health Division; will protect public health and safety by conducting inspections and investigations, providing education, and encouraging voluntary compliance with City Codes. Codes enforced include:
The Minnesota Food Code, Minnesota Pool Code, City of Edina Health Code, and other applicable Federal, State and local codes. The EHS II will coordinate activities and perform lead work duties in assigned program areas.

Scope Of Impact

The duties and responsibilities of the Environmental Health Specialist II are performed with latitude for independent judgment in accordance with Department and City policies, Federal, State and local regulations and are based on detailed knowledge of Department operations. Work is subject to periodic review by the supervisor, who provides input on and approval of recommendations, and discusses assignments, priorities, and work.

General

Essential Functions

• Coordinate assigned Health Division program area tasks
• Act as liaison with other divisions, departments, agencies, or industry representatives
• Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of progress and procedures to achieve Division goals and objectives
• Assist in development and updating of new and existing City codes and ordinances
• Approve appropriate permits and licenses
• Perform environmental health inspections including lead work on complex cases, follow-ups, issuing written orders, and maintaining organized records on violations and corrective actions
• Assist in reviewing staff effectiveness and continuously improve operating procedures
• Interpret and enforce applicable Federal, State and local codes relating to environmental health issues
• Assist with public health emergency preparedness response in event of disaster
• Perform field work in all program areas
• Respond to citizen complaints in all program areas, or as assigned
• Complete other duties as apparent or assigned

Recycling

• Promote recycling and solid waste reduction activities to educate the public meeting City, county, state, and federal requirements
• Negotiate citywide recycling contract
• Manage recycling grant requirements, including report writing and submittal
• Develop educational brochures and give presentations…