Onsite Sewage Treatment Program Educator and Researcher

About the Job

This position is responsible for supporting research-based education and technical assistance to onsite wastewater professionals, homeowners, local units of government and others regarding subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTSs). The essential role is part of the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program (OSTP) located within the Water Resources Center (WRC). Our OSTP education staff develop and teach our nationally acclaimed OSTP education courses for onsite sewage treatment professionals across the State of Minnesota and beyond.

Strengths of the OSTP include our strong ties to professionals, active SSTS research projects and individual SSTS users/homeowners. To help advance these connections, this position may assist OSTP research by supporting research projects in a variety of roles from brainstorming research topics, identifying funding opportunities, proposal writing, data collection, analysis, literature review, and report writing.

Over the next 1-3 years, our program will transition from in-person training to a hybrid format consisting of in-person and remote learning. We seek applicants who will continue to support existing in-person education courses and/or coordinate or co-coordinate the development and implementation of online and remote learning opportunities.

Major Areas of Responsibility

• Deliver OSTP educational programming across the state (70-80%)
  • Plan and deliver research-based education by leading or co‑leading certification and continuing education training workshops.
  • Coordinate or co‑coordinate the OSTP's hybrid educational pre‑certification courses, including developing remote learning courses, troubleshooting learner challenges, and integrating in‑person and remote learning.
  • Work with OSTP staff and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to develop and implement training materials and courses that address emerging needs and concerns.
  • Develop and update educational materials as needed, including lesson plans, handouts, and remote learning products.
  • Evaluate classes annually to meet the needs of the State of Minnesota to teach new regulations enacted by the legislature and incorporate new technology into the classes.
  • Co‑lead the field components of education courses, including working with landowners and professionals to find suitable training sites.
  • Foster community development, promote lifelong learning, and support professional and/or personal growth through educational programming.
• Support research to advance onsite sewage treatment knowledge and respond to emerging needs (10‑20%)
  • Develop or support proposal preparation for research funding.
  • Visit sites, collect soil and wastewater samples, conduct interviews, obtain administrative data from agencies, collect existing data, and carry out surveys, etc.
  • Independently analyze data and write summary reports, conferring with supervisor and research project team on interpretation of results and avenues of investigation.
  • Shared responsibility of mentoring and training research assistants, volunteers, and interns.
• Administer programs and provide technical assistance (10%)
  • Work with OSTP staff and existing partners to support the state‑wide onsite regulatory and licensing program.
  • Participate in quarterly meetings with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency SSTS staff to advance the goals of the OSTP.
  • Actively explore, evaluate and expand the audiences for our UM OSTP education courses.
  • Work with OSTP and WRC staff to comply with University fiscal policies.
  • Coordinate with all OSTP staff on the development of the annual education course schedule and brochure.
  • Provide input and recommendations in discussions about the local and statewide onsite wastewater regulations.
  • Provide technical assistance to SSTS professionals and community members with questions via phone/email.

• The home office for this position is the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus (UM
  -Twin Cities). OSTP staff participate in a flexible work environment consisting of in‑person and remote work. Information about the University's flexible work program, Work. With Purpose. can be found at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

• In‑person…