Senior Environmental Scientist OR Principal Environmental Scientist

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources and supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. MCES treatment plants consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits. MCES received a Governor's Award as a Great Place to Work.

To find out more about the Environmental Services division, please click on the link for more information: https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water.aspx.

The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) division is accepting applications for one (1) full-time Senior Environmental Scientist OR one (1) full-time Principal Environmental Scientist.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:
The Principal Environmental Scientist/Senior Environmental Scientist will lead key environmental compliance programs for Environmental Services (ES) at a time when wastewater regulations are changing quickly. This role ensures current and future compliance by developing and implementing practical program strategies; managing permits and regulatory obligations; and working directly with plant operations, engineering, and field staff to build compliance into daily work. The position includes preparing and submitting required plans and reports; conducting field verification and site coordination; and developing tools and guidance that strengthen our Compliance Management System and data-driven decision making. The person in this role tracks and interprets new regulatory developments, helps the organization plan for future limits and treatment needs, and represents ES in discussions with regulatory agencies and regional partners.

Anticipated starting salary range (DOQ*):

• Senior Environmental Scientist: $80,000- $100,000 Annually
• Principal Environmental Scientist: $86,000 - $115,000 Annually

Full salary range:

• Senior Environmental Scientist: $79,580.80 - $129,064.00 Annually
• Principal Environmental Scientist: $85,987.20 - $139,526.40 Annually

• Lead major environmental compliance programs: including primary ownership of the air program and ensure assigned programs meet all applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Develop and manage permit strategies, including applicability reviews, modifications, renewals, and early planning for regulatory changes.
• Work directly with treatment plant operations, maintenance, engineering, and field staff to integrate compliance into daily work and verify conditions on-site.
• Prepare, review, and submit accurate compliance reports, plans, permits, and regulatory correspondence, maintaining complete and well-organized documentation.
• Conduct compliance assessments and on-site verifications, identifying issues early and ensuring corrective actions are practical, timely, and aligned with operational needs.
• Monitor, interpret, and translate emerging regulations into clear, actionable requirements for Environmental Services.
• Provide technical guidance and regulatory interpretation to support operational decisions, capital planning, and strategic initiatives across all facilities.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of the Compliance Management System and related tools, including the new Origami platform, by helping translate program needs into practical workflows and using system data for trend analysis, KPIs, and evaluating program health.
• Analyze environmental monitoring and operational data to evaluate compliance status, identify trends, and support risk assessments and long-range planning.
• Represent Environmental Services to regulatory agencies during inspections, permit discussions, and technical exchanges, ensuring accurate and transparent communication.
• Prepare and present technical information to internal teams, leadership, regulators, and external partners in formats that support clear decision making.
• Support organizational prioritization by simplifying complex regulatory requirements, evaluating actual risk, and helping the team focus resources on the issues that matter most.

Senior Environmental Scientist
Bachelor's degree in biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences or related degree AND three years of professional level experience in a scientific field related to the position.

Principal Environmental Scientist
Bachelor's degree in biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or related scientific field AND four years of professional level experience in a scientific field related to the position.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Experience building strong working relationships with field, engineering, and leadership, demonstrating a People First approach and supporting an active field partnership.
• Ability to interpret and translate complex or emerging regulations into clear, practical guidance that supports adaptive and data-driven compliance.
• Experience managing or supporting major environmental programs: such as air permitting, stormwater, SPCC, hazardous waste, or biosolids; with the ability to develop forward-looking permit and regulatory strategies.
• Comfort working in a field where requirements change, showing flexibility, curiosity, and problem-solving skills aligned with adapting to change and continuous improvement.
• Skill in evaluating environmental and operational data, including using trends, KPIs, or monitoring results to assess compliance status, identify risk, and support decision-making.
• Experience contributing to compliance systems or EHS software by helping define practical workflows, documenting processes, and using digital tools to improve program clarity and transparency.
• Strong technical writing skills for preparing and editing permits, reports, procedures, and regulatory correspondence, with the ability to communicate clearly across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively across business units and with external regulators in a collaborative, respectful, and solution-focused manner consistent with Working Together.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of environmental field monitoring and compliance verification procedures, including how to assess permit conditions on-site at wastewater treatment facilities.
• Knowledge of safety procedures for field work in wastewater environments, including chemical handling, confined space awareness, PPE requirements, and safe navigation of industrial sites.
• Working knowledge of air program monitoring and compliance tools, such as emissions calculations, monitoring plans, control equipment evaluation, and permit applicability assessments.
• Ability to identify and troubleshoot issues that deviate from SOPs, permit requirements, or expected operating conditions, and communicate recommended actions.
• Ability to analyze environmental and operational data using calculations, graphs, trend evaluations, and tabulations to determine compliance status or emerging risks.
• Ability to meet required regulatory deadlines, including recurring reports, permit submissions, routine inspections, and time-sensitive compliance tasks.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and tasks simultaneously, with skill in prioritizing and organizing work activities in a complex, operational environment.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Senior Environmental Scientist

Union/Grade: AFSCME Grade G
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

Full Salary Range: $38.26 - $62.05 Hourly / $79,580.80 - $129,064.00 Annually

Principal Environmental Scientist

Union: AFSCME Grade H
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

Full Salary Range: $41.34 - $67.08 Hourly / $85,987.20 - $139,526.40 Annually

Work Environment
Work is generally performed in a standard office setting. may require travel between primary work site to other sites. Environment may be hot, cold, dirty and/or dusty. Occasionally may be required to work evenings and weekends.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A smell sensitivity assessment is required as part of the hiring process. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A smell sensitivity assessment is required as part of the hiring process. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.