Strategic Initiatives & Communications Specialist - Communications Specialist 3

Working Title: Strategic Initiatives & Communications Specialist - Communications Specialist 3

Job Class: Communications Specialist 3

Agency: Health Department

Job ID

: 93843

Location

: St. Paul

Telework Eligible

: Yes - hybrid

Full/Part Time

: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

: Unlimited

Who May Apply

: Open to all qualified job seekers

Date Posted

: 04/29/2026

Closing Date

: 05/08/2026

Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit

: Health Department / Health-MAPE

Division/Unit

: Health Protection / EH DWP Comms & Strat Init Staf

Work Shift/Work Hours

: Day Shift

Days of Work

: Monday - Friday

Travel Required

: Yes - Up to 25% of the time

Salary Range:

$32.40 - $47.76 / hourly; $67,651 - $99,722 / annually

Classified Status

: Classified

Bargaining Unit/Union

: 214 - MN Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)

FLSA Status

: Nonexempt

Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

The Minnesota Department of Health's (MDH) Environmental Health Division is looking for a Strategic Initiatives and Communications Coordinator to join its Drinking Water Protection (DWP) section. In this role, you will provide the Drinking Water Protection (DWP) Section with program planning, analysis, and coordination of strategic initiatives and communication activities related to public drinking water. This position provides expertise in project management, outreach and education, and risk communication to promote greater awareness and understanding of drinking water quality and health among community water systems and their customers. This position will lead and evaluate projects to ensure key messages are delivered to target audiences and provide technical assistance to colleagues and other units of government in development of public health messaging.

Primary responsibilities include:

Lead planning, organization, and project management of outreach activities with staff and partner organizations to meet and educational goals for the statewide drinking water program.

Plan and facilitate communication throughout the section and with partners to promote information sharing, collaboration, and review across technical and programmatic areas as well as emerging drinking water issues.

Identify communications needs and develop informational content and messaging to promote understanding of drinking water issues and health-promoting decisions and behaviors.

Professional development and training.

In accordance with

HR/LR Policy #1422 Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf)

, this position is eligible for up to 50% telework for applicants who live in Minnesota or in a bordering state within 50 miles of the assigned work location. Candidates residing outside of Minnesota or in a bordering state within 50 miles of the assigned work location at the time of application must be able to relocate to Minnesota within 30 days of their start date. The telework policy may exempt employees who live more than 50 miles from their primary work location from the 50% in-office requirement, depending on job requirements, helping the State of Minnesota access top talent across the state.

MDH relies heavily on grant funding, in addition to state appropriated dollars. As an agency, we continually monitor funding levels and navigate some degree of uncertainty related to grant cycles and the impact of the grant funding on program priorities.

This position is currently funded and approved to be filled. While the position is funded at this time, future funding is dependent on the continuation of our funding sources. The Minnesota Department of Health works proactively to sustain programs and maintain our workforce, to avoid reductions in force to the very best of our ability. In the event of a loss of funding resulting in a necessary workforce reduction, that process is governed by our collective bargaining agreements and compensation plans.

Minimum Qualifications

Three years of experience in communications or public relations.

Experience planning and implementing outreach activities to promote community education while maintaining effective ongoing relationships with the public, key partners, interest groups, and department staff.

Minimum qualifications to be assessed during the interview:

Writing skills sufficient to prepare and review clear, plain language content that may involve complex, technical information and sensitive issues.

Communication skills sufficient to present plans and data, facilitate discussions, build consensus, and communicate technical and sensitive issues to a variety of audiences in a variety of formats.

Project skills sufficient to identify priorities and coordinate activities with internal and external partners so that essential work is completed in an appropriate and timely manner.

A bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree may substitute for one (1) year, eighteen (18) months, or two (2) years of professional experience, respectively.

Preferred Qualifications

Ability to effectively draft and communicate messages to various audiences and competency in risk communication.

Experience with computer software for presentations, communications products, graphics, spreadsheets, data analysis, and/or data visualization.

Experience working with graphic skills to develop basic icons, infographics, flow charts, info sheets, and presentations.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis skills sufficient to evaluate program information, summarize and visualize data, and report analysis findings.

Knowledge of practices and principals of environmental health program planning (e.g., the relationship between assessment, policy and planning, and assurance) and core public health functions.

Additional Requirements

This position requires successful completion of a background check and employment reference check.

This employment does not require a valid driver's license, but it does demand travel, which the candidate will be responsible for meeting.

Under U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services regulations, the successful candidate must be able to accept work in the U.S. by the day employment begins. This agency is unable to offer H-1B sponsorship.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.