Environmental Programs Inspector

Le Sueur County; Le Center (MN); On-site; USD 43,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Le Sueur County Environmental Services is seeking a capable professional to manage and monitor county drainage systems. You will coordinate with landowners, conduct inspections (drone and on-site), and ensure compliance with regulations through records, permits, and enforcement actions.

Ideal candidates have an associate degree or related experience, plus strong communication and data-management skills to educate the public and support annual work plans.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent mix of education and experience.
• Experience with drainage systems and regulatory compliance helpful.
• Ability to coordinate with landowners and staff.

Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison for landowners and respond to inquiries.
• Assist with zoning permit inspections and site visits.
• Document results and update databases for compliance.
• Support drainage projects and annual work plans.
• Educate property owners on code requirements and compliance.

Skills

GIS knowledge

Microsoft Office

Oral and written communication

Drainage/water resources knowledge

Education

Associate degree in water resource management or related field

High School Diploma + 1 year natural resources experience

Tools

Drone technology

Permit databases

Job description

Division: Environmental Services FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

General Definition of Work

Performs entry- to intermediate-level professional work supporting the management, maintenance, and regulatory compliance of County drainage systems. Serves as the primary liaison for landowners by responding to inquiries and coordinating drainage-related activities. Conducts system inspections, assists with project coordination, and supports the County Drainage Authority to ensure work meets Federal, State, and local standards. This position investigates complaints and conducts on site inspections of the County drainage system and Department permitted projects to identify ordinance violations and enforce compliance with county codes and regulations. Inspections are performed using drone technology or through direct, on foot field assessments. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Environmental Programs Administrator.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The statements listed below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Essential Functions

Serve as the first point of contact for the department by answering calls, assisting visitors, and directing inquiries to appropriate staff while providing professional customer service.

Assist with zoning permit inspections by conducting site visits, documenting results, and updating permit databases to ensure ordinance compliance.

Assist landowners with drainage system inquiries, petitions, and maintenance requests, including coordinating site visits and explaining procedures.

Support drainage system maintenance and construction projects.

Assist with drainage committee operations and support development and implementation of annual work plans for vegetation management, inspections, and drainage system maintenance.

Maintain records, databases, and documentation related to ditch systems, inspections, projects, and contractor activities.

Acts as the county agriculture inspector; tests and confirms results of those wishing to become licensed as a pesticide applicator.

Coordinate communication between County staff, contractors, engineers, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders and prepare informational materials related to drainage system management.

Investigate complaints and perform site inspections to identify potential ordinance violations and ensure compliance with county codes and regulations.

Document violations, determine corrective actions, conduct follow-up inspections, maintain enforcement records, and assist in preparing cases when necessary.

Educate property owners and the public on code requirements and compliance practices.

Inspect construction sites and monitor stormwater BMP implementation to ensure compliance with erosion control, stormwater regulations, SWPPP, and NPDES requirements.

Maintain stormwater compliance records and coordinate corrective actions when violations occur.

Performs field inspections of localhydrologic monitoring stations, verifies operational status of water level gauges, records and logs stage measurements with precision, and prepares standardized periodic reports detailing site conditions and observed water level data.

Demonstrate strong oral and written communication, organizational, and presentation skills.

Acts as the county agriculture inspector; tests and confirms results of those wishing to become licensed as a pesticide applicator.

Attends work during regularly scheduled hours.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to work in various weather conditions; ability to create various documents and presentation that will be needed to carry out job responsibilities; ability to compare, differentiate, measure, sort, assemble, decipher, and transcribe data and information; ability to understand and perform required reporting at the County, State, and Federal levels; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County staff, elected officials, contractors, engineers, consultants, local government units, educators, state and federal agencies, nonprofits, and general public; general knowledge of GIS; general knowledge of standard office equipment and Microsoft programs; thorough knowledge of local, state and federal mandates and statutes regulating wetlands, shoreland and water management.

Education and Experience

Associate degree in water resource management, environmental studies, urban studies, planning, natural resources, conservation, agriculture, biology, or related field; OR,

High School Diploma and 1 year experience working in natural resources, conservation, or planning & zoning; OR,

Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; frequent exposure involving hazardous conditions or situations; work regularly requires speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires sitting, standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires color perception; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires working near moving mechanical parts and exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Special Requirements

Driver's license valid to drive in the State of Minnesota.

Obtainand maintain FAA Part 107 certification required for conducting drone operations within one (1) year of hire.

Obtain and maintain Erosion and Stormwater Management certification within two (2) years from date of hire.

Obtain Construction Stormwater Certification within one (1) year of date of hire.

Obtain Agriculture Inspector License within one (1) year of date of hire.

Ability to maintain required certifications through ongoing continuing education.

Must comply with all federal and state laws and organizational and departmental policies and regulations.

Acts as a Notary Public.

Participates in Professional Staff Development. Participates in training and education opportunities to maintain and improve proficiency.

Other Requirements

The incumbent may encounter not public data in the course of these duties. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished, incumbent must properly store the not public data according to the provisions Ch. 13. If a new work assignment requires access to not public data, the incumbent is permitted to access not public data for the work assignment purposes only. Any access to not public data must be strictly limited to the data necessary to complete the work assignment and after the assignment is completed, the employee’s work assignment no longer requires access.

Salary/Benefits:

Starting wage is $30.73 per hour plus health insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, vacation/sick/holiday pay and many other voluntary benefits.

Salary range is $30.73 - $43.47 per hour.

Contact information:

Telephone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]

Deadline:

Open until filled. Reviewing applications August 21, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.