University of Minnesota · 1 day ago
Onsite Sewage Treatment Program Educator and Researcher
Minneapolis, MN
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$73K/yr - $85K/yr
3+ years expThe University of Minnesota is seeking an Onsite Sewage Treatment Program Educator and Researcher to support research-based education and technical assistance regarding subsurface sewage treatment systems. The role involves delivering educational programming, supporting research initiatives, and administering programs while collaborating with various stakeholders.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
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
Qualification
Required
B.S./B.A. in engineering, environmental science, water resources science, wastewater management, or closely related discipline or M.S. in engineering, environmental science, water resources science, wastewater management, or closely related discipline
Five (5) years (B.S. degree) or three (3) years (M.S. or higher) of experience designing, delivering, or evaluating educational programs in water resources, wastewater management, onsite sewage treatment, engineering, or related fields. This experience may include public speaking on technical topics in classrooms, conferences, or similar environments
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and collaborations with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders, including those that may have diverse missions, goals, and backgrounds
Valid driver's license. This position will have access to UM fleet services vehicles to travel to education events, research sites, etc
This position conducts fieldwork in and around wastewater and includes the potential exposure to disease causing bacteria and viruses. Training on safe wastewater handling and proper use of PPE will be part of onboarding for this position
This position also requires moving and lifting of heavy objects weighing up to 50 pounds (e.g., service port covers). Tools and additional personnel may be available to assist, but physical labor will be required for fieldwork and data collection
Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including occasional evening or weekend work
Access to a reliable internet connection and ability to work remotely
Preferred
Experience working with onsite wastewater treatment systems
Experience with technology in teaching and learning environments (e.g., online courses and distance learning, multi-media presentations, etc.)
Certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency subsurface sewage treatment program as a Designer or Inspector or similar education/certification and/or licenses (e.g., sanitarian)
Experience in applied environmental research, including proposal writing, experimental design, data collection, data analysis, or report writing
Experience with project management
Licensed as a Professional Engineer
Benefits
Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
University HSA contributions
Disability and employer-paid life insurance
Employee wellbeing program
Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
Financial counseling services
Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area
Company
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota is an educational institution that offers master's and doctoral degrees in medicine, law, and engineering fields.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Minnesota has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (298)
2024 (240)
2023 (289)
2022 (215)
2021 (201)
2020 (185)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$97.08MKey Investors
American Academy of Orthopaedic SurgeonsNational Science FoundationU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2023-12-01Grant· $0.03M
2023-05-04Grant· $20M
2023-04-13Grant· $10M
Leadership Team
Shane Stennes
Chief Sustainability Officer
Recent News
2025-12-17
2025-12-10
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