Program Technical Specialist

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.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

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.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Program Technical Specialist provides nimble and advanced administrative support to several departments in the Met Council's Environmental Services Operations Support Services with limited supervision. The person in this position must have a high level of detail, use sound judgement to interpret guidelines, adapt procedures, and decide approaches to resolve specific problems. The ability to flex, multi-task, and to be professional in stressful, ambiguous, or deadline-oriented situations is important.

Please do not upload a resume for this position. Include all relevant experience in the Work History section, and ensure your responses are consistent with your application. Resumes will not be accepted.

This posting will create a six-month eligibility list for current and future openings.

• Composes original correspondence not requiring the supervisor's personal attention; screens/processes/tracks correspondence; develops agendas.
• Monitors and tracks budgets and expenditures. Prepares purchase requisitions and tracks approval processes for various purchase orders, change orders, amendments, pay requests, invoices and order procurement/contract administration documents.
• Researches, compiles, and analyzes information; prepares statistics; writes/drafts report; prepares or updates presentations for meetings.
• Creates procedures for complex or specialized functions; solves unusual problems; may coordinate office moves & renovation.
• Answers non-routine and/or sensitive inquiries.
• Makes travel arrangements.
• Coordinates large and complex conferences/meetings/programs. Makes complex scheduling arrangements involving multiple parties & conferences under minimum direction; sets up and cancels meetings based on knowledge of the subject and attendees; takes minutes at meetings, and recognizes and identifies what information can be disseminated and to whom; arranges for special room or equipment needs and/or multiple locations & individuals.
• Interacts with internal employees, council members, public officials, contractors, and public action groups, The contacts are not recurring or routine and the purpose, role and authority of each party must be established each time in order for the employee to determine the nature and extent of information that can be discussed or released.
• Prepares purchase requisitions and tracks approval processes for various purchase orders, change orders, amendments, pay requests, invoices and order procurement/contract administration documents.

Any of the following combinations in completed education (degree field of study in Business Administration/Management, Public Administration, Communications/Writing or closely related field) and experience (providing complex administrative support in a medium to large organization):

• High school diploma/GED with five (5) years of experience
• Associate degree with three (3) years of experience
• Bachelor's degree with one (1) year of experience

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or communications/writing.
• Experience in the public sector - Met Council, State of MN, counties, cities or other.
• Experience ordering supplies, P-card administration, and receiving in a purchasing system.
• Experience working with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Experience managing content on an intranet or Microsoft Teams site.
• Experience converting paper to electronic documents utilizing a document management system.
• Experience working for multiple departments or managers with lead experience as a plus.
• Experience monitoring and tracking budgets and expenditures.

• Knowledge of Metropolitan Council Environmental Services and agency policies and procedures.
• Ability to perform under limited supervision recognizing when assistance or guidance is required to set priorities or redirect workload; ability to take direction from multiple personnel; ability to coordinate ownership and activities with other administrative personnel.
• Ability to schedule meetings, manage calendars, and organize emails in Outlook.
• Ability to work independently with sensitive and confidential matters.
• Ability to display independent judgment, initiative and organization in solving a variety of problems.
• Possess a high attention to detail and follow through.
• Proficient computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint, and an electronic document management system.
• Ability to use or learn computer software programs that are used to manage electronic documents, enter performance goals and progress, enter time and attendance, and to procure goods and services.
• Knowledge of basic and commonly used office skills, procedures and equipment.
• Ability to verbally communicate information clearly and concisely.
• Ability to review data, reports and correspondence for details and accuracy.

Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade E
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

Work Environment:
Work is performed in a standard office setting. Some positions may require travel between primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involve:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• 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 background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. 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 background check which verifies education and employment. A criminal background check will be completed 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.

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.