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Healthy Homes and Energy Navigator
The City of Rochester is committed to a community where all members feel a sense of belonging. We commit to recognizing
the diversity of our community members, listening to ALL voices and providing equitable services to create an inclusive place to live, play and work.
We believe EQUITY should be at the center of all our work. We strive to represent our community in our teammates, as we know that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative, and have an empowering impact on the work, progress and culture of our community.
It takes us all working together
$25-$35 per hour
Schedule: Three 4-5 hour shifts per week, up to 14 hours total. Shifts will be within 9:00 AM-1:00 PM OR 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Although, we will be flexible with candidates and build appointment windows around their availability, once the availability has been chosen, Navigators will be expected to maintain a consistent weekly schedule for the duration of the program.
Program Overview
The Rochester Healthy Air & Homes Initiative (HAHI) is a new 2026 Sustainability Division program that improves indoor air quality, reduces energy burdens, and enhances home safety across Rochester, especially in neighborhoods facing higher asthma, heart disease, and radon exposure rates.Navigators are community-based staff who provide at-home energy consultations, distribute Healthy Homes & Energy Kits, and help residents access utility programs and rebates, weatherization services, home radon testing, and financial assistance resources.
As part of the City’s expanding green workforce development efforts, Navigators earn the Building Science Principles (BSP) certification, gain hands-on experience in home energy consultations, and will have the opportunity to pursue Building Analyst Technician (BAT) certification, creating a direct pipeline into high-demand careers in energy auditing, HVAC, building performance, and home rehabilitation.
Navigators play a critical role in achieving the community health, energy efficiency, and equity goals outlined in the City’s Sustainability & Resiliency Community Work Plan.
Nature of Work
The Healthy Homes & Energy Navigator serves as a trusted, community-facing representative of the City of Rochester. This part-time role works directly with residents – primarily through scheduled in-home visits – to improve indoor air quality, enhance energy efficiency, and connect households to available programs and resources.Navigators receive training from the City and partner organizations and gain practical experience conducting basic household assessments, explaining energy- and health-related concepts in accessible ways, and supporting residents as they take next steps (e.g., radon testing, utility rebates, weatherization programs).
The position requires strong communication skills, comfort entering homes, and the ability to build trust with diverse residents. Navigators must be reliable, consistent with weekly availability, and able to maintain accurate digital records.
To have your application considered for the first round of interviews, please apply by Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
The City of Rochester will not sponsor or transfer visas for this position including F1 OPT STEM.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
*Conduct Outreach & In-Home Consultations
- Meet with residents at their homes to discuss indoor air quality, healthy housing practices, and energy efficiency opportunities.
- Use an iPad-based assessment tool to capture information, schedule follow-up items, and record data.
- Distribute Healthy Homes & Energy Kits and explain each component (e.g., radon test kits, weatherization materials, green cleaning products).
- Identify basic issues (e.g., poor airflow, excessive moisture, missing weatherstripping) and walk residents through simple mitigation steps.
*Build Trust & Engage Effectively
- Serve as a consistent, reliable point of contact for households.
- Use culturally responsive, inclusive communication strategies to build rapport, especially in neighborhoods experiencing higher energy burdens or indoor air concerns.
- Represent the City professionally and with empathy during all interactions.
*Support Access to Resources
- Connect residents to City, County, and Utility programs, including Rochester Public Utilities rebates and Olmsted County Public Health resources.
- Assist with follow-up steps, such as, completing radon tests, preparing rebate application documents, or scheduling energy audits.
- Share clear, simple guidance on next steps residents can take to improve their home environment.
*Training, Certification & Workforce Development
- Complete City-led training curriculum to earn the Building Science Principles (BSP) credential in Spring 2026.
- Participate in hands-on practice, job shadowing, technical demonstrations, and skill-building sessions with program partners.
- Receive ongoing mentoring and preparation for the Building Analyst Technician (BAT) certification pathway in Fall 2026.
*Track, Document & Report
- Maintain accurate digital records of consultations, kits distributed, referrals made, and follow-up actions.
- Submit weekly summaries and participate in team check-ins to evaluate program success and improvements.
- Provide stories, resident feedback, and observations to the Sustainability team to support program evaluation.
*ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 18 years of age or older
- Valid driver's license
- Reliable access to a personal vehicle for traveling to home visits across Rochester (mileage reimbursement is available) or ability to drive City vehicles, if assigned
- Lived experience in Rochester, ideally within communities most impacted by housing and energy burdens.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Cultural competency and communication: Ability to engage respectfully with diverse communities, build rapport quickly, maintain resident trust, and communicate effectively across languages; English, Spanish, and/or Somali preferred.
- Interest in healthy housing, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and hands-on problem solving.
- Technical & problem-solving aptitude: Interest in radon testing, ventilation, weatherization measures, and energy efficiency.
Competencies:
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to connect with households across cultures, languages, and lived experiences.
- Ability to work independently, manage time, and maintain accurate digital records.
- Community engagement & communication: Comfortable attending neighborhood events and able to explain technical concepts in simple, actionable ways.
- Reliability: Commitment to a consistent weekly schedule for resident appointments.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.
In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as: Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.
Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:
Continuous demands: Standing, Sitting, Walking, and Fine dexterity.
Frequent demands: Crouching, Crawling, Bending, Twisting, and Balancing.
Occasional demands: Lifting, Carrying, Pushing/Pulling, Reaching, Handling, Kneeling, and Climbing.
Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include:
Exposure to dust/gas/fumes/steam/chemicals
Potential exposure to infectious diseases and proper use of PPE.
Walk on uneven ground (gravel, rocks, mounds, construction sites)
Work at heights (such as on scaffolding or ladders)
