City of Coon Rapids Expands Workforce Across Public Safety, Sustainability and Municipal Media

In a season when Minnesota cities are preparing for both spring thaw and summer programming, the City of Coon Rapids has opened a slate of professional, technical and seasonal positions that together sketch a portrait of modern municipal government: part public safety backbone, part climate planning lab, part neighborhood newsroom, and part boots on the ground in parks and streets.

The openings, verified through the City’s official hiring portal on GovernmentJobs, range from a senior-level sustainability planner earning more than $95,000 annually to part-time media technicians and seasonal parks workers who will help maintain the physical fabric of one of Anoka County’s largest communities.

All applications are processed exclusively online through the City’s careers page at GovernmentJobs.

Professional and Technical Roles

Police Technician

Salary: $30.48 to $37.95 per hour

Behind every patrol response and courtroom prosecution stands a civilian infrastructure that rarely makes headlines. The Police Technician position functions as that administrative spine within the Coon Rapids Police Department.

According to the official job bulletin, the role includes managing records within Minnesota’s Criminal Justice Reporting System, assembling case files for prosecutors, transcribing investigative interviews, processing handgun permits, conducting background checks, and handling front-counter public inquiries.

Because the position involves access to sensitive data, it requires high-level security clearance and strict adherence to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The role is full-time and is positioned as essential to maintaining accuracy, compliance and transparency within the department’s operations.

Senior Planner, Sustainability

Salary: $95,305.60 to $118,768 annually

The Senior Planner, Sustainability is a leadership role within the Community Development Department and sits at the intersection of climate policy, land use, and public engagement.

The position is tasked with implementing and advancing the City’s Energy Action Plan, adopted in March 2023, which sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2030. Official materials describe responsibilities that include drafting environmental policy, writing comprehensive plan chapters, reviewing development proposals for green infrastructure elements such as stormwater management and native landscaping, and serving as staff liaison to the Sustainability Commission.

The planner is also responsible for identifying and securing state and federal grants to fund recycling, energy efficiency and resilience initiatives. The role reflects a broader shift in suburban governance, where sustainability is no longer peripheral but embedded into zoning, infrastructure and long-term capital planning.

Multimedia Communications Specialist

Salary: $30.48 to $37.95 per hour
Schedule: Part-time, approximately 24 to 28 hours per week

In an era when cities communicate not only through council minutes but through video storytelling and social platforms, Coon Rapids is hiring what amounts to a one-person newsroom.

The Multimedia Communications Specialist produces content for social media and the Coon Rapids Community Television Network. Duties include shooting and editing video, capturing still photography, writing scripts, conducting interviews and occasionally appearing on camera. The official posting requires applicants to provide a portfolio demonstrating production proficiency, often including experience with Adobe Creative Suite.

The role supports civic transparency and community engagement, ensuring that residents can access city news beyond the traditional public notice.

Video Assistant, Studios and Meetings

Salary: $24.01 to $29.89 per hour
Schedule: Part-time, approximately 10 to 12 hours per month

The Video Assistant supports live municipal meeting broadcasts and studio productions. Responsibilities include camera operation and technical directing, particularly during evening council meetings and occasional weekend events.

Though part-time, the role is central to maintaining public access to government proceedings, reinforcing the City’s commitment to open meetings and accessible civic information.

Seasonal and Temporary Positions

As winter recedes, Coon Rapids is also staffing its seasonal workforce to prepare parks, streets and utilities for peak use.

Seasonal Public Works, Parks, Streets and Utilities

Pay: $16.50 to $18.75 per hour
Schedule: Up to 40 hours per week, typically 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Seasonal public works employees assist full-time crews with road patching, storm drain cleaning, park grounds maintenance and utility support. These positions are structured daytime shifts and are often filled by students or residents seeking outdoor, hands-on municipal experience.

Temporary Parks Maintenance

Pay: $18.07 to $20.08 per hour
Schedule: Up to 40 hours per week

Temporary parks maintenance workers handle mowing, landscaping, planting, athletic field preparation and trail upkeep across the city’s park system. The posting notes multiple vacancies and emphasizes routine grounds maintenance combined with general facility support.

Temporary Park Ranger

Pay: $18.07 to $21.94 per hour
Schedule: Approximately 12 to 30 hours per week, including afternoons, evenings and weekends

Park Rangers focus on public interaction and field presence within athletic complexes and park facilities. Duties include monitoring adult league games, scorekeeping, locking and unlocking facilities, light custodial work and assisting with community events through mid-October.

Application Process and Requirements

All applications must be submitted through the City’s official portal at:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/coonrapidsmn

The City specifies that screening decisions are based strictly on the information provided in the online application. Resumes may be used for clarification but do not substitute for completing required fields.

A valid Minnesota Driver’s License is required for nearly all field-based roles.

A Snapshot of Municipal Priorities

Taken together, the openings reveal a city investing simultaneously in public safety infrastructure, climate resilience, digital transparency and the daily upkeep of shared public spaces.

From the police technician managing case files to the sustainability planner shaping emissions policy, from the seasonal worker patching streets at dawn to the video assistant broadcasting a council vote at dusk, Coon Rapids’ hiring cycle offers more than employment opportunities. It offers a window into how a modern Minnesota city functions, adapts and communicates with the residents it serves.

MinneapoliMedia