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City of Sunnyvale

Solid Waste Programs Division Manager

Regular Full-Time Employment Opportunity

The final filing date is Monday, January 5, 2026 at 5:00 pm

The City of Sunnyvale is looking to hire a Solid Waste Programs Division Manager. Benefits for this position include:

• contributes 4% of the 7% employee contribution to CalPERS for classic members;
• contributes 2% of an employee's gross pay to a deferred compensation plan;
• provides generous retiree medical benefits, and
• provides fully employer paid medical, dental, and vision benefits.

Reporting to the Director of Environmental Services, this manager leads and manages the Solid Waste Programs Division including the award-winning Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer (SMaRT) Station, the solid waste collection franchise contract and the closed Sunnyvale Landfill.
 
The Solid Waste Programs Division is leading the charge towards making Sunnyvale a Zero Waste City with the goal of 90% waste diversion by 2030 through innovative programs like FoodCycle and waste energy recovery. Another exciting challenge that the Division Manager will be leading is the rebuilding of the SMaRT Station.
 
The Solid Waste Programs Division Manager is a management classification responsible for a wide range of functions including preparing and administering the divisional budget, supervising technical and professional staff, outside agencies and consultants, leading major projects and representing the Division with other departments.

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Experience

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in environmental science, engineering, public administration, or related field; AND

Six (6) years of experience in solid waste management, including two (2) years of experience in a supervisory capacity.

A complete application consists of a City application and responses to the required supplemental questions.  The position opens on Monday, December 1, 2025 and the final filing date is Monday, January 5, 2026, at 5:00 pm.  Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience, or skills relevant to this position. 

Salary:  $179,614.00 - $224,518.00 Annually

For complete information regarding this current opportunity, please visit: Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click JOBS

To apply, click the following link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sunnyvale/jobs/5152744/solid-waste-programs-division-manager

Job Description Link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sunnyvale/classspecs/1798174

Under direction of the Deputy City Manager, the Recycling and Solid Waste Program Manager plans, organizes, directs and participates in the administration of multiple integrated solid waste management contracts and programs within the City Manager’s Office; represents the City and provides staff support for a variety of intergovernmental committees, subcommittees and authorities.

CLASS CHARACTERISITICS:

The Recycling & Solid Waste Manager performs complex and politically sensitive tasks including functioning as the City’s integrated waste program expert.  Appropriate judgment is essential to this position, as incumbents are expected to use professional judgement and skills in establishing relationships working with regulatory agencies, other cities, franchised service providers, local businesses, and community groups.  Strategic thinking is also essential to this position, including the ability to see emerging trends and develop strategies to succeed in a changing environment.  Community sensitivity and awareness are crucial to this position, including gauging community reaction to new fees and programs, and being able to effectively communicate to a very culturally diverse community. Creativity is paramount in developing and implementing effective Recycling & Solid Waste Program marketing and public information programs, preparing grant applications, and developing new programs to increase the level of community recycling and materials re-use.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES (illustrative only):

• Managing the City's exclusive franchise contract(s) for residential garbage, recycling and organic (i.e., yard and food scrap) waste collection/disposal, commercial garbage collection/disposal, and private-sector contracts for materials transfer and recovery, and long-term disposal.
• Administering contracts including developing requests for proposals, overseeing the bidding process, recommending selection of providers, preparing contracts, policy development, negotiation and administration of the contract, reviewing revenue and expenses pertaining to collection and processing agreements, monitoring performance and regulatory conformance, resolving customer service issues, monitoring service providers for compliance with contracted level of service, and other contractual obligations.
• Prepares and administers the Recycling & Solid Waste (RSW) Program budgets; manages budgets to ensure appropriate spending and recording of expenditures, including tracking the status of associated RSW Special Funds and RSW Program grants.
• Managing the RSW Program's recycling programs including planning, organizing, and implementing programs and projects designed to encourage business, citizen, and public participation in waste reduction, recycling, pollution prevention, and composting, and maximizing efficiency and material recovery.
• Managing the RSW Program's public education, marketing and outreach program for RSW Program functions, and preparing, coordinating, implementing, and participating in public events which support RSW Program service objectives.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with the press and other media, and community groups, organizations, and agencies, for publicizing, sponsoring and promoting RSW Program programs and events.
• Representing the City at the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA), including Alameda County Recycling Board and Authority Board meetings and reporting significant issues to the City Manager in a timely manner; participating in County Waste Management Authority Technical Advisory Committee meetings; preparing and making presentations to the ACWMA and Recycling Board as required.
• Conducting resident and business surveys related to the RSW Program.
• Preparing a variety of data analyses on waste stream quantities and overall program elements, including cost analyses of programs, in conjunction with ACWMA and State programs and mandates.
• Providing reports to State and Regional authorities on integrated solid waste program results.
• Participating in the development of solid waste, waste reduction, recycling, and pollution prevention policies, which comply with regulatory mandates.
• Analyzing proposed regional, state and federal legislation affecting solid waste management.
• Recommending revisions of existing programs to meet new/changing needs.
• Preparing reports and documents for City Council study sessions and meetings; making presentations to City Council, other boards and commissions, and public groups.
• Providing staff-support and/or representing the City with a variety of committees, commissions, community groups, and the general public.
• Receiving and responding to customer service requests concerning scope of program, technical information, and service delivery issues.
• Developing proposals to obtain county, state, and federal grants; implementing and administering grant programs.
• Planning, assigning, supervising, and reviewing the work of professional and/or support staff; participating in the recruitment and selection of RSW Program staff.
• Facilitating communication, consensus building and resolving conflicts related to MSR Program projects and policy matters by conferring with, facilitating and conducting meetings with elected and appointed officials, other City departments, members of the public, and neighborhood organizations; participating in developing and conducting citizen involvement/public participation events to explain MSR Program policies, procedures, and proposed regulations and policies; and developing and conducting demonstration projects, workshops and other training events.
• Maintaining internal and external customer relations by using tact and diplomacy in all interactions with customers; establishing and maintaining positive and effective working relationships with co-workers and those contacted in the course of the work; and coordinating with departments and outside agencies.
• Maintaining attention to detail by prioritizing work and coordinating several activities simultaneously despite interruptions.
• Maintaining integrity of work by taking responsibility and accountability for completion of work and customer interactions and maintaining punctuality and attendance at work.
• Performing other work as assigned.

This job opportunity is continuous and application reviews are performed periodically.

San Mateo is a city of approximately 104,000 residents, strategically located midway between San Francisco and San Jose, and is within the Silicon Valley.  One of the City’s strengths is its diversity, both in the ethnic makeup and the physical development of the community.  San Mateo has a vibrant business and retail environment with national and international businesses, two major shopping centers and an active downtown.  The community values its historic and new residential neighborhoods and recently approved a major new Transit Oriented Development that will add 1,500 new homes, 300,000 square feet of new retail and as much as 1.5 million square feet of commercial office space.  

The City organization has a culture of innovation, collaboration and strong customer service.  The City’s annual budget is $191 million and is staffed by approximately 540 full time employees.  The City is continually evaluating new and innovative ways of providing high quality services to its residents while acknowledging the competing demands for the limited funds available. Find out more interesting facts at:  www.cityofsanmateo.org.

Look at some of the reasons why the City of San Mateo is a great place to work, https://youtu.be/_GTIzeSpc_g

The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is a 15.7 MDG sub-regional facility that serves an estimated 164,545 customers  administering the annual operation and maintenance budget over $12.8 million with a staff of 34 professional and technical personnel.  The City of San Mateo is building a team tasked with the safe and continuous operation of the current expansion of this conventional activated sludge plant by introducing new facilities including; preliminary treatment, primary treatment, enhanced biological nutrient removal/membrane bioreactors (BNR/MBR), biological and chemically enhanced treatment (BioACTIFLO), and additional upgrades to existing process equipment. A vital and instrumental member of this team is the WWTP Operator III.

The Position

This position will receive general direction from the Chief Plant Operator and instruction from their Shift Supervisor to provide daily guidance to lower level operators and trainees. The WWTP Operator III will be responsible for supporting these efforts to guide, develop and mentor staff on their assigned shift, act in a supervisory capacity in the absence of the Shift Supervisor, and is the assigned lead in getting both scheduled and unscheduled work completed. Those who have prepared themselves and are ready for the challenge to use their skills as a journey-level wastewater professional should seriously consider this opportunity.

This position is assigned rotating shifts working nights, weekends, and holidays with on-call emergency response 24 hours per day.  However, along with this challenge is the benefit of working  a 12-hour shift that results in a very favorable work/life balance and requires the minimum commuting days as compared to other standard 8-hour shifts.

The Duties

Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to the following.

Operate wastewater treatment facilities to control flow and processing of wastewater, sludge and effluent; monitor gauges, meters and control panels; observe variation in operating conditions, interpreting meter and gauge readings and test results to determine process requirements.

• Operate valves and gates; start and stop pumps, engines and electric motors to control and adjust flow and treatment processes; operate and maintain boilers; perform routine maintenance work on valves, tanks, related equipment and facilities to optimize performance.
• Maintain appropriate plant records to support water quality goals.
• Perform the duties of the Designated Operator-in-Charge when required in accordance with State regulations.
• Operate rolling vehicles and stationary machinery as required to perform essential job functions.
• Foster and maintain good working relationships and provide excellent customer service in the course of their work.
• Assist in the inventory, requisition, and purchase of supplies and materials.
• Supervise and train less experienced operators on assigned shift.