The Solid Waste Division (SWD), Recycling and Environmental Services Section (RES) is recruiting one (1) Material Management and Recycling Program Coordinator (Project/Program Manager III) career service enthusiastic team player to lead RES work in Transfer Station Recycling, and other special projects to support healthy, safe, and thriving communities in a waste-free King County.

If you want to make a difference in your community and you want to create lasting impacts that benefit the citizens of King County and our precious environment, then this is a great opportunity for you! These positions will contribute to implementing innovative and strategic efforts that will advance safety, human and environmental health, inclusive and equitable practices and zero waste of resources in King County. This is an opportunity to be part of positive institutional changes by working with the county and community representatives to better serve the public and provide greater benefits to our community regarding an equitable, socially just, prosperous, and healthy future. 

• Project/program management
• Policy development and administration
• Community outreach and engagement
• Building Equity and Social Justice capacity
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Relationship Building
• Climate Planning
• Budget Analysis
• Technical Assistance to Partners 

About the Role:

In addition to role specific job duties outlined further below, all positions can be expected to:

• Coordinate, lead or participate in programs or actions involving multiple agencies, partner organizations, and community groups.
• Apply equity and social justice practices to work items, in particular familiarity with the King County Equity Impact Review process.
• Manage projects involving multi-agency teams, including budget/expenditure oversight.
• Manage scope, schedule, and budget of contracts and projects.
• Research and gather information to update and keep programs and projects current. Develop program recommendations.
• Develop, build, and maintain strong relationships with partners in the recycling community.
• Lead procurement processes and manage resulting consultant contract related to policy development including drafting plans and reports, program budgets and scopes of work.
• Assist with SWD planning and development of policies as required.

Transfer Station Recycling is one of the most important operational pieces in reaching the Solid Waste Division's climate goals. This position focuses on increasing Recycling, Diversion and Re-Use at SWD Transfer Stations in line with SWD's strategic goals. Work is performed independently and in close coordination with other program managers and the RES Supervisor/Manager.  The position plays an important role in shaping and delivering SWD plans and programs that will move the region to a more circular, low-carbon and equitable future for all. This position manages or assists in the management of, budgeting and budgetary planning, and overall planning, development, and delivery of SWD's Transfer Station Recycling program, managing contracting, invoice payment, data tracking, goal setting, process improvement, customer and employee engagement, education and outreach including internal and external communications, providing SME guidance on CIP and other improvement and construction projects, all related to transfer station recycling, reuse and diversion of materials from landfilling. 

This position performs work remotely and onsite.  

About the Team:

The King County Solid Waste Division (KCSWD) is responsible for the public solid waste system that serves the people and communities of unincorporated King County and most cities within King County. KCSWD is the lead King County Agency for delivering Re+/Zero Waste of Resources (ZWoR) goals for the region, which will reduce valuable materials sent to the landfill by up to 70%. KCSWD operates the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, ten transfer facilities, nine closed landfills, and many programs to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems.  

The Recycling and Environmental Services (RES) Section leads the Division's efforts on prevention, reuse, recycling, product stewardship/Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), policy, market development, environmental stewardship, the circular economy, Re+ (King County's Zero Waste of Resources Initiative), green building, household hazardous waste collection, green school education, grant program management, resource recovery, waste stream integrity, and several compliance programs including on waste stream compliance & enforcement. 

Opportunity to Learn More: 

We invite you to join an MS Teams Meeting Open House to learn more about this position. A current supervisor from the RES section will be available to describe the work culture and job duties and there will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions. We will hold this event on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. To participate in the meeting, click here. To join by audio-only, please dial 425-653-6586 and use the Meeting ID: 318 512 018#

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive.   We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Material Management Recycling Program Coordinator (Project/Program III), you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Evaluate transfer facility recycling programs and identify and recommend program modifications and policies that make the best use of resources while increasing diversion of recyclable materials from disposal.
• Coordinate integration of recycling into the design and operation of new transfer facilities.
• Lead the Transfer Station Recycling design teams and serve as a technical resource.
• Research, recommend, and work closely with operations staff to implement resource recovery programs at new and current transfer facilities.
• Coordinate the analysis of fees for recyclable materials from an environmental, social, and financial perspective, and recommend policies related to rate setting for recyclables.
• Evaluate and recommend waste acceptance policies for recyclable materials.
• Coordinate procurement of and manage recycling vendor contracts, including contract and amendment negotiation, monthly tracking, reconciling, and approving vendor invoices for payment and overseeing transfer station recycling data management.
• Track and report recyclables collected at transfer facilities and manage data tracking system.
• Fulfill other routine needs of the transfer station recycling program including container inventory, container signage changes, communicating with facility staff and vendors regarding pick up schedules, and tracking and documenting problems with vendor service.
• Work with the Transfer Station Recycling Education Program Manager on communication outreach materials for Division staff and the public, including signage, customer handouts and other materials for distribution at a transfer stations.
• Respond to customer and staff inquiries, suggestions, and complaints related to the transfer facility recycling program. 
• Perform other duties as assigned related to recycling at transfer stations.

Qualifications You Bring:  

Minimum of five years of professional program management/administration experience working with solid waste, recycling or other related utility disciplines both in an office environment and "in-the-field" at facilities or any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability and skill to perform the scope of job duties of the position.

• Knowledge of operations planning and management at a public or private utility.
• Demonstrated skills in managing projects involving multi-agency teams and developing effective networks to accomplish program goals.
• Customer service and interpersonal skills, including ability to work collaboratively across organizational lines.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines with high attention to detail.
• Demonstrated skill with MS Excel for data tracking, budget management, qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Skill in contract management.
• Demonstrated skill managing invoice payment and basic knowledge of accounts payable processes. 
• Demonstrated ability to work with various project teams to achieve results within specified deadlines.
• Demonstrated skill in written and oral communications and making presentations.
• Experience with performance management and basic understanding of performance management software for example Power BI.

Competencies You Bring:

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
• Drives Engagement: Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization
• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on
   continuous improvement
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies

Requried Licenses:

• Valid Washington State Driver License

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Demonstrated experience managing municipal solid waste and recycling facilities.
• Experience managing solid waste and recycling projects and programs in a union represented environment.
• Experience managing hauling contractors and understanding of logistics.
• Direct experience managing contracts related to recycling, composting and/or reuse. 
• Experience in budget planning.

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details:

Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements typically 6 times per month. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department's vision of Green Where We Work.   

Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements. 

• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible. 
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117 P&T.

Application and Selection Process:

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants.   We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.  

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Note:  Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Susan Ng at Susan.Ng@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Solid Waste Division: Visit our website at our website at Solid Waste Division and check us out at Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.