Solid Waste Bureau Chief

Important notice: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Department of Environmental Services (DES) is seeking a Bureau Chief for the Solid Waste Bureau (SWB) to manage solid waste services in Arlington County. This Bureau Chief will build upon a legacy of excellence in solid waste that our agency has established over the past several decades. The SWB is a recognized leader in progressive solid waste management, having won dozens of regional and national awards for our innovative programs, data driven program management, customer service achievements and unequivocal commitment to sustainability.

The SWB Bureau is organized into 3 major sections: (1) Operations, (2) Environmental Management Office, and (3) Administration with approximately 40 full time employees assigned. The annual operating budget for the Bureau is approximately $18M. The Bureau is responsible for several important programs, including:

Household Solid Waste Program - provides comprehensive solid waste collection and management services for all single family and townhome residences in Arlington County.

Multifamily & Commercial Solid Waste Program - outreach and inspection program regulates solid waste management for all multifamily residential properties and commercial establishments in the County.

Regulatory compliance and planning - responsible for solid waste management planning for the community and compliance with Virginia regulatory requirements, and for the implementation of the County's Solid Waste Management Plan/Zero Waste Plan.

Earth Products Yard - processes organics, inert materials, and fill materials from County and Schools construction projects.

Leaf Collection and Street Sweeping - annual collection of ~18M tons of leaves utilizing vacuum trucks by permanent and temporary staff. Regular street sweeping through commercial corridors and in residential neighborhoods.

Community Recycling Centers - manages two drop-off centers and three glass recycling centers dispersed throughout the community.

Community Cleanliness Program - conducts litter collection, graffiti removal, street can collection, illegal dumping collection, bus shelter cleaning and related programs.

Household Hazardous Materials Program - accepts resident drop-offs of household hazardous materials and electronic waste from the residential sector. In addition to the above listed programs, the bureau provides other community services including paper shredding, inert materials drop-off, mulch distribution, on-street food scraps collection, and many more.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include:

Ensuring that comprehensive solid waste services are provided efficiently and economically to our 33,000 HSWR customers;

Ensuring that the County's solid waste programs further our community's sustainable goals, and achieve the County Board's Zero Waste Resolution;

Supporting emergency response operations for snow clearing and debris management;

Ensuring safety of staff and community as services are provided;

Managing staff of over 40 full-time employees and fleet of 65 motor vehicles including rear loaders, street sweepers, leaf trucks, tractor trailers, dump trucks, wheel loaders, roll-offs, and assorted small equipment;

Budgeting, administration, performance management and planning for the bureau;

Partnering with the City of Alexandria to oversee the ReWorld waste-to-energy facility located in Alexandria, Virginia; and

Participating on regional work groups and committees (Council of Governments, Northern Virginia Regional Commission Waste Board, I-95 Landfill Committee, WTE Facility Monitoring Group). To learn more about the Solid Waste Bureau, click here.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the municipal solid waste field, have a record of developing and implementing creative and innovative solutions, a commitment to sustainability, and have experience leading a diverse population of employees including professional, administrative, and trades-based employees. Strong customer service skills are imperative.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements:

Bachelor's degree in public administration, environmental services or a related field; and

Significant and progressively responsible experience in solid waste, hauling, industrial or municipal public works area including considerable supervisory and management responsibility for daily operations, customer service, and policy development/implementation. Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with a current or past possession of a valid CDL and experience in one or more of the following:

Managing a CDL fleet and/or drivers and managing employees under a collective bargaining agreement;

Managing or implementing an industrial or municipal safety program;

Implementing technology to increase efficiency, efficacy, and transparency of public service delivery; and/or

Demonstrated experience supporting emergency response activities.

Special Requirements

A complete application will include a resume and cover letter detailing how your education and professional experience has prepared you for this position including details of your experience in the solid waste field and managing a diverse collection of employees and equipment. Please submit your cover letter as an attachment or use the space provided in the supplemental questionnaire.

A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

This position will require assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. The selected candidate must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicants driving record.

Completion of the Commonwealth of Virginia Statement of Economic Interest form will be required of the successful candidate upon hire and annually thereafter.

Additional Information

Work Hours: Core agency work hours are generally 7:00am - 3:30pm Monday through Friday. However, employees are subject to occasional shift rotation, based on department need. Employees must be available for call-back for emergency situations (i.e., weather emergencies and snow removal, etc.).

Arlington County offers a competitive salary and a great benefits package including a Defined Benefit (pension) plan. For more information on Arlington's family friendly benefits click here.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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