The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
Why join the City of Oakland [Environmental Services Division]?
The Environmental Services Division (ESD) within Oakland Public Works is made up of a group of enthusiastic environmental professionals dedicated to promoting solid waste recycling and composting programs; reducing blight through illegal dumping eradication and related enforcement efforts; supporting environmental stewardship with volunteers; providing environmental investigation and remediation services for City-owned land; and ensuring environmental regulatory compliance by City facilities and assets. We accomplish these through active public outreach, stakeholder engagement, logistical support, and enforcement.
The City of Oakland is currently recruiting to fill one (1) Recycling Program Manager. The ideal candidate is a highly skilled and experienced individual who can direct, plan, and implement a variety of solid waste and blight reduction, and recycling programs for Oakland including residences, businesses, City offices, and facilities.
We are looking for someone who is:

• A self-driven team leader. You will need to take initiative, have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and have a strong desire to work in public service.
• A critical thinker. You will collect and use facts, data, and evidence in choosing and recommending courses of action.
• A difference maker. You will have the opportunity to develop and shape innovative recycling programs, procedures, and related outreach initiatives to promote recycling and solid waste/blight reduction.
• Organized and results-driven. You will need to balance multiple assignments and priorities in a dynamic environment. Attention to detail is a must to ensure timely delivery of products responsive to specific needs.
• An influencer for performance. You will need to set clear, challenging, and attainable goals, and support others in stretching and expanding their capabilities.
• A passionate and effective communicator and relationship builder. You will play an important role in interfacing with various City work groups, outside agencies, and community-based organizations, and promote recycling programs to City staff and the public. With this, you will get to establish meaningful professional relationships and communicate with a variety of audiences.

• Preparing budget and overseeing personnel and operations of recycling programs.
• Assessing, recommending, developing, and implementing solid waste reduction and recycling related programs and policies.
• Procuring and administering Oakland’s franchise agreements for solid waste collection, recycling, and composting, and management of construction and demolition debris.
• Overseeing the procurement and administration of contracts for consulting, community outreach, and other technical services, including writing contract specifications, issuing requests for proposals, accepting and evaluating proposals, awarding contracts, and planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating work products.
• Developing and managing programs for public/staff outreach to promote recycling and waste reduction policies and programs, and for investigating and enforcing against violations.
• Overseeing the identification of, application for, and administration of grants.
• Preparing technical or City Council reports and legislation.
• Staffing citizen advisory bodies, committees, and commissions, and attending meetings of community organizations, City Council, and other groups relating to program implementation.

• You will work on a wide variety of cutting-edge recycling/waste reduction programs and projects.
• Your work will have a direct impact on the City’s ability to provide important public services to a community with a rich and dynamic history.
• You will be a part of a passionate, fun, and diverse group of environmental professionals.
• You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other environmental disciplines such as environmental stewardship/volunteer programs, climate action planning, and environmental protection and compliance.

• You will have to timely and appropriately respond to public inquiries and complaints is a must.
• You will need to deliver services quickly while balancing priorities and will navigate City bureaucracy to coordinate with other work groups to implement programs.
• You will have to navigate complex rules, regulations, and policies that govern Oakland’s diverse portfolio of solid waste reduction and recycling programs.

• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Coaching & Developing Others: Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
• Allocating Resources: Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness
• Political & Organizational Savvy: Working skillfully with politics, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries

Minimum Requirements for Application

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who meet the minimum qualifications. The open list will be for all other applicants who meet the minimum qualifications
The eligibility list established from this recruitment may be used to fill other vacancies that occur within the City including full-time and permanent part-time positions, if applicable.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental sciences/studies, (solid) waste management, public or business administration or a related field. A Master’s degree in a related field is desirable.
Experience:
Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in overseeing, planning, and implementing (solid) waste management and recycling programs and/or environmental programs and projects including at least one (1) year of supervisory experience.
Desirable Qualifications:

• Zero Waste Principles & Practices Certification (by California Resource Recovery Association / Solid Waste Association of North America)
• Prior local government experience

Supplemental Information

The Recruitment Process:
The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.
Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.
Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.
In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.
For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be sent a writing exercise, which will then be evaluated and rated by subject matter experts. The tentative date that the writing exercise will be sent to you for completion is the week of DATE.
For some recruitments, more than one type of assessment may be used. Depending on the number of candidates who pass the first assessment (multiple-choice test, structured interview, writing exercise, performance exam) you may be asked to complete a secondary assessment before the recruitment is finalized. If a secondary assessment is scheduled, you will be notified by email with specific details. If a secondary assessment is not scheduled, department hiring interviews will occur during this time frame.
Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
What’s in it for you?

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5 hour work weeks, and a flexible/hybrid remote schedule
• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.