The full salary range for this position is $54.60 - $81.93 per hour.
Benefits: The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans
Preferred Education:
4 Year Degree
Additional Information:
Hybrid/Remote is allowed.
Internal Number: 2025-00259
Position Description
Are you a systems thinker motivated to advance zero waste? Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) seeks a strategic and resourceful Solid and Hazardous Waste Lead Planner (Strategic Advisor 2, Utils BU-L21) to help the City further its zero-waste vision. The Solid and Hazardous Waste Lead Planner provides strategic leadership on how, when, why, and which of the key tools of financial incentives, formal policies, and customer programs to use to advance our waste reduction goals.
The ideal candidate for this position is a solid waste subject matter expert, highly skilled in both program and project management. Top candidates are experienced with leading large-scale, high visibility planning and policy initiatives in the public sector. They can adeptly navigate political environments using a collaborative approach that involves stakeholders both inside and outside of their organization and demonstrate experience creating and implementing well-designed, data-driven solutions for complex problems.
A key advisor to the Solid Waste Department, the Solid and Hazardous Waste Lead Planner leads solid waste planning for Seattle under the direction of the Solid Waste Planning & Program Management Division Director and in coordination with the regional Hazardous Waste Management Program and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
If you feel this may be the perfect job for you, please continue reading ...and APPLY!
About Seattle Public Utilities (SPU):Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a Community Centered Utility whose mission is to foster healthy people, environment, and economy by partnering with our community to equitably manage water and waste resources for today and future generations. We deliver high quality, vital services, across four major lines of business: providing water, solid waste, drainage and wastewater services for Seattle residents and businesses. In addition, SPU provides drinking water for 1.5 million regional customers in Seattle and other municipalities. Our customers depend on us to deliver high quality, reliable, and cost-conscious utility services and to achieve the highest benefits possible for every investment we make.
For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), please visit:
SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring, and promotional opportunities.
Why join us?
We know work isn't only about what you do it’s also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:
Hybrid work schedule opportunities
Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
Generous benefits package
Free public transportation options
City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
Growth potential and advancement opportunities
Job Responsibilities
The successful candidate will work collaboratively with subject matter experts across SPU, the City, and externally to provide strategic leadership, advice, and support for advancing Seattle’s zero waste vision. Some of the job responsibilities will include the following:
Guide SPU’s approach to its five key solid waste focus areas of food waste reduction, contamination reduction, waste prevention, responsible recycling, and regulatory compliance.
Conduct research, analysis, and provide recommendations about options for improving existing solid waste programs, policies, and incentives.
Lead development and coordination of solid waste elements of planning documents, e.g., the SPU Strategic Business Plan and the One Seattle Plan (comprehensive plan).
Design, procure, and administer consultant or vendor contracts to support planning-related activities.
Coordinate Seattle’s solid waste system planning efforts with those of the regional Hazardous Waste Management Program for King County to ensure that hazardous wastes are kept out of the garbage, recycling, and organic streams and properly managed.
Develop and/or maintain Solid and Hazardous Waste Lead Planner-related and solid waste-planning references, documents, files, webpages, SharePoint sites, job aids, and fact sheets.
Administer the annual recycler reporting and licensing requirement with the Finance and Administrative Services Department’s Consumer Protection Division.
Manage the project team responsible for reporting, communications, technical assistance, inspector training, and coordinate with the Consumer Protection Division on reporting compliance and licensing activities.
Analyze solid waste data and prepare and present Annual Waste Prevention and Recycling Report.
Facilitate review of the Annual Waste Prevention and Recycling Report and ensure timely submission of the report to City Council.
Transfer Station Program Development
Lead design and development of a new transfer station recycling and reuse program to meet goal of reducing disposal at the City’s transfer stations starting in 2026.
Develop theory of change or logic model for new transfer station program, identify key opportunities and develop plan to improve transfer station services to customers that self-haul their waste, hire transfer station program manager, and oversee implementation of new program.
Supervision and Budget
Supervise the SWAC Coordinator to ensure the city receives informed advice on waste management issues (Chapter 70A.205.110 RCW) and will hire and supervise the Transfer Station Recycling and Reuse Program Manager.
Assist with supervision of a graduate intern.
Manage capital improvement program budget for comprehensive planning, ranging in annual value from approximately $50,000 to $250,000.
Qualifications
Experience: At least five (5) years progressively responsible program management and/or planning experience in strategic and long-range planning, policy development, or another relevant planning areas related to sanitation or waste management for a community-based organization, non-profit, government, or utility setting.
Education: A baccalaureate or associate degree from an accredited college or university, or a certified equivalency for foreign studies (areas of studied identified in classification specification), ideally in a disciple related to waste management, sanitation planning, environmental policy, or sustainability.
Education and Experience Equivalency:Combinations of appropriate education, training, certification, and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability to the minimum education and experience requirements.
Desired Qualifications:
We are looking for a dynamic and engaging person with high interest in solid waste, thoughtful, structured, and creative approaches to strategic and long-range planning and policy analysis, and a drive to partner with and empower others to be innovative, forward thinking, and successful. The ideal candidate will excel in more than a few of the areas described below.
Persuasive writer and communicator. Can produce and deliver a persuasive policy brief, concise strategic framework, communication tools, and/or engaging PowerPoints, with clear messaging that gets community, policymakers, elected officials, and/or businesses to “yes”!
Trusted advisor and innovator. Able to articulate, name, and facilitate dialogue around hard truths and challenges (from all perspectives) in open and constructive ways that invite and allow people to come together to overcome the status quo and develop, practice, and experiment with innovative alternatives and solutions.
Analytical. Understands how to use science, data, and performance measures (including understanding of geo-spatial and racial/social correlations) to build strong and effective problem-solving approaches and business case evaluations that supporting utility decision making and investment.
Patient and persistent. Able to read a situation and know when the timing is ripe to move forward, hold the line, try a different approach, and when and where more work needs to be done and how to approach that effectively.
Strong collaborator and relationship builder. Skilled at building trusting relationships between diverse groups and perspectives and effectively cultivating and uplifting the voices and priorities of communities, especially those least heard.
Adaptive and flexible connector. Able to identify the need for and cultivate partnerships with other departments, agencies, communities, and business who may be better positioned to respond to a community priority than SPU.
Able to take the initiative to proactively move a concept, policy, and/or project/program forward, working with all stakeholders to help ensure successful implementation.
Strong project management skills. Strong project management skills, including technical, strategic, planning management, and leadership competencies, and ability to successfully balance time, scope, and budget for a project.
Broad contract development, negotiation, and management skills. Able to develop requests for proposals (RFPs), evaluate proposals, negotiate contract terms, and manage contracts to ensure timely deliverables, in accordance with scope and within budget.
People leadership and management skills. Able to lead a group of staff towards a common goal and demonstrated ability to work closely with, communicate with, and lead staff as a manager for maximum and quality results.
Strong technical skills. Proficient in Office365 software, including Word (high), PowerPoint (high), Excel (intermediate), Teams (high), OneNote (intermediate), Forms (intermediate), SharePoint (intermediate), etc.
Additional Information
How to Apply: In addition to completing the online application, we require candidates to attacha resume, writing sample, and cover letter. Your cover letter should address how your knowledge, skills, and experience(s) make you the ideal candidate for this position. The writing sample should not exceed four (4) pages and should have been written by you without the assistance of artificial intelligence software. The writing sample should illustrate your ability to apply the skills, knowledge, and experience desired for this position. For example, your writing sample may showcase your analytical abilities or take the form of a policy analysis with recommendations.
Workplace Environment:This position allows for the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees will have the option to work remotely two days a week. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.
The full salary range for this position is $54.60 - $81.93 per hour.
Who may apply: The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
If you have any questions, please contact Charles Gilmore at charles.gilmore2@seattle.gov
Every day SPU delivers essential, life-sustaining services while protecting public health and our environment to ensure healthy, thriving communities. We are dedicated to public health and a clean environment for all. From our watersheds to your streets and parks, we strive to keep Seattle clean and safe.
