Assistant Director- Solid Waste Services Operations
Salary
$134,100.00 - $214,600.00 Annually
Location
Solid Waste Services 630 Beacon Lake Drive, Raleigh, NC
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
2026-00495
Department
Solid Waste Administration
Opening Date
06/12/2026
Closing Date
7/3/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Work Hours
Monday - Friday: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Hiring Range
$134,100.00 - $214,600.00
Job Description
The Solid Waste Services Department plays a vital role in protecting our city's public health, preserving our environment, and supporting the quality of life our residents expect and deserve. We currently serve over 128,000 residents, the downtown Central Business District of Raleigh, bus stops, and multifamily recycling locations along with managing the City's Yard Waste Center that transforms yard waste into award-winning compost and mulch.
The Assistant Director of Operations is one of two positions at this executive level serving as a key member of the Solid Waste Services leadership team, which is responsible for strategic oversight, operational excellence, and continuous improvement of collection, disposal, recycling, yard waste, and fleet-related operations. This position provides leadership to multiple divisions and ensures safe, efficient, customer-focused service delivery while advancing organizational goals, sustainability initiatives, and employee development. This position reports to the Director of Solid Waste Services.
The Solid Waste Services Department Operations Division is structured in such a way as to increase accountability, evenly distribute work, foster collaboration, and optimize efficiency. The Assistant Director of Operations will provide a strong focus on internal operations. The position requires making logistical decisions on behalf of the organization regarding the means for executing the goals established by the Director, subject to constraints imposed by available technology and resources. Incumbents oversee the conduct of performance evaluations, training, and hiring, discipline and termination procedures as well as directly supervise management, professional, paraprofessional and support staff. The position may be called upon to serve as Director in the absence of the Director.
The Assistant Director collaborates with City leadership, elected officials, community stakeholders, and departmental teams to deliver exceptional public services that enhance the quality of life for residents and ensure customer service, response to citizen inquiries, and operational efficiency of the department.
About You:
By serving as the operational leader, the Assistant Director of Operations will drive the elevation of customer service, employee safety, operational functions, and consistency across the department.
About Us:
The Solid Waste Services Department provides residential curbside collection of garbage, recycle, yard waste and a variety of specialized services, along with the oversight of the city's Yard Waste Center and closed landfill. The Department works proactively to reduce waste and to increase recycling in Raleigh, while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability in all areas of the operations.
The Solid Waste Service Department is an essential component of the City of Raleighs service infrastructure responsible for the collection, disposal, and management of all material waste generated and reused within our community. Over the years, our city and grown exponentially and has undergone significant development, environmental, technological, and economic changes that are necessitating a strategic realignment of our workforce to meet these new challenges.
As an essential and critical service, we take great pride in our role in the preservation and protection of the community's natural resources and sustainable growth.
Join a team of dedicated public servants committed to delivering essential services that protect public health, preserve the environment, and improve the quality of life for our community. This leadership role offers the opportunity to shape the future of solid waste services through innovation, operational excellence, and employee empowerment.
Duties and Responsibilities
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Provides strategic direction and management of the Operations Division within Solid Waste Services; strives to align service delivery, project and initiative outcomes, and work plans with City and departmental strategic plans, mission, and Divisions.
Coordinates and provides oversight of the implementation of the division's programs and activities. This division includes garbage, recycling, yard waste, and special collection services as well as oversight of the Yard Waste Center Division and retired landfill.
Provides direct staff supervision including conducting performance evaluations, payroll and timekeeping, coordinating training and hiring, and issuing discipline and termination procedures if necessary.
Collaborates with the Administrative Division in the coordination of programs to ensure service delivery, quality customer service, project and initiative outcomes, and work plans that require cross Division coordination.
Manages resource allocations to ensure service delivery, productivity and efficiency; evaluates fleet support to ensure a safe and serviceable fleet to support service delivery; ensures financial stewardship within the Divisions; monitors and reduces waste (time, resources, etc.).
Monitors and manages division performance; monitors progress of service delivery and the efficient utilization of available services; identifies areas of quality management to enhance productivity and foster accountability; oversees the administration technology to make data-driven decisions (GPS software/tracking and route management programs/Cityworks/etc.).
Oversees and participates in the analysis, development, and administration of assigned budget; monitors and approves expenditures and budget compliance; and recommends adjustments. Oversees the execution of all professional contracts within the Divisions.
Manages projects and initiatives; works with various city partners, state, local, regional, and/or federal agencies regarding City projects and environmental compliance initiatives; identifies opportunities to exercise positive environmental stewardship.
Manages the resolution of highly visible, sensitive, and complex customer service issues; performs research and analysis of specialized and technical information.
Acts as the official departmental representative to other City departments, City Managers Office, elected officials, and outside agencies; explains, justifies, and defends department programs, policies, and activities; and resolves sensitive, significant, and controversial issues; makes presentations to a variety of audiences; communicates with the media as needed.
Negotiates and resolves issues highly sensitive cross departmental and/or external issues in a tactful and diplomatic manner; establishes and maintains working relationships with a variety of citizens and interest groups.
Identifies and resolves performance and process gaps; initiates and participates in policy development, and continuous improvement of work culture.
Oversees and participates in the analysis, development, and administration of assigned budget, monitors and approves expenditures, and ensures budget compliance; recommends efficiencies.
Serves as division representative and advisor to management; serves in lieu of Director as needed; assists the Director and Assistant Director of Administration in providing operational direction to achieve departmental goals and objectives; develops short- and long-term goals, objectives, and strategic plans that consider their political, financial, operational, and social impact to the department and City.
Serves as the key interdepartmental liaison; Oversees the departments collaboration to ensure departmental policies and procedures are accurately communicated.
Supports the regulatory compliance and safety of the Solid Waste Services Department.
Typical Qualifications
Education and Experience
Bachelors Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Environmental Science or related field; 7 to 9 years experience in supervisory or managerial level solid waste management, or related work
OR
Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with refuse vehicle fleet operations and logistics.
Experience with NCDEQ permitting requirements.
Experience with OSHA and workplace safety requirements.
Experience with implementing technology enhancements to drive operational efficiencies.
Additional Information
Knowledge of:
Skill In:
ADA and Other Requirements:
Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of forcefrequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
Work Environment:
Work is typically performed in an office or similar indoor environment.?
Working Conditions:
Employees may occasionally interact with individuals who are hostile or irate,?or with individuals with known violent backgrounds.?
Cityof Raleigh is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.Accommodationsfor individuals with disabilitiesareprovided upon request.
When you join the City of Raleigh's work family as a full-time employee, your benefits are an important part of your "total rewards". Your benefits impact many aspects of your life including your health, your finances, and the protection of your family. The City provides a comprehensive benefits package as part of our total rewards program to support you through important events in your life, to enhance your life outside work, and to help you plan and prepare for the future.
To find out about the Citys benefits package, and other programs, please visit our Employee Benefits page: https://raleighnc.gov/services/jobs-and-volunteering/pay-and-benefits
The City employs temporary and seasonal employees who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are not eligible for the City of Raleigh's benefits.
01
Please select your highest level of education completed.
02
How much relevant or comparable work experience do you have in vehicle fleet operations?
03
Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from a position?
04
If you answered "yes" to being terminated or forced to resign, please provide an explanation and the date.
05
How many years of relevant work experience do you have in municipal government?
06
How many years of experience do you have with NCDEQ permitting requirements?
07
What experience do you have with refuse vehicle fleet operations and logistics?
08
How many years of experience do you have with OSHA and workplace safety requirements?
09
What experience do you have with implementing technology enhancements to drive operational efficiencies?
10
Do you currently hold a certification through the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) or equivalent professional organization?
Required Question
Employer City of Raleigh North Carolina
Address 222 W. Hargett St.
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601
Website https://raleighnc.gov