Metro Waste Prevention Outreach Manager (Close Nov. 16)

Salary $97,124.00 - $137,945.00 Annually

Location Portland, OR

Job Type Full Time

Remote Employment Flexible/Hybrid

Department Waste Prevention and Environmental Services

Job Number 2022-1510-WPES

Closing 11/16/2022 5:00 PM Pacific

Position summary

Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow. We offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits program. Learn more about the benefits Metro offers. 
 
About Waste Prevention and Environmental Services (WPES) Leadership 
WPES is committed to leading with equity in everything we do. We are guided by the 2030 Regional Waste Plan, which is focused on advancing racial equity, reducing the environmental and health impacts of products, maintaining, and improving our garbage and recycling system, and rectifying the historic and ongoing inequities of that system on communities of color and others in our region.
 
We seek leaders who are human-centered, self-aware, transparent, authentic and adaptable, and who inspire, motivate, and empower others to continuously develop, learn, and grow. If you are committed to advancing racial equity and dismantling systems that oppress people of color and other disadvantaged communities, and to fostering increased livability, sustainability and justice throughout the region, we invite you to join us in this critical work.
 
This position will be part of the Community Services and Education Division (CSE). CSE is responsible for reducing the impacts of waste through education, technical assistance, and partnerships.  The person in this job will lead the Recycling Information Center (RIC).   The RIC includes a fully staffed call center as well as a suite of online (website, social media, and email assistance), print and media services including outreach with television networks.  RIC staff may also support in-person educational services through community events and classes in collaboration with other WPES youth and adult programs. These efforts require using a racial equity lens to address barriers that have historically limited communities of color and residents for whom English is not their primary language from accessing RIC resources and services.  

Additionally, this position will serve a lead role in providing convenient, accessible, and equitable collection of hazardous waste, prioritizing communities with the greatest need.  Specifically, the RIC Manager will support planning, implementation, and evaluation of both small-scale neighborhood hazardous waste collection events as well as larger regional scale events and related services.  This will include close collaboration and alignment with multiple internal and external partners including WPES’s Garbage and Recycling Operations Division, local governments, and community partners.  
 
The person in this job has the opportunity to advance Metro’s goals around healthy communities and public service. They will also be instrumental in planning efforts that achieve community education goals in our guiding document, the 2030 Regional Waste Plan (https://www.oregonmetro.gov/regional-waste-plan).
 
As the Waste Prevention Outreach Manager you will:

  • Provide all aspects of supervision for a team consisting of one lead worker, five full-time staff and five variable hour (part-time) staff

  • Support an inclusive work culture through mentoring, identifying opportunities for staff growth, and fostering positive relationships

  • In collaboration with other departments, plan and implement program short and long-term goals, service level standards/metrics, and equitable access and services

  • Act as liaison between internal and external groups who interact with the RIC, such as Metro transfer stations, garbage haulers, and local governments

  • Act as a point person for communications when there are emergencies that impact garbage and recycling services

  • Be responsible for the effective day-to-day operation of systems that the team uses, such as Lumen, the Find a Recycler web tool, Recycling Information Center explorer, Google analytics, and the Power BI (business intelligence) reporting dashboard

  • Promote respect for diversity, equity and inclusion as a key organizational value through leadership and decision-making process. Ensure that educational resources are culturally responsive and relevant.

  • Lead planning efforts to ensure that online, phone, and community services meet the dynamic needs of the region as it relates to recycling and reuse

  • Be responsible for ensuring that Metro events in the community to collect household hazardous waste are accessible to everyone in the region

  • Ensure that information, community outreach, and collection events are centered around customers who face the greatest barriers to accessing garbage and recycling services

We are looking for a candidate who:

  • Is passionate about managing people and who views a team’s success as their success and centers the wellbeing of the employees they supervise; Is human-centered, transparent, and adaptable

  • Is excited about learning, teamwork, and being an active participant in a manager team

  • Has a track record of meeting customer needs and responding quickly to problems

  • Has experience with budget preparation, expenditure control, and contract procurement, management and administration.

  • Is comfortable managing the contracts for and the operation of multiple call center, data analysis, and reporting tools

  • Has experience providing direct customer service or technical assistance and a willingness to do so as needed

  • Has successfully led longer-term or strategic planning efforts

  • Has experience managing through transition and is comfortable (even excited about) change; looks for opportunities to innovate

  • Has a clear sense of how centering racial equity and inclusion is important in this job

  • Has experience with trauma-informed customer service

Diversity and inclusion: At Metro, we’re committed to hiring a workforce representative of the communities we serve, recognizing that a diverse workforce strengthens our organization. We invest in employees by supporting equitable and inclusive hiring practices, employee policies and training programs.

TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications:
We will consider any combination of education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. For example:

  • Bachelor’s degree in related field such as public administration or environmental science and

  • Two years of experience working in community-focused, customer service role, and

  • Three years supervisory experience or,

  • Any combination of experience, education and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential job duties.

This is a full-time, salaried job that is typically Monday-Friday. Occasional weekend and evening work is required to attend community events, or when emergency communication is required.

Most work can be performed remotely (only in OR or WA), with occasional in-person work required for partner or community meetings or team meetings.

COVID-19 vaccination requirement:
Metro is committed to ensuring the health and safety for our employees and our community. As a part of this commitment, Metro has implemented a vaccine requirement policy for employees, paid and unpaid interns and volunteers.

Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is considered a minimum qualification requirement for Metro job applicants. This proof will be requested during the hiring process.

If you require an accommodation under this policy for a medical condition or disability, or sincerely held religious belief, please email benefits.help@oregonmetro.gov.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply:
If I was terminated for cause during any of my employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, I understand I may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications:
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

  • Experience with any of the tools used in the Recycling Information Center (RIC) regularly: Lumen, Google Analytics, Power BI

  • Experience managing a fast-paced, front-line work group

  • Experience managing in the field of garbage and recycling or community engagement and outreach

COMPENSATION AND REPRESENTATION

Based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements, Metro’s internal equity review process, and the candidates’ qualifications, the appointment will typically be made between $97,124.00 to $117,535.00. The full-salary range for this position is $97, 124.00 to $137, 945.00 annually.

This position is not eligible for overtime, and is non-represented. It is classified as Waste Prevention Outreach Manager (Download PDF reader). Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

  • A completed online application

  • A cover letter, no more than 2 pages, letting us know:

    1. Why you are interested in the job, and

    2. Which of the candidate characteristics from the job announcement you are uniquely qualified to bring to the role.

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

  • Initial review of minimum qualifications

  • In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates

  • Consideration of top candidates/interviews

  • Reference check

  • Background, driving records check for finalist candidate

Additional Information

Questions?
Recruiter: Carrie Gundermann
Email: carrie.gundermann@oregonmetro.gov
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
COVID-19 safety: The health and safety of our employees and community is a top priority for Metro. Employees will be required to follow all Metro COVID-related policies and procedures, which may meet or exceed guidelines set forth by the CDC, Oregon Health Authority, and other federal, state and local jurisdictions. Learn more at oregonmetro.gov/COVID-19.
 
Equal employment opportunity:  All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made or any other status protected by law. Assistance will be gladly provided upon request for any applicant with sensory or non-sensory disabilities.
 
Online applications: Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, call 503-797-1570.
 
Accommodation: Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this process. To obtain confidential assistance please contact Human Resources 503-797-1570.
 
Pay equity at Metro: Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.
 
Public Employees Retirement System (PERS): Unless otherwise stated in a collective bargaining agreement, Metro pays both the employee and employer portion of PERS contributions for eligible employees.  
 
Veterans' preference: Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.