Operations Manager

SummaryThe Solid Waste Division (SWD) of King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is seeking an innovative seasoned strategic leader for its Operations Section. This member of the senior management team will report to the Deputy Division Director and will lead a talented staff of about 300 employees working in fifteen trades positions, front-line supervisors, technical leads, and professional and administrative staff. Operations Section staff are represented by nine collective bargaining agreements. The Operations Manager directly supervises the Assistant Operations Managers and Operations Supervisors.The Operations Manager manages and oversees all solid waste operations at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, 8 transfer stations, 2 rural drop boxes and 10 custodial closed landfills, including responsibility for transportation of solid waste, scale operations/customer transactions and the maintenance shops.Who may apply: This position is open to all qualified candidates.Forms and Materials required: Applicants must submit a (1) King County application form, (2)resume, and (3) letter of interest detailing your background and describing how your education and experience meets the qualifications and has prepared you to perform the essential functions of the job.Selection process: The selection process may involve an initial telephone interview, in-person interviews and written exercise.Work Location: Cedar Hills Regional Landfill – 16645 228th Ave SE, Maple Valley, WAWork Schedule:This position works a 40-hour work week, Monday through Friday with some evening and weekend work as required. This position is exempt from FLSA provisions and is not overtime eligible.About Solid Waste Division:It is an exciting time for the Solid Waste team, a division of the Department of Natural Resources & Parks. Our 400+ employees have earned a reputation for being innovators and leaders within our industry, but our landscape is changing. As a result, we are in the midst of creating our future focused on three lines of business–waste prevention, resource recovery, and waste disposal. This innovation is backed by an ambitious six-year capital program totaling nearly a half-billion dollars, and a biennial operating budget of over three-hundred million. Our business is operated as an enterprise fund where we depend solely upon our revenue generation to fund our operations and environmental mission. The SWD Team comprises diverse talent ranging from heavy equipment operators and landfill technicians to marketing specialist and environmental scientists and engineers. Approximately 25 percent of the Solid Waste employees are teleworking under the innovative GreenWhereWeWork program initiated for environmental advantages and to reduce our department’s carbon footprint. However, onsite “hotel” workspaces, conference rooms and collaboration spaces are located throughout DNRP’s network of work of facilities, including King Street Center in Seattle, to enable employees to meet in person when necessary. The remainder are Operations employees who work at the County’s eight Recycling and Transfer Stations, 2 Drop Box locations, 960-acre active landfill and seven closed landfills. We partner with private industry, labor unions and local government to deliver value to our customers. We are currently in the design phase of our new South County Recycling and Transfer Station to replace the existing and aging Algona Transfer Station and have initiated the process to locate a new Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station to replace the Houghton Transfer Station in Kirkland. The 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (Comp Plan) authorized the SWD to proceed with the 9th and final disposal cell at Cedar Hills Regional Landfill to ensure long-term disposal capacity for our solid waste customers.Our VisionWe achieve zero waste of resources and enhance the environment through collaboration and innovation.Our MissionWe bring the best people together to deliver value to our customers and stakeholders and continuously improve waste prevention, resource recovery and waste disposal.Example of Job Duties:* Provide leadership in overall operation and administration of a regional solid waste transfer and disposal system, including operation of an active landfill, transfer facilities, transportation of solid waste between transfer facilities and the landfill, and custodial responsibilities for closed landfills, including:o Landfill Operations – Responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Cedar Hills Landfill, wastewater, landfill gas programs, and 10 closed custodial landfills in King County. Participates in planning & development of landfill sites & related public engagement activities.o Recycle and Transfer Operations – Responsible for operation and maintenance of 8 transfer stations and two rural drop boxes. Manages scale operations/customer transactions.o Transportation Program – Oversee the Division’s transportation program, ensuring the efficient, safe and environmentally sound transport of solid waste from outlying transfer facilities to the Cedar Hills Landfill.o Maintenance Shops – Oversee the overall performance and program safety of the maintenance shops. Oversee implementation and administration of the operating and preventive maintenance plans necessary to ensure the physical, structural, environmental and operational integrity of the 10 transfer facilities, the transportation fleet and all operating equipment.* Participate in all Labor Management Committees (LMCs) representing SWD Management position while being sensitive to Labor’s issues and concerns.* Ensure and facilitate positive and open communication with all Operations work groups, and other SWD sections.* Track and report on existing key performance indices to measure and improve systems and operational efficiencies (e.g., overload trailers, Happy or Not, GETS) and follow up when goals are not met.* Receive, investigate, and respond to citizen inquiries and complaints.* Oversee the implementation of processes necessary to ensure the physical, structural, environmental and operational integrity of the landfill, structures, transfer facilities, drop boxes, and shop operations.* Ensure all operations meet or exceed vital public health, safety and environmental codes and regulations.* Provide problem solving and decision-making support for employee/labor relation issues.* Investigate employee grievances and complaints, and conduct fact- finding hearings in disciplinary matters with Human Resources guidance promptly.* Ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws, and county policies and procedures.* Work with direct reports to develop accountability agreements/goals for each year, track and record progress towards meeting those agreements/goals, and conduct performance evaluations in accordance with the required schedule provided by SWD Human Resources.* Ensure Operations staff participate in CIP and facilities O&M planning, design and implementation/execution to help ensure Operations’ goals and objectives are included and desired results achieved.* Administer and monitor the Operations’ budget and assist as needed with developing the biennial budget.* Supervise the work of the Operations staff members. Oversee the hiring processes and ensure that panels reflect diversity and include members of stakeholder groups, as appropriate.* Develop staff by providing mentoring, coaching, and training.* Participate as a contributing member on the Solid Waste Division Management Team (SWDMT) providing leadership to the division establishing the strategic direction of the division.* Other duties as assigned.Required Skills:* Documented work experience demonstrating collaborative communication and interpersonal skills to lead, coordinate and assist work groups or individuals.* Demonstrated experience in successfully working with multi-disciplinary project teams and individuals with diverse backgrounds.* Ability to effectively engage in and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures, professional background, and socio-economic backgrounds.* Competent in Conflict Management, Problem Solving and dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.Our Ideal Candidate Will Have:* At least 5 years of experience in leading, planning and managing work teams and processes in landfill or transfer station operations, or other industrial, distribution or manufacturing environment.* Minimum of 2 years of experience working in facility controlled by Federal, State, County, and City regulations related to air and water quality, environmental permits and safety.* Highly developed communication and engagement skills that effectively provide opportunities for employees to inform strategies and inspire shared ownership to the organizations vision, mission, and values.* Documented experience and success in developing highly effective work teams, implementing continuous improvement and championing cultural change within a large and diverse organization.* Experience successfully leading a diverse, geographically dispersed, and represented workforce, ranging from industrial workers to administrative and professional staff.* Experience demonstrating the ability to analyze and remedy technical, organizational and interpersonal conflicts and make sound business decisions to address & improve organizational performance.* Experience in a leadership role that required making decisions where conflicting opinions exist regarding priorities, political issues, and historical and situational factors.* Demonstrated skills in working in a unionized workplace and ability to work with union shop stewards skillfully without compromising operational efficiency.And, Will Be Competent In:* Problem-solving, dealing with ambiguity, directing others, conflict management, customer focus, managing diversity, motivating others, building effective teams, integrity and trust, command skills, and interpersonal savvy.The Most Competitive Candidates Will Possess:* Manager of Landfill Operations (MOLO) Certification* Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) CertificationContact Information: For questions regarding this announcement, please contact Jemima McMahon at jemima.mcmahon@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-4002. Supplemental InformationForbes recently named King County as one of Washington State’s best employers.Together, with leadership and our employees, we’re changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation’s best places to live, work and play.Guided by our “True North”, we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles–we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) EmployerNo person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.To ApplyIf you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.