City of Seattle, WA

Position Description

Are you a systems thinker interested in advancing Zero Waste? Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is seeking a strategic and resourceful Solid Waste Lead Planner (Strategic Advisor 2, Utils BU-L21) skilled in project management to help the City further its Zero Waste vision. This position is being offered as a Temporary (external) or Out-of-Class (OOC internal) opportunity and will work closely with SPU and City leadership and policy, program, and climate subject matter experts to drive strategic implementation of the City’s 2022 Solid Waste Plan Update: Moving Upstream to Zero Waste and SPU’s 2021-6 Strategic Business Plan. This work will 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.

This Temp or OOC Solid Waste Lead Planner will develop models, strategic frameworks, policy briefs, budget analyses, and other tools and resources to support strategic implementation and resourcing of the City's Solid Waste plans. This work will also represent the Solid Waste Branch on citywide planning projects, prepare the Annual Waste Prevention & Recycling Report, and manage compliance with the City’s annual recycling reporting requirement. The position with will work closely with the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) Coordinator to facilitate inclusive community engagement of the SWAC on solid waste programs and policy.

This Temp or OOC Solid Waste Lead Planner will also lead coordination of the planning efforts by the Hazardous Waste Management Program (HWMP) to ensure that solid waste and hazardous waste management efforts complement each other.

This opportunity is expected to last through March/April 2025 and will report to the Solid Waste Planning, Performance & Analytics Manager. 

This is open to ALL qualified candidates.

About Seattle Public Utilities: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU’s work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.

For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), checkout the: 

• SPU Website 
• SPU Workplace Expectations (Download PDF reader) 
• Strategic Business Plan 

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. 

Job Responsibilities

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with subject matter experts across SPU, the City, and externally to provide strategic leadership and support for advancing Seattle’s Zero Waste vision. Some of the job responsibilities you’d have will include the following: 

Solid Waste Plan Update: Moving Upstream to Zero Waste (2022 Plan Update)?Implementation and Other Strategic Planning and Implementation Activities 

• Facilitate implementation of the 2022 Plan Update recommendations by developing tools and resources such as models, strategic frameworks, communications tools, and presentations that enhance SPU’s ability to prioritize solid waste strategies and tactics. 
• Provide leadership, focus and direction to cross-functional or departmental teams to achieve important City objectives related to the City's five solid waste focus areas. 
• Lead development and coordination of solid waste elements of planning documents such as the SPU 2025-2030 Strategic Business Plan and the One Seattle Plan. 
• Prepare memos, reports, briefing papers, and presentations regarding solid waste programs, policies, and incentives to inform or advise SPU and City decision-makers. 
• Provide recommendations on the development of solid waste performance metrics and targets to measure the city’s progress advancing Zero Waste. 
• Develop and/or maintain SW Lead Planner-related and solid waste-planning references, documents, files, webpages, SharePoint sites, job aids, and fact sheets. 

Annual Waste Prevention & Recycling Report 

• Analyze solid waste tonnage and related 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. 

Annual Recycler Reporting & Licensing Requirements (SMC 6.250) 

• Administer the annual recycler reporting and licensing requirement by managing the project plan, timeline, communications, inspector training, and reporting compliance and licensing activities. 

Hazardous Waste Management Program (HWMP) Planning Efforts

• Coordinate with the planning efforts by the HWMP to ensure that solid waste and hazardous waste management efforts complement each other.
• Help facilitate collaboration between SPU and HWMP to ensure clear planning and communication coordination so that hazardous wastes are kept out of the garbage, recycling, and organic streams, and properly managed.

Qualifications

Position Requirement: At least seven (7) years progressively responsible program management and/or planning experience in a community-based organization, non-profit, government, or utility setting focused on sanitation, solid waste, or waste management. 

Combinations of appropriate education, training, certification, and experience(s) 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, innovative approaches, and a drive to partner with and empower others to succeed. You don’t have to meet all of what's desired below, but the ideal candidate will excel in more than a few areas. 

1. Persuasive writer and communicator. Can produce and deliver a persuasive policy brief, concise strategic framework, communication tools and/or exciting power point and clear messaging that gets community, policymakers, and/or businesses to yes!
2. 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. 
3. 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. 
4. Patiently Fierce 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.
5. 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. 
6. Adaptive and Flexible Connector. Able to identify the need for and cultivate partnerships with other departments, agencies and business who may be better positioned to respond to a community priority than SPU. 

Please note this job posting is not designed to cover or contain the complete listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change as conditions require.

Additional Information

How to Apply: 

In addition to fully completing the online application, we require candidates to attach a resume and cover letter. Your cover letter should address how your knowledge, skills and experience(s) relate to this position. 

The full salary range for this position is $44.71 per hour - $67.09 per hour.

Workplace Environment (*Telework Expectation):

This position allows for the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees will be required to come into the office twice a week. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.

Who may apply: This position is open to all qualified external candidates, and/or internal candidates within the City of Seattle.

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.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, 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

If you have any questions, please contact Heather Baldwin-Stewart at Heather.Baldwin-Stewart@seattle.gov. 

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday 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: 

"Most" Employees Plans - Human Resources | seattle.gov

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