Commercial Refuse & Recycling Services Manager - Commercial Refuse Division

City of Savannah; Garden City (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Savannah seeks an experienced leader for the Commercial Refuse & Recycling Services Manager role. The incumbent will direct daily operations of the division, oversee refuse, recycling, and litter removal programs, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

A strong emphasis on people leadership, decision-making, and operational excellence is required. The ideal candidate has a background in solid waste operations, a relevant degree, and the ability to mentor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field.
• Three years of experience in solid waste operations, transportation, or logistics, including two years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Responsibilities

• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, handling employee concerns, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing performance appraisals.
• Coordinates, assigns and reviews work; establishes schedules; maintains standards; monitors progress; inspects completed work; provides guidance.
• Manages daily operations of Commercial Refuse and Recycling operations.
• Manages daily operations of litter removal from city right-of-ways.
• Monitors the city's 311 system for orders processing and completion.
• Reviews revenue reports and coordinates with Utility Services to reduce delinquent accounts.
• Prepares monthly division activity reports.
• Investigates and resolves customer concerns and complaints.
• Prepares and manages the division budget.
• Maintains inventory of recycling carts.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Operational Excellence

People Leadership

Independent Decision-Making

Professional Maturity

Accountability & Ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field

Job description

Commercial Refuse & Recycling Services Manager

The City of Savannah is seeking an experienced and results-oriented Commercial Refuse, Recycling & Litter Manager to lead the daily operations of its Commercial Refuse and Recycling Services Division. This position is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and effective commercial refuse, recycling & litter services while building a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned operations leader who excels at managing people, making sound decisions, resolving employee issues, and empowering supervisors to take ownership of their responsibilities. This is an opportunity for a leader who enjoys developing others, improving processes, and creating a high-performing team.

Desired Leadership Attributes.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Operational Excellence – Proven experience leading field operations with a focus on efficiency, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• People Leadership – Strong employee relations skills with the ability to coach, mentor, counsel, and develop employees while addressing difficult personnel issues professionally.
• Independent Decision-Making – Confidence to make sound operational and employee-related decisions, solve problems proactively, and empower supervisors to do the same.
• Professional Maturity – The ability to remain calm under pressure, manage diverse personalities, resolve conflict effectively, and lead with integrity and consistency.
• Accountability & Ownership – A commitment to executing policies, establishing clear expectations, holding employees accountable, and building a culture where supervisors confidently lead their teams.

• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
• Coordinates, assigns and reviews work and establishes work schedules; maintains standards; monitors status of work in progress; inspects completed work assignments; answers questions; gives advice and direction as needed.
• Manages daily operations of Commercial Refuse and Recycling operations.
• Manages daily operations of litter removal from city right-of-ways.
• Monitors the city's 311 system that orders are processed and completed.
• Reviews revenue reports and coordinates with Utility Services to reduce or eliminate delinquent accounts.
• Prepares monthly reports on division activity.
• Investigates and resolves customer concerns and complaints.
• Prepares and manages the division budget.
• Maintains inventory of recycling carts.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field, and three (3) years experience in solid waste operations, transportation, or logistics, including two (2) year in a lead or supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Additional Requirements

Background investigation, including supervised drug screen, post offer/pre-employment medical screen; and verification of education, certifications, and licenses required prior to employment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration.
• Knowledge of the activities of the departmental functional areas.
• Knowledge of city budgetary and purchasing policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of human resources principles, practices, and policies.
• Knowledge of solid waste equipment.
• Skill in developing short- and long-range plans.
• Skill in establishing priorities and organizing work.
• Skill in the resolution of conflicts.
• Skill in management and supervision.
• Skill in public and interpersonal relations.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

Minimum Standards

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The Director assigns work in terms of department goals and objectives. The work is reviewed through conferences, reports, audits, and observation of department activities.

GUIDELINES: Guidelines include Solid Waste Association of North America solid waste practices, EPD and EPA directives, DOT commercial hauling practices, and city and department policies and procedures. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application. This position develops department guidelines.

COMPLEXITY: The work consists of varied supervisory and administrative duties. Resolving customer complaints contributes to the complexity of the position.

SCOPE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this position is to direct, supervise, and administer the provision of commercial refuse, recycling, and litter collection services. Success in this position contributes to the provision of efficient and effective services.

PERSONAL CONTACTS: Contacts are typically with co-workers, other city employees, representatives of businesses, contractors, and members of the general public.

PURPOSE OF CONTACTS: Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, provide services, resolve problems, motivate personnel, and justify or defend matters.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table or while standing or walking.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work is typically performed in an office.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY: This position has direct supervision over Welder, Maintenance Worker, Senior Maintenance Worker, Heavy Equipment Operator, Administrative Clerk, Refuse Truck Operator, Sanitation Worker, Senior Sanitation Worker, and Sanitation Supervisor.