Director of Sustainable Materials Management
US Lawns
A complete application in a minute
Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The City of Newton seeks a Director to develop and direct its waste programs, including trash, recycling, yard waste, and street sweeping. You will lead source reduction, manage contracts, and oversee budgets while driving educational efforts with residents and departments.
Responsibilities include grant administration, liaison with federal/state agencies, and policy development to advance Newton’s sustainability goals. Strong leadership and public service commitment are essential.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, or related field.
- 5–10 years of public sector experience in sustainability or solid waste management.
- 5 years of management/supervisory experience; union experience preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong presentation skills.
Responsibilities
- Manage staff and operations at recycling centers and waste collection.
- Administer solid waste contracts and budgets.
- Provide resident and stakeholder education on recycling and sustainability.
- Develop and implement a solid waste master plan and policy guidance.
- Coordinate with agencies and other municipalities on waste issues.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The Director is responsible for developing, managing, and directing the City’s waste programs including trash, recycling, yard waste, compost, household hazardous waste, electronic waste, street sweepings, and other forms of waste. The Director leads programs related to waste minimalization, source reduction, and other efforts to reduce the amount of residential waste generated in the City, and to maximize the amount and percentage of waste that is recycled throughout the City.
Performs professional office and administrative duties requiring mature and independent judgment and initiative to analyze, solve problems and make decisions based on departmental and city policies and procedures. Exercises considerable judgment and initiative in performing duties.
Position reports to the Commissioner of Public Works, operating with minimal supervision. Operates inaccordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations, department policies and procedures, requiring the ability to plan and perform operations to independently complete assigned tasks according to a prescribed time schedule.Incumbent independently establishes own daily work plan based on regular routine and special assignments.
Provides supervision and/or general direction to clerical staff of lower grade and function. Provides direction, control and monitoring of a major division, highly technical section, multiple operating divisions or a department. Includes responsibility for budget administration and cost control.
(The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)
Manages all staff and operations at the Rumford Ave Recycling Center, the Yard Waste Collection operation, and for all of the City’s Street Sweeping operations.
Manages the operations of daily solid waste collections including curbside, recycling centers and waste depots to ensure work is performed according to the contract and in the most efficient manner.
Administers the City’s solid waste contracts and manages vendors and contractors.
Responsible for the division’s operating, capital, and grant budgets.
Provides educational trainings and materials to residents, schools, and city departments to support Newton’s Green Initiatives including reductions in waste, proper recycling practices, etc.
Applies for grants and financial assistance from state agencies and other possible sources and manages grants as they are awarded.
Liaison with federal, state, regional agencies and other municipalities on solid waste issues.
Coordinates with city officials on environmental issues affecting the City such as water, air, natural resources, and beautification.
Submits routine reports on disposal tonnage, costs, resource recovery center usage, or any other parameters as needed.
Provides advice to the City and Legal department to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Attends public meetings or committee meetings as they pertain to the Sustainable Materials division.
Responds to residents or business with questions or concerns about waste management practices.
Familiar with the science and technology of Environmental Sustainability and Solid Waste Management.
Understands and stay current with the economics and business of waste and recycling and works with city officials to negotiate contracts with vendors.
Recommends and advises on policy related to all solid waste issues.
Develops and implements a solid waste master plan that sets forth policies and procedures, accountabilities, goals and metrices for minimizing waste and maximizing reuse and recycling.
Analyzes citywide data to improve operations, efficiencies and possible cost savings related to sustainable materials management.
Stays current on all federal, state, local, and regional policies and trends related to the management of waste.
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, or related field. 5-10 years of experience in a public setting related to Environmental Sustainability, Solid waste/Recycling Management or Government Administration is strongly preferred. 5 years Management/Supervisory experience, experience with managing union employees preferred.
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and strong presentation skills. A strong commitment to public service required.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to work under pressure. Proficient knowledge of office practices and procedures, equipment and clerical techniques, including a variety of software applications.
Position requires the ability to comprehend the scope of laws, rules and regulations pertaining to specialty area. Ability to organize time, work independently and accomplish tasks despite frequent interruptions. Ability to maintain detailed and extensive records and to prepare reports from same. Ability to work effectively under time constraints to meet deadlines. Ability to deal tactfully and appropriately with the general public and City departments in an effective manner. Ability to interpret and follow departmental procedures and guidelines.
Advanced administrative skills. Expertise and skill in using personal computers, word processing, database and spreadsheet applications.
(The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
Work is performed under typical office conditions; work environments is moderately noisy. Operates a computer, telephone, copier, facsimile machine, printer, and other standard office equipment.
Makes frequent contacts with other City departments/boards/committees, and with the general public; communicates in person, by telephone and via standard reports. Contacts require moderate persuasiveness and resourcefulness to influence the behavior of others.
May have access to department-level and City-wide confidential information.
Errors could result in significant confusion and delay, loss of department services; errors could cause exposure for the City to legal liabilities.
Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.
(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)
The anticipated starting salary for this position will generally fall within a portion of the posted pay range. Initial placement will be based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and other relevant factors.
(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)
The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.
Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Marc C. Laredo was sworn in on January 1, 2026 after serving on the City Council. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.
The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings.
We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:
- Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
- Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
- Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
- Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
- Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
- Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.
The targeted salary range reflects what the City of Newtonreasonably and in good faith expects to offer for this position at the time of posting, but the final salary determination may be within or outside this range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and market factors. The range will be reviewed regularly and is subject to change.
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 457 Deferred Compensation plans
- Metro Credit Union
- Verizon Wireless discount
- Employee Assistance Program
- Generous paid leave time benefits and paid holidays.
- City Retirement (Mandatory)
- Weekly Direct Deposit
- Opportunity to serve the public and join a dynamic team of dedicated employees
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
