Landfill Systems Technician

City of Santa Maria; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santa Maria is seeking a Landfill Systems Technician to oversee gas collection and leachate systems in the Solid Waste Division. This Individual Contributor role supports regulatory compliance and efficient landfill operations, recording data and coordinating with teams.

Ideal candidates bring hands-on troubleshooting skills, safety focus, and document-reading accuracy. This position emphasizes reliability and teamwork within a municipal utilities setting on the central coast.

Qualifications

• Strong team orientation and customer focus required.
• High school diploma; preferred coursework in environmental topics or safety.
• Experience or training in landfill gas or regulatory compliance is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee landfill gas collection and control systems operations and monitoring.
• Record readings, inspections, and maintenance activities accurately.
• Troubleshoot piping, pumps, meters, electrical panels, and related equipment.
• Coordinate with operations and regulatory teams on compliance tasks.
• Possibly operate heavy equipment during staffing shortages.
• Maintain regular attendance and professional conduct.

Skills

Team Player

Customer Orientation

Integrity

Communicativeness

Initiative

Composure

Problem Solving

Learning Agility

Drive/Energy

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

***This recruitment may close ahead of schedule if 50 applications are submitted before the application deadline***

WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO

The City of Santa Maria is a full-service city with a Council/Manager form of government with over 700 employees and serves approximately 110,000 residents. The City is located on California’s central coast and covers over 23 square miles, which balances urban and agricultural lands.

The Utilities Department is responsible for providing water, wastewater treatment, sewer collection, refuse collection, and disposal services to Santa Maria. The Mission Statement of the Utilities Department is to provide efficient utility services through the use of progressive innovation, excellent customer service, and the wise use of public resources for the long-term benefit of the community.

SUMMARY

Under general direction of assigned supervisor, responsible for the planning, assigning, and oversight of operations and maintenance of the landfill gas collection and control systems, leachate collection systems, NHIS collection systems, and other activities to support regulatory compliance and site operations. Supervision is not normally a responsibility of this classification but may act as lead worker for temporarily-assigned employees or special projects.

The position is an Individual Contributor role that provides critical field compliance activities to ensure regulatory-compliant landfill operations. Their role enables the city to provide the community’s most essential and basic refuse service in the most efficient, cost-effective and courteous manner possible.

THE POSITION

The City of Santa Maria is recruiting for a Landfill Systems Technician in the Solid Waste Division of the Utilities Department. The Solid Waste Division manages the collection of refuse, including solid waste, recycling, green waste, and organics, and operates the Santa Maria Regional Landfill, including the Household Hazardous Waste Facility and Recycling Park.

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience operating, monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting landfill gas collection and control systems, including gas wells, piping, flares, blowers, and monitoring equipment, and leachate collection systems. The candidate demonstrates strong mechanical troubleshooting skills, a commitment to workplace safety and environmental compliance, and the ability to accurately document system readings, inspections, and maintenance activities.

REQUIRED SUBMITTALS

1. Online application
2. Cover letter that explains how your experience and background align with the Ideal Candidate Statement (a resume will not be accepted as a substitute)

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION: See Landfill Heavy Equipment Operator II

These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and organization. This position:

• Operates, inspects, monitors, and maintains the landfill gas collection and control systems, leachate collection systems, and other regulatory support activities.
• Monitors perimeter probes and records flare readings and documents field-collected data and observations.
• Troubleshoots and repairs piping, pumps, meters, electrical panels, tanks, equipment, controls, compressors, valves, and records any maintenance performed on the systems.
• May perform and/or coordinate other related maintenance activities and repair work associated with the onsite buildings and/or related facilities.
• Maintain regular communication and coordination with landfill operations and regulatory compliance teams.
• May operate heavy equipment and/or operate grade control and GPS survey systems as required for operational needs during staffing shortages
• Scope of assigned area will depend on departmental structure and is at the discretion of thedepartment director.
• Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance.

Individual Contributor:

Incumbents should have a solid foundation of the following core competencies identified by the organization to be essential and listed in order of importance (see the full definition: Individual Contributor Competencies)

• Team Player - Effective performers are team oriented, share resources, respond to requests, and support a spirit of cooperative effort.
• Customer Orientation - Effective performers are in touch with community needs and review the organization through the eyes of Santa Maria residents. They go out of their way to anticipate needs.
• Integrity - Effective performers think and act ethically and honestly, take responsibility for their actions and foster a work environment where integrity is rewarded.
• Communicativeness - Effective performers recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange and the competitive advantage it brings. They actively seek information from a variety of sources and disseminate it in a variety of ways. They use modern technologies to access and circulate information, even across great distances. They take responsibility for ensuring that their people have the current and accurate information needed for success.
• Initiative - Effective performers are proactive and take action without being prompted. They do not wait to be told what to do or when to do it. They see a need, take responsibility, and act on it. They make things happen.
• Composure - Effective performers maintain emotional control, even under ambiguous or stressful circumstances, and demonstrate emotions appropriate to the situation.
• Functional/Technical Expertise - Effective performers are knowledgeable and skilled in a functional specialty (e.g., finance, public works, planning, information technology, human resources, etc.), and remain current in their area of expertise.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making - Effective performers identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.
• Learning Agility - Effective performers continuously seek new knowledge, are curious, learn quickly, and use new information effectively.
• Drive/Energy - Effective performers have a high level of energy and are ambitious and passionate about their role. They have stamina and endurance to maintain a fast pace.

• Ideally, three years of experience in landfill operations, construction, or solid waste disposal operations of similar size to the City’s landfill operations; and
• Graduation from high school. College coursework or certification in landfill gas (LFG), air quality, environmental compliance, or related fields is desired.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above; and
• Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
  • Regulatory requirements to operate a sanitary landfill.
  • Safe procedures in operating heavy equipment.
  • Effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent).
  • Effective use of computer and other office equipment.
• Required licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment:
  • Valid Class “B” Driver’s License. Must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record and meet City liability requirements to drive for City business.
  • Completion of SWANA Landfill Gas Basics Training, or other equivalent training as determined by the Department, within six months of hire.
• May be required to obtain immunizations for Hepatitis A and B.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Possession of a valid and appropriate Driver’s License. Must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record and meet City liability requirements to drive for City business.
• Under the Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Program, successfully complete a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening and submit to random drug and/or alcohol testing throughout employment with the City.
• Requires completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the City.
• The incumbent must meet the physical requirements of the job class and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

• May require completion of a pre-employment physical to the satisfaction of the City.
• Reasonable accommodation(s) for an individual with a qualified disability will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

APPLICATION RANKING

The complete application packet, which consists of the online application and cover letter, will be evaluated and scored. An applicant's final ranking on the eligibility list will be determined by their submitted application materials. The Hiring Department will interview selected candidates from the eligibility list who best meet its needs.

If you are experiencing any technical (computer-related) difficulties or need help with attaching documents to your application, call the NEOGOV helpline for assistance at 1-855-524-5627.