Program Assistant – Zero-waste Education

City of Fort Collins; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 34,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

City of Fort Collins seeks a Program Assistant – Zero-waste Education to support recycling education and outreach. The role involves planning events, creating educational materials, and coordinating behavior-change initiatives with bilingual outreach where possible.

The position requires strong communication, organization, and collaboration skills, with experience in sustainability education and public engagement. Hybrid/remote work options are limited by Colorado state operations.

Qualifications

• Experience in environmental sustainability education or outreach programs.
• Public speaking, community engagement, or organizing experience.
• Clear English writing; Spanish bilingual ability desirable.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to create educational materials.
• Empathy, listening, and willingness to learn new approaches.
• Commitment to equity and inclusive practices.
• Experience working with diverse communities.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork abilities.
• Excellent organizational skills; ability to track processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and related software.
• Adaptable to rapid changes in a city government environment.
• Self-directed, reliable, and positive team player.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute recycling and zero-waste education tactics, events, tours, newsletters, and printed materials.
• Coordinate behavior change initiatives across neighborhoods and housing complexes.
• Partner with communities; include English and Spanish outreach.
• Update recycling signage with City staff and track changes.
• Engage in team meetings and provide feedback.
• Measure and report the impacts of initiatives.

Skills

Environmental sustainability

Public speaking

English writing

Communication

Empathy & listening

Equity

Diversity experience

Interpersonal skills

Organization

Microsoft Office

Adaptability

Self-motivation

Education

High school diploma or GED

College coursework (education/sustainability)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Program Assistant – Zero-waste Education

POSITION TITLE: Program Assistant – Zero-waste Education (Hourly)
REQUISITION #: req8611
DEPARTMENT: Environmental Services
LOCATION: 222 LAPORTE
BENEFIT CATEGORY: Variable Hourly Hourly Employee Benefit Highlights
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Part-Time Hourly
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
HOURLY RATE: $25.00 - 32.00 per hour (based on relevant experience)
SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is 11:59 p.m. MT on 9/16/2026.
Post-Offer Requirements(Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)
The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.
While the City of Fort Collins offers many remote and/or hybrid positions, all remote or hybrid work must be performed in the state of Colorado.

At the City, we are focused on finding the strongest candidate for the role, and we recognize that excellence can come from a wide variety of experiences and paths. When reviewing applications, we consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and lived experiences that align with the minimum qualifications. If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to view your background broadly and highlight the skills and experiences that best prepare you for the role.

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

SUMMARY
This position provides community education and outreach support for recycling and other zero-waste initiatives conducted by the Environmental Services Department. The City of Fort Collins has a 2030 zero-waste goal as part of its Our Climate Future plan and strives to inspire people in our community to embrace the three pillars of sustainability (“Triple Bottom Line”).
The Program Assistant will coordinate aspects of community engagement and behavior change initiatives, including planning, communication, outreach and evaluation. This position works in collaboration with City staff, partners, contractors, and community members to develop and implement programs that increase recycling participation and support zero-waste goals. The ideal candidate will be capable of coordinating multiple concurrent projects, fostering strong partnerships, and creating meaningful educational materials and programs that encourage sustainable behaviors.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Plan, coordinate and implement recycling and other zero-waste education tactics, including events, presentations, facility tours, newsletters, mailers, bill inserts, and other printed materials.
2. Organize and coordinate targeted behavior change initiatives, including in various neighborhoods, multi-family complexes, and mobile home parks.
   • Collaborate with community members and organizations to gather feedback, design outreach, and implement chosen strategies.
   • Working with folks ideally in both English and Spanish.
3. Organize and coordinate recycling signage updates.
   • Collaborate with other City staff to plan, execute and track updates of recycling signage around the City.
4. Contribute to a thriving team environment by actively participating in team meetings, practicing open communication, and giving and receiving timely feedback.
5. Track, evaluate and report on impacts of initiatives.

SUPERVISORYRESPONSIBILITIES
This position is not responsible for the supervision of City employee(s).

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the functions of this position.

KNOWLEDGE,SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Experience and interest in environmental sustainability and sustainability education.
• Experience with public speaking, community engagement, and/or community organizing.
• Ability to write in English clearly and articulately. Ability to read, write and speak Spanish is desirable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to creatively make educational material and deliver presentations to groups on occasion.
• Demonstrated proficiency in empathy and listening. Desire to learn and willingness to try new things.
• Understands and adheres to the concept of equity as a process and outcome.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to collaborate effectively.
• Strong organizational skills. Ability to track processes and results in a consistent manner.
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications, spreadsheets, and computer systems.
• Adaptable and able to work in a rapidly changing work environment.
• Self-directed, quick learner, responsible, dedicated, uses good judgment, positive attitude, and a good team-player.

EDUCATIONand EXPERIENCE:
Preferred: College-level or technical school course work in education, environmental studies, sustainability, or related study area with minimum of one year of related job experience performing education, outreach or community engagement, preferably in a team environment.
Minimum: High school graduate or general education degree (GED) with 2 years of work experience and knowledge of sustainability.

Note: Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

LANGUAGESKILLS: Ability to verbally communicate with multiple audiences. Ability to effectively present concepts and respond appropriately to questions. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical information. Ability to write reports and correspondence in a concise, clear, and impactful manner.

REASONINGABILITY: Ability to interpret a variety of instructions supplied in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to define and solve problems, collect data from internal and external customers, and apply this to achieve outstanding service.

CERTIFICATES,LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Not applicable.

PHYSICALDEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk and talk or hear. The employee may lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The demands on the visual sense are very high.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call [phone] for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use: Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee’s protected status, or any behavior that violates this policy.

Consistent with the City’s respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.

The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City’s commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.

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