Re+ Commercial Circular Materials Program Manager

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading position as the Re+ Commercial Circular Materials Program Manager at King County, where you'll drive sustainable changes in waste management. This role focuses on collaboration, innovation, and ensuring compliance with environmental policies while helping businesses reduce waste. You'll play a crucial part in advancing King County’s Zero Waste goals, creating lasting positive impacts for the community.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits

Training opportunities

Flexible work schedule

Qualifications

• Demonstrated skill in providing program technical assistance.
• Strong project management skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and networking skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement zero waste technical assistance to businesses.
• Ensure compliance with solid waste policies.
• Analyze and compile data to report on program success.

Skills

Project management

Public speaking

Networking

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related field

Job description

Exciting opportunity for aRe+ Commercial Circular Materials Program Manager. Step into a game-changing role that drives commercial food waste prevention and diversion, propelling King County toward a future of zero food waste to landfill! This position is not just about reducing waste—it’s about leading the way in revolutionizing circular material management for commercial generators, creating sustainable systems that redefine how businesses handle waste.

Imagine being at the forefront of bold, innovative efforts, shaping creative solutions that build a safer, healthier, and more inclusive King County—one that operates with zero waste. This is your chance to spark institutional transformations that better serve the public and deliver lasting benefits to our community. By championing an equitable, socially just, and thriving future, you’ll help create a prosperous, sustainable society for generations to come. Are you ready to make an impact?

We are filling one Career Service (i.e. regular)position andmay use this recruitment to create a list of candidates for any potential vacancies in similar positions within the next 12 months. The classification of this position is Project Program Manager III.

About this Role:

This role is all about collaboration and impact, working with commercial businesses, communities, and key partners to design, implement, and expand a cutting-edge technical assistance program focused on waste reduction, recycling, and composting. With a special emphasis on food waste prevention and diversion, you’ll help businesses rethink waste and turn discarded materials into valuable resources.

But that’s just the beginning—this position plays a vital role in shaping policy compliance efforts, ensuring businesses align with current and future legislation, including Washington State’s Organics Management Law. You’ll also work hand-in-hand with cities and haulers to advance non-residential diversion, driving forward King County’s Re+ Plan and accelerating the movement toward Zero Waste of Resources.

By increasing organics diversion from businesses across the county, you’ll be making a direct and measurable impact on the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan Priority Action, working toward the ambitious goal of Zero Food Waste in the Landfill by 2030. If you’re passionate about sustainability and shaping institutional change, this is your opportunity to create a lasting legacy in environmental leadership!

About the Team:

The King County Solid Waste Division (KCSWD) is at the forefront of sustainable waste management, serving communities across unincorporated King County and beyond. As the lead agency driving the Zero Waste of Resources goal, KCSWD is working to dramatically reduce landfill waste, revolutionizing the way materials are managed and repurposed. With operations spanning the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, eight transfer stations, two drop boxes, and nine closed landfills, KCSWD is pioneering bold, innovative programs that eliminate waste, keep materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.

Within KCSWD, the Recycling and Environmental Services (RES) Section leads the charge on cutting-edge sustainability efforts, tackling everything from waste prevention and recycling to product stewardship, policy advocacy, market development, and circular economy strategies. This team is committed to transforming King County’s environmental landscape—driving progress in green building, household hazardous waste collection, education initiatives, grant programs, resource recovery, and waste stream compliance.

Joining this team means becoming part of an ambitious, forward-thinking group that thrives on collaboration, creativity, and big-picture problem-solving. You’ll work alongside passionate professionals and a supportive Supervisor who champions innovation, inclusivity, and your personal and professional growth.

Commitment to Equity Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As the Re+ Commercial Circular Materials Program Manager, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment athttp://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Apply now for a rewarding career at theSolid Waste Divisionof the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks. Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training,comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

What You Will De Doing:

• Ensure program equity and accessibility, including multicultural and/or multilingual outreach
• Develop and implement zero waste technical assistance to businesses
• Ensure business and Division compliance with existing and future solid waste policies
• Identify gaps, successes, and areas for improvement and continually improve the commercial technical assistance program and other high impact Re+ programs as needed
• Work with industry partners to understand best practices and lessons learned
• Work with internal and external partners to identify and implement compliance [enforcement] strategies related to solid waste laws
• Oversee consultant support, including budget tracking and management, as needed
• Interface with the public – providing education and outreach, resources, and seeking input
• Serve on multiple workgroups as a representative of the County and subject matter expert, inputting into regional waste strategy, communications, and policy
• Analyze and compile data [working with hauler data, programmatic data, produce annual throughput/processing/capacity report]
• Regularly communicate program information to the public and other external partners
• Participate/provide input to larger program strategies, such as Re+ and the Solid Waste Division
• Evaluate program outcomes

Qualifications You Bring:

• Demonstrated skill in providing program technical assistance.
• Demonstrated skills in translating technical information, goals and requirements into specific action steps necessary to catalyze changes to be adopted.
• Demonstrated skills in managing projects involving multi-agency teams and developing effective networks to accomplish program goals.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and contracts, and meet deadlines with high attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work with various project teams to achieve results within specified deadlines.
• Excellent communication and networking skills including public speaking, writing, group facilitation/presentations, communicating cross-culturally with diverse partners, and interacting with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships and partnerships with a variety of partners and interest groups, including, but not limited to various county and/or state agencies, organizations, and associations.
• Demonstrated ability to think innovatively and willingness to learn new approaches and tools.

• A valid Washington State Driver's License or the ability to travel to other sites in a timely matter during the course of the workday/shift.

Competencies You Bring:

• Business Insight- Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.
• Balances Partners- Anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple partners.
• Strategic Mindset- Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Action Oriented- Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Drives Results- Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Communicates Effectively-Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Manages Ambiguity- Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

It Would Be Great If You Also Bring:

• Demonstrated experience developing and/or implementing a compliance/enforcement program.
• Understanding of King County solid waste systems and WA State Organics Management Laws.
• Demonstrated experience providing solid waste technical assistance to commercial businesses, in collaboration with various external partners.

Working Conditions:

• Remote and Onsite Work Details:Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements averaging 1 – 4 days per month. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. Onsite reporting locations may be at various King County worksites including the collaboration space at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104). This work arrangement promotes work-life balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department’s vision of Green Where We Work.
• Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance of King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Teamsters 117 Professional and Technical.

Application and Selection Process:We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a Complete Application. A cover letter is optional, but will be reviewed if submitted.

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact:For more information regarding this recruitment, please [e-mail].

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website,explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments, and check us out on Facebook,X (formerly Twitter),LinkedIn,TikTok,Instagram,YouTube,and Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resourcescategory for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference?Come join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.