Recycling Manager

cityofsomerville; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

4 weeks annual vacation (non-union)

Retirement system

Green/eco-friendly programs

Job summary

The City of Somerville seeks a qualified individual to manage environmental services for the Department of Public Works, advise on sustainability initiatives, and coordinate across departments. This role includes budgeting, contract management, and grant applications to support waste reduction and environmental programs.

The position requires a Bachelor’s Degree with 3+ years of relevant experience and strong communication skills. Working hours are 8:00am–4:00pm, with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree combined with 3+ years’ experience in environmental management.
• Knowledge of environmental engineering, regulations, and management.
• Ability to multi-task and obtain interdepartmental cooperation and communication.
• Strong written and oral communication; ability to operate a computer; maintain records.
• Experience with grants, contract management, and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Plans and manages environmental services such as waste, recycling, and hazardous waste programs.
• Advises DPW administration on sanitation issues and evolving technologies.
• Educates the public about environmental city services and waste reduction.
• Collaborates with Fire and Inspectional Services on environmental issues.
• Manages contractors, budgets, and forecasting for Recycling and Waste.
• Applies for grants related to waste reduction and environmental services.
• Hires and trains student workers and interns; oversees workforce development.
• Serves on the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
• Oversees hazardous materials training and remediation in City buildings.
• Addresses environmental needs such as spills, indoor air quality, and emissions.

Skills

Environmental management

Interdepartmental coordination

Written and oral communication

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

3+ years' experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Statement of Duties

The employee manages environmental related activities for the Department of Public Works (DPW) as well as acts as an advisor for the Office of Sustainability & Environment and the DPW administration. The employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type 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.

• Plans and manages environmental services such as municipal solid waste, recycling, household hazardous waste drop-off and emergency responses (environmental). This includes implementing new waste reduction programs and fees.
• Advises the DPW administration on sanitation issues, including legislation, markets, and evolving technologies.
• Provides public education about city services (environmental) and targeted issues of concerns such as recycling, other solid waste reduction, hazardous waste management.
• Works with other departments, including Fire and Inspectional Services, on a variety of environmental issues.
• Manages contractors and consultants, including contract management, performance and budget. Manages and forecasts budget for Recycling and Waste.
• Manages and applies for grants related to waste reduction and other environmental services on behalf of the City.
• Hires, trains, and manages student workers and interns. Oversee the department's education and workforce development initiatives.
• Serves as a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
• Manages hazardous materials training for City staff and the remediation of hazardous materials found in City buildings.
• Addresses departmental needs related to environmental issues such as oil/hazardous material spills, indoor air quality, watershed quality, and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree and over three (3) years’ experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Knowledge of environmental engineering, regulations, and management.

Abilities: Ability to multi-task and obtain interdepartmental cooperation and communication; ability to meet and deal with the public effectively and appropriately; ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to deal appropriately with city employees, city officials and the general public.

Skill: Excellent computer skills for word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; excellent analytical skills; excellent organizational skills

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments (HAZ Mat collection days) and respond to environmental emergencies.

Physical and Mental Requirements

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing, and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday

Salary: $75,000 - $78,000

Union: Teamsters Local 25

FLSA: Exempt

Date Posted: July 7th, 2026

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or [e-mail].

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.