Route Supervisor — Solid Waste Team Leader

City of Tacoma; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Tacoma is seeking a Solid Waste Route Supervisor in the Environment & Public Works Department to lead frontline crews, optimize route operations, and ensure safe, reliable waste collection for Tacoma neighborhoods. This role emphasizes leadership, teamwork, customer focus, and process improvement as you supervise daily activities, coordinate with drivers, monitor performance, and promote safety.

Qualifications include a high school diploma and 3 years of related experience; a Washington

Qualifications

• Three (3) years of increasingly-responsible experience in solid waste operations providing work direction to others
• Three (3) years of increasingly-responsible experience in a customer service field resolving customer complaints and providing work direction to others

Responsibilities

• Assist in supervision of daily operations of solid waste collection and transfer activities; assist in developing, planning, organizing, scheduling and monitoring solid waste collection and transfer activities to ensure safe and efficient operations
• Investigate and resolve customer service and nuisance code complaints; educate customers on Tacoma Municipal code requirements and enforce compliance when necessary; contact and provide information to residential customers and local businesses regarding appropriate waste collection, disposal services and recycling practices and procedures; recommend service-level rate adjustments when necessary
• Develop and implement work schedules to assure efficient service; dispatch personnel, assign tasks and equipment
• Respond to solid waste fleet vehicle incidents, fluid spills and property damage; mitigate environmental impacts and oversee cleanup measures; conduct vehicle incident and spill investigations, prepare applicable reports
• Coordinate with drivers and fleet personnel to ensure that scheduled repairs and maintenance of assigned equipment are completed; conduct routine fleet vehicle, equipment and safety audits
• Supervise and evaluate the work of assigned personnel; develop and communicate expectations; provide coaching and feedback; facilitate required safety and operational training; conduct regular one-on-one and team meetings; perform disciplinary action as appropriate; prepare employee development objectives and conduct performance reviews
• Analyze customer data, route data, tonnages, waste types and collection methods to develop efficient collection routes; develop key performance indicators and prepare and maintain a variety of associated operational records and reports
• Promote and foster a culture focused on safety; work with Safety personnel to develop and maintain safety programs and procedures
• Operate a variety of office equipment and machines such as a computer, radio and telephone; operate a motor vehicle including pickup trucks as needed
• Perform related duties as assigned

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Customer service

Communication

Safety awareness

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Adaptability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Experience in solid waste operations or customer service

Job description

City of Tacoma is seeking a Solid Waste Route Supervisor in the Environment & Public Works Department to lead frontline crews, optimize route operations, and ensure safe, reliable waste collection for Tacoma neighborhoods. This role emphasizes leadership, teamwork, customer focus, and process improvement as you supervise daily activities, coordinate with drivers, monitor performance, and promote safety.

Qualifications include a high school diploma and 3 years of related experience; a Washington