Special Projects Manager

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan (Metro pays 75%)

Dental plan

Life insurance

Pension

Paid family leave

Longevity bonus

Employee assistance program

Disability insurance

Job summary

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County seeks a Special Projects Manager to lead a diverse portfolio of high-priority initiatives within Waste Services, driving efficiency, regulatory compliance, environmental performance, and organizational effectiveness.

You will manage cross-department projects from concept through implementation, coordinating with regulatory agencies, vendors, and internal teams to deliver measurable results on time and within funding parameters,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and five (5) years of verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry.
• Demonstrated completion of projects with progressive size and complexity.
• 1:1 substitution: additional waste management PM experience may be considered in lieu of education.

Responsibilities

• Reviews project proposals and defines timelines, funding limits, methods, and resources.
• Oversees design from concept through construction closeout.
• Manages schedules to meet milestones and approves progress payments.
• Develops staffing plans and assigns responsibilities for all project phases.
• Directs project activities and manages budgets to control expenditure.
• Coordinates with regulatory agencies and external partners as needed.
• Performs audits for compliance, risk mitigation, and project delivery.

Skills

Waste management experience (public)

Grant preparation and management

Stakeholder collaboration

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field

PM Certification: PMP or equivalent

CSWM Certification (SWANA)

SWANA certifications in relevant areas

Job description

Position Description

The Special Projects Manager leads, plans, and coordinates a diverse portfolio of high priority initiatives designed to enhance operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, environmental performance, and organizational effectiveness within the waste management system. This role is responsible for managing complex, cross departmental projects from concept through implementation, ensuring that objectives are achieved within established timelines, funding parameters, and strategic priorities. The Special Projects Manager evaluates business needs, develops project frameworks, oversees resource allocation, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, technical experts, and service partners. The position provides analytical, technical, and operational leadership to drive innovation, support modernization efforts, mitigate risks, and deliver sustainable, measurable outcomes that align with organizational goals.

Waste Services is responsible for weekly curbside waste and every other week curbside recycling collection for over 151,000 customers in the urban services district as well as collection of over 200 public litter baskets in the downtown Nashville corridor. The division also operates four convenience centers where residents of Davidson County can bring waste, recycling, bulk items, food waste, household hazardous waste, and other items for recycling or disposal and eight recycling drop-off locations available to residents who do not qualify for curbside recycling collection.

Waste Services currently employs staff members working in collection, administration, customer service, education, landfill engineering, development review, and outreach.

Typical Duties

• Reviews project proposals and plans to define timelines, funding limits, methods, and resource allocation.
• Oversees and approves project design from concept through construction closeout.
• Establishes, manages, and monitors project schedules to ensure adherence to planned milestones.
• Reviews and certifies contractor and consultant progress payments for accuracy and compliance.
• Develops project staffing plans and establishes work plans and schedules for all project phases.
• Assigns personnel, defines responsibilities, and establishes authority levels for project team members.
• Directs and coordinates project activities through subordinate staff and manages budgets to control expenditure.
• Reviews project status reports and adjust schedules or resources as necessary.
• Prepare project status reports and communicate updates to management and stakeholders.
• Collaborates with project personnel, vendors, and contractors to provide technical guidance and support problem resolution.
• Coordinates project activities with governmental or regulatory agencies as required.
• Conducts or overseas operational audits, including regulatory compliance, environmental performance, operational processes, vendor/contractor performance, financial controls, QA/QC, risk mitigation, and project delivery audits.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university and five (5) years of verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry. Must have demonstrated successful completion of projects assigned with a progression in both project size and complexity.

• Additional verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry may be considered in lieu of education (1:1 ratio).***

Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Waste management experience in public sector including community resources, related agencies, and available services
• Experience in preparing, administering and managing grants, analyzing program effectiveness, and implementing program or process improvements
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent (e.g., PMI ACP, CAPM)
• Certified Solid Waste Manager (CSWM) through the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
• SWANA certifications in relevant specialty areas

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

Metro Nashville Government respects the religious beliefs and practices of all employees and will make, on request, an accommodation for such observances when a reasonable accommodation is available that does not create an undue hardship on business operations.

Requests for ADA or other protected accommodations for the recruitment process should be directed to Human Resources at 615-862-6640.

Core Benefits

• Medical: Choice of two plans; Metro pays 75% of premium
• Dental: Choice of two plans; Metro pays for single coverage
• Basic Life: $50,000 basic term life coverage; Metro pays 100% of premium
• Pension: Formula-driven pension; 100% Metro funded; 10 year vesting for new employees
• Paid Family Leave: Runs concurrently with time designated as FMLA leave (up to 30 days)
• Longevity: Annual bonus beginning after 5 years of service; increases annually up to 20 years
• Work Life/ Employee Assistance Program: Wide variety of counseling, referral and consultation services provided free
• Other*: In-line-of-duty injury benefits, AD&D insurance, and Medical Disability eligibility after 10 years with Metro

Paid leave

• Vacation: 10 vacation days a year; increasing after 5 years of service (For Non Civil Service departments, contact the department's human resources office)
• Holidays: 12 holidays per year (For Non Civil Service departments, contact the department's human resources office)
• Sick leave: 12 days of sick leave per year
• Other leaves: Judicial leave, military leave, bereavement leave
• See the Human Resources webpage for more details and optional benefits at nashville.gov/hr