Transfer Station Technician I

Oregonmetro; Oregon; On-site; USD 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Metro is seeking a Transfer Station Technician I at the Metro South Transfer Station in the Portland region. This hands-on role ensures safe, efficient operations, guiding customers, screening loads and recovering materials in a busy outdoor facility.

The position emphasizes teamwork, safety, and reliability in all weather, with opportunities to learn equipment operation and site procedures while serving the public.

Qualifications

• Minimum: High school diploma or GED.
• Six (6) months of related experience, or equivalent combination of experience, education and training.
• Ability to perform the physical and environmental requirements of the position, including lifting up to 50 pounds and outdoor work.

Responsibilities

• Manage customer and site traffic to maintain safe and efficient movement.
• Screen incoming vehicles and loads for hazards and materials needing special handling.
• Direct and assist customers with disposal and recycling locations, procedures, fees and options.
• Unload, sort and recover materials on the tipping floor and recovery areas.
• Separate recyclable and reusable materials and support material recovery activities.
• Clean and maintain the transfer station, including sweeping and litter removal.
• Conduct daily safety checks and report hazards or needed repairs.
• Respond to emergencies following site protocols and assist with traffic control.
• Learn to safely operate hand tools, power tools, pallet jacks and equipment.
• Work collaboratively with coworkers, supervisors, contractors, customers and emergency responders.

Skills

Customer service

Safety awareness

Communication

Teamwork

Outdoor work

Hazard recognition

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Hand tools

Power tools

Pallet jacks

Job description

Hello, we’re Metro ! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

Metro’s Waste Prevention and Environmental Services (WPES) department is looking for a Transfer Station Technician to join the team at the Metro South Transfer Station. Transfer Station Technician I employees help keep the facility safe, efficient and welcoming for the public while supporting proper disposal, recycling and material recovery. This is hands‑on work in a busy industrial setting that includes working outdoors, directing traffic, screening incoming loads, assisting customers and recovering materials. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys active work, working as part of a team and serving the community while building skills in solid waste operations.

As the Transfer Station Technician I you will

• Manage customer and site traffic to maintain safe and efficient movement throughout the transfer station.
• Screen incoming vehicles and loads for unacceptable materials, hazards and materials that require special handling.
• Direct and assist customers with proper disposal and recycling locations, procedures, fees, rules and available options.
• Unload, sort and recover materials on the tipping floor and in designated recovery areas.
• Separate recyclable and reusable materials and support material recovery activities.
• Clean and maintain the transfer station, including sweeping, litter pickup and other tasks needed to keep the site safe and presentable.
• Conduct daily safety checks and report hazards, equipment or facility repair needs and opportunities to improve operations.
• Respond to emergencies and incidents by following site emergency protocols, identifying hazards, directing people away from danger and supporting traffic control and access security.
• Learn to safely operate hand tools, power tools, pallet jacks and other equipment used in transfer station operations.
• Work collaboratively with coworkers, supervisors, contractors, customers and emergency responders to support safe and effective site operations.

Attributes for success

• Strong commitment to workplace safety and the ability to recognize hazards and maintain situational awareness in a busy industrial environment.
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to communicate clearly, respectfully and professionally with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Ability to remain calm, professional and helpful when responding to challenging customer interactions or changing situations.
• Ability to follow safety procedures, standard operating procedures and instructions while using good judgment when unexpected situations arise.
• Comfortable performing physically active, hands‑on work for much of the workday, including walking, bending, crouching, reaching, lifting and working on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to work effectively outdoors in changing weather conditions and around noise, dust, dirt, odors, traffic and waste materials.
• Willingness and ability to learn new equipment, procedures and safety practices.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a team and communicating effectively with supervisors and coworkers.
• Dependable attendance and ability to work an established schedule in a seven-day-a-week operation.
• Commitment to treating customers, coworkers and members of the public with respect and supporting an inclusive and equitable workplace.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Metro, we striveto cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent, and
• Six (6) months of experience in a related field, or
• Any combination of experience, education and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential job duties.

Required qualifications

• Ability to perform the physical and environmental requirements of the position, including regular standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching and lifting up to 50 pounds, with occasional lifting of objects weighing more than 50 pounds.
• Ability to work primarily outdoors in a transfer station environment with exposure to weather, traffic, moving equipment, dust, dirt, odors, municipal solid waste and occasional hazardous materials.
• Ability to work an established schedule within a seven-day-a-week transfer station operation, including evenings, weekends or holidays as assigned.
• Ability to successfully complete required safety training and certifications within the required timeframe.

Working Conditions

This position works approximately 90% outdoors and 10% indoors. Work is performed in a busy transfer station environment with regular exposure to weather conditions, temperature extremes, noise, dust, dirt, strong or unpleasant odors, traffic, moving machinery, municipal solid waste and occasional hazardous materials.

The position requires regular standing, walking, bending, crouching, stooping, reaching, climbing and lifting. Employees may be required to lift up to 50 pounds regularly and occasionally lift objects weighing more than 50 pounds. Personal protective equipment is required as appropriate for the work being performed.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Experience working in a solid waste, recycling, material recovery, transfer station or similar industrial environment.
• Experience working in a high-hazard, fast-paced or industrial work environment.
• Experience providing customer service in a public-facing environment.
• Familiarity with solid waste, recycling or household hazardous waste handling practices.
• Experience operating hand tools, power tools, pallet jacks or similar equipment.
• OSHA-10 certification.
• HAZWOPER 24-hour certification.
• First Aid/CPR certification.
• Asbestos Awareness training.
• Bloodborne Pathogens training.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON

The full-salary range for this position is step 1: $23.97 to step 7: $32.12. However, unless a candidate’s qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between step 1: $23.97 to the equity range step 4: $27.75.

This position is eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME 3580. It is classified as a Transfer Station Technician I position. Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.

Equal employment opportunity

All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

Non-discrimination in hiring decisions

Metro is committed to equal employment opportunity and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws. Metro employment decisions – including recruitment, screening, interviewing, selection, promotion, compensation, and separation – must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected class.

Accommodation

Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Veterans' preference

Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Pay equity at Metro

No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do.Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Online applications

Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Metro

Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area’s garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.