Assistant Engineering Director of Solid Waste

Introduction

Prince William County’s Department of Public Works is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to serve as the Assistant Engineering Director of Solid Waste, overseeing the Solid Waste Division, including the County’s Municipal Sanitary Landfill and Compost Facility. The Assistant Engineering Director of Solid Waste evaluates and establishes effective administrative programs and structures, implements improvement strategies throughout the division, and collaborates with Department leadership for the benefit of the entire organization.

• Solid Waste
• Roll-off Operations,
• Landfilling Operations
• Grounds Maintenance
• Litter control
• Scalehouse Operations
• Compost Facility
• Environmental
• Recycling
• Administrative

The Prince William County Landfill serves more than 500,000 customers annually and is recognized by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality as an E4 facility under the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program, the program’s highest level of recognition for environmental performance and sustained compliance. The Assistant Director plays a key role in ensuring continued safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible solid waste management for the community.

About This Role:

You must have the ability to function independently as well as collaboratively, with strong, people-centered leadership skills and the ability to meet people where they are, both figuratively and metaphorically. Communication up and down the organizational chart is crucial to your success in this role. This work requires technical expertise in solid waste, construction, and complex regulatory requirements, as well as the ability to manage relationships with maintenance workers, environmental inspectors, public-private partners, the Board of County Supervisors, and everyone in between.

Primary functions are as follows:

• Operational Management – Effectively oversee waste disposal and recycling operations, roll-off operations, heavy equipment operations, grounds maintenance, litter collection, and compost facility services. Oversee landfill operations and closed landfill areas in conformance with applicable regulations, permits, engineering drawings, best practices, and established standards. Ensure that filling activities and construction conform to design drawings and construction plans. Oversee and coordinate various contracts and contractor activities on site.
• Employee Management and Safety – Manage a diverse workforce of approximately 79 employees, including three administrative staff, fiscal staff, Recycling Program staff, Superintendent, three Assistant Superintendents, five supervisors, heavy equipment operators, roll-off drivers, and other operational staff performing residential customer service, grounds and facilities maintenance, and litter collection. Direct daily work efforts, establish performance measures, and evaluate personnel. Oversee safety programs and foster a collaborative, safety-focused workplace. Establish priorities, create work schedules, monitor work efforts, and develop and implement solutions to improve teamwork and address operational issues. Assist with recruitment, hiring, and discipline.
• Administrative Management – Oversee and prepare clear, effective, and grammatically correct correspondence, reports, regulatory documentation, and other written work products in standard English. Develop procedures, job aids, inspection forms, checklists, and other documents to support safe and effective facility management. Establish performance metrics, evaluate operational data, and develop and implement strategies to address operational issues. Administer contracts and ensure adherence to procurement and contract requirements. Effectively use computers and computer software, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Facility and Fleet Management – Oversee fleet operations to ensure the safe, reliable, and cost-effective use of heavy equipment and vehicles.
• Environmental Compliance – Oversee proper maintenance and repair of the Landfill and compost facility’s environmental control systems related to air, landfill gas, groundwater, stormwater, leachate, and sediment and erosion control. Oversee the preparation and maintenance of operational and regulatory documentation and reports. Ensure compliance with all Environmental Permits and maintain the E4 rating of the landfill.
• Customer Service – Routinely interact with County staff, meet them where they are, and provide proper training for their duties to ensure Customers are given the best service possible. Handle complex customer inquiries and resolve issues professionally and tactfully.
• Budget & Finance of Enterprise Fund – Effectively oversee the entire operation and understand each aspect to include the operational patterns and financial pattern. Advise adjustments in collaboration with the Department staff and OMB for the budget annually. This includes equipment purchases, budget needed for programs, CIP management, Solid Waste Fee Increases, Tipping Fee Increases, etc.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
• Minimum four (4) years of full-time work experience managing a municipal sanitary landfill or similar complex operation that involves heavy equipment, environmental compliance, and supervision of a diverse workforce in industries such as solid waste, large-scale earthwork or construction, mining or quarrying, public works, or other related operational fields, is required.

Preferences:

The ideal candidate will:

• Have demonstrated success managing complex operations with a background in Solid Waste, environmental compliance, and managing an enterprise fund or something comparable, and/or landfill-related Capital Improvement Projects, such as the opening and closing of cells and other related infrastructure.

• Possess SWANA’s Manager of Landfill Operations (MOLO) certification or Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certification through the Construction Manager Certification Institute (CMCI) is preferred.

• Have experience supervising a diverse workforce in industries such as Solid Waste, large-scale earthwork or construction, mining or quarrying, or other comparable operational fields.

• Be a highly organized, collaborative, and communicative leader who demonstrates ethical judgment and has expertise in human-based leadership, project management, safety programs, fleet management, and operating in a strictly regulated environment.

Special Requirements:

• Special License Requirement – Possession of a current Virginia DPOR Class II Waste Management Facility Operator License is required for this position. Candidates who do not currently hold this DPOR license may be hired with the employment condition that they obtain the Class II Waste Management Facility Operator License within twelve (12) months of their hire date.
• Driver’s License Requirement – This position requires having and maintaining a valid driver’s license. Driving a county vehicle is an essential part of this job.
• Essential Service Requirement– This position is an essential employee. Responding to emergencies, inclement weather, and other issues that may impact facility operations outside of regular working hours, including on weekends and holidays, is required.
• Personal Protective Equipment – This job often enters safety-sensitive spaces that require wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), including but not limited to safety shoes, safety vest, and hard hat.

Work Schedule:

• The typical work schedule for this position is 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Working some weekends and holidays is possible as both the landfill and compost facility are operational 7 days a week.

Hiring Salary Range:

$118,696.50 - $177,471.45

• The Virginia Retirement System
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Enhanced Parental and Medical Leave programs
• Coverage of infertility treatments
• "Out-of-network" ground ambulance coverage
• Retiree health insurance credit benefit of $6.50 x years of service (maxed at 30 years)
• Flexible spending programs
• Employee assistance programs (EAP)
• Life insurance
• 11 paid holidays and 4 personal days
• And so much more!