Assistant Refuse Superintendent

About the role

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), Solid Waste Management Program, seeks an Assistant Refuse Superintendent to support the Assistant Complex Manager in the daily management of county municipal solid waste operations.

Responsibilities

• Assists with the day-to-day management of county municipal solid waste operations, including supervising staff and activities at transfer stations, closed landfill sites, and residential collection and recycling operations.
• Covers operational logistics, including staffing, equipment, materials, and resources to ensure safe, efficient, and uninterrupted operations.
• Makes sure to monitor field activities, assign and schedule work, track project and operational progress, and ensure performance goals are achieved.
• Presents input on budget planning and operational needs related to personnel, equipment, materials, and contracted services.
• Serves as the hiring manager for assigned recruitments and supports workforce planning, employee development, performance management, and career growth initiatives.
• Makes sure accurate employee time and attendance reporting and addresses performance or behavioral issues through coaching, feedback, and formal performance management.
• Responds to routine and emergency operational issues, including equipment failures, vehicle incidents, workers' compensation injuries, and other operational challenges.
• Makes sure compliance with all applicable environmental regulations, permits, laws, policies, and operational standards, including Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements.
• Conducts inspections of facilities, infrastructure, grounds, and equipment and coordinates corrective actions to maintain safe and efficient operations.
• Promotes a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with safety regulations, safe work practices, personal protective equipment requirements, and DPWES safety competencies.
• Serves as a safety meeting participant, participates on incident review committees, investigates accidents and injuries, and prepares related reports while working collaboratively with agency safety staff and Risk Management to reduce preventable incidents.
• Provides exceptional customer service by responding to inquiries from employees, residents, contractors, and other stakeholders and clearly explains solid waste programs, regulations, and disposal options.
• Performs additional administrative, operational, and customer service duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Considerable knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental rules and regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of safety regulations, safety review and investigative procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of traffic laws, safety procedures and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of supply and policy and procedures.
• Ability to use computers.
• Ability to read and comprehend maps.
• Ability to work outside with regular exposure to severe weather, noxious fumes, high levels of dust, etc.
• Ability to plan, schedule, and supervise work of others.
• Ability to counsel and mentor others.
• Ability to perform audits of work procedures, work performance, facility, and equipment and take corrective action as required.
• Ability to operate heavy vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to supervise and train others in the operation of a variety of heavy vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to supervise and train others in the safe operation of a variety of heavy vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to prepare reports and documents that pertain to operational and compliance issues within the solid waste management program.
• Ability to give and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships.

Qualifications

• An associate’s degree in environmental science, business administration or related field.
• Plus, two years of experience in environmental operations, compliance, refuse collection or disposal, or managing field operations involving heavy equipment operations, scheduling, and maintenance, two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.

Skills and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental rules and regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of safety regulations, safety review and investigative procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of traffic laws, safety procedures and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of supply and policy and procedures.
• Ability to use computers.
• Ability to read and comprehend maps.
• Ability to work outside with regular exposure to severe weather, noxious fumes, high levels of dust, etc.
• Ability to plan, schedule, and supervise work of others.
• Ability to counsel and mentor others.
• Ability to perform audits of work procedures, work performance, facility, and equipment and take corrective action as required.
• Ability to operate heavy vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to supervise and train others in the operation of a variety of heavy vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to supervise and train others in the safe operation of a variety of heavy vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to prepare reports and documents that pertain to operational and compliance issues within the solid waste management program.
• Ability to give and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships.