Division Manager, Environmental Services

Are you a proactive, human-centered leader who excels at motivating teams, guiding operations, and delivering exceptional customer service? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where you help shape services that meet the diverse needs of the community? If so, this may be the opportunity you're looking for! The City of Tacoma is recruiting for a Division Manager in our Environment & Public Works Department. We are seeking candidates with strong leadership abilities, a collaborative mindset, and a proven track record of providing customer-focused services in a team-oriented setting. We recognize that leadership experience is gained in many ways and applicants with paid or volunteer experience with transferrable skills in supervision, coordination, or customer-focused work are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

The positions include the following:

Division Manager – Onsite Operations

This position leads the teams responsible for running and maintaining SWM's onsite facilities. Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing operations at the transfer station, landfill gas collection systems, and the groundwater extraction and treatment system.
• Ensuring facility operations meet all permit and regulatory requirements, including solid waste, hazardous waste, stormwater, asbestos, and environmental compliance obligations.
• Implementing and managing the Environmental and Sustainability Management System (ESMS) to ensure facilities follow standard operating procedures, remain properly maintained, and meet environmental and operational standards.
• Planning and managing the biennial operating budget for onsite operations and working closely with Science & Engineering on long-term capital facility planning.
• Collaborating regularly with other City departments, partner agencies, contractors, and regional organizations to coordinate infrastructure, share operational information, and support regional solid waste initiatives.

Division Manager – Collection Operations

This position leads staff and programs that deliver curbside collection services throughout Tacoma. Key responsibilities include:

• Managing crews and programs responsible for residential and commercial garbage, recycling, and organics collection, container maintenance, special collection programs, and long-haul transport.
• Overseeing fleet management for the Collections Operations Division, ensuring vehicles meet permit requirements and coordinating maintenance and asset management with the Fleet & Facilities Division.
• Implementing and managing ESMS processes to ensure collection systems, vehicles, and equipment follow standard operating procedures and meet environmental and regulatory expectations.
• Planning and managing the biennial operating budget for collection operations and partnering with Fleet & Facilities on long-term planning for the rolling-stock capital program.
• Working closely with other City departments, partner agencies, contractors, and regional partners to align operations, share information, and support coordinated regional service delivery.

Ideal Candidate Traits and Competencies

Our ideal candidates will exemplify the following traits and competencies:

• Service-Driven Decision Making: Makes timely and practical operational decisions that support employees, protect the public, and maintain reliable solid waste services.
• Equity & Inclusive Leadership: Identifies and addresses inequities in policies, practices, and service delivery. Ensures fair treatment of staff and the communities served by Solid Waste Management.
• Directs Work: Sets clear expectations, aligns teams, assigns responsibilities, and ensures accountability.
• Ensures Accountability: Holds self and others responsible for performance, safety, compliance, and service standards.
• Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement: Promotes high performance by applying best practices, coaching staff, and using tools such as ESMS and SOPs to ensure consistent, compliant, and efficient operations.
• People-Centered Management: Recognizes and supports employees as individuals with diverse backgrounds, strengths, and needs. Creates an environment where staff feel valued, heard, and supported.
• Safety Leadership: Builds and maintains safe work environments through strong safety practices, hazard awareness, and proactive responses to physical and psychological safety needs within high-risk operational settings.
• Builds Effective Teams: Creates high performing, collaborative, engaged workgroups across diverse roles and backgrounds.
• Values Differences: Demonstrates inclusive leadership, recognizes strengths in diverse perspectives, and fosters an equitable workplace culture.
• Communicates Effectively: Shares information clearly, listens actively, provides constructive feedback, and navigates sensitive conversations with professionalism.

About the City of Tacoma

Tacoma, the City of Destiny, has a workforce of dedicated, talented employees with unique skills and perspectives. We embrace innovation and strive for excellence and community engagement. The Principles that Guide Us — Integrity, Service, Excellence and Equity — speak to the values that we embody as City of Tacoma employees, and represent the core of our work in public service.

The Environment and Public Works Department believes that everything we do supports healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound, leaving a better Tacoma for all.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental sciences, business, public administration or directly related field

Minimum Experience*
7 years of experience in one or more fields of environmental sciences including 1 year prior at the supervisory level

Relevant education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
Washington State Driver's License

Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge

• Climate issues and sustainability practices.
• Local government organization, operations, policies, and objectives.
• Community engagement.
• Environmental laws and regulations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Relevant labor laws and practices.
• Change management strategies and techniques.
• Performance management and metrics.

Skills

• Ability to work independently with little direction.
• Proficient in use of all office equipment including personal computers and related software applications.
• Ability to assign and review work of others; and plan and organize work to meet schedules and timelines.
• Promote and maintain a culturally diverse work force and take appropriate pro-active steps to provide employees with a work environment free of harassment, intimidation, hostility, and coercion based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, and family status.
• Effectively organize multiple assignments, sometimes of a complex nature or involving competing priorities, to produce work products that are accurate, thorough, cost effective and on time.
• Ability to adapt to an ever-changing work environment and make effective decisions quickly during stressful situations.
• Set and communicate clear expectations for staff, follow through and establish accountability for all.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and explain complex regulations, laws, codes, and policies related to environmental protection, climate action and government processes.
• Prepare and maintain various personnel and work-related records and reports; prepare the annual division budget; forecast personnel requirements and authorize purchases within established guidelines.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $72.91 - $102.66
Annual Salary: $151,652.80 - $213,512.00

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma