Environmental Services Director

Position Description

**Applications received by December 18, 2024, will receive first consideration**

The City of Tacoma is recruiting candidates for the executive position of Environmental Services (ES) Director. The ES Director is a key member of the City's Executive Leadership Team with a critical leadership role in ensuring the protection and restoration of natural resources, keeping Tacoma clean, safe, and livable.

In this role, you’ll work collaboratively with nine program leaders and support approximately 565 staff, while overseeing and leading the operations of the City of Tacoma’s Solid Waste, Wastewater, and Stormwater utilities.

If you're excited about the challenge of enhancing the lives of Tacoma’s citizens by providing an environmentally and economically sustainable, livable, clean and attractive community - we encourage you to apply!

Responsibilities Includes

• Leads departmental financial management including revenues, expenses, budget, rate setting and asset management.
• Oversees daily operations management, personnel actions, and union negotiations, for over 500 employees.
• Coordinates with other city departments and utilities, citizens, and stakeholder groups.
• Coordinates with external agencies (Port, WSDOT, Metro Parks Tacoma, Ecology, EPA, etc.)
• Manages NPDES permitting, superfund consent decrees, environmental policy, and enforcement.
• Leads and supports efforts for divisional and departmental accreditation.
• Supports Tacoma’s interests on national and state environmental policies through participation and membership in utility and engineering organizations (NACWA, SWANA, APWA, etc.)
• Supports emergency operations for flooding, earthquake, etc. with duties in the Emergency Operations Center.
• Collaboration with Tacoma Public Utilities to provide a robust customer service experience for all five City utilities.
• Serves as Executive member on the Labor Policies Advisory Team (LPAT), Joint Labor Advisory Team and the Information Systems Governance Board (ISGB).

THE COMMUNITY

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, giving residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to a large number of institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum. With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation.

To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this https://youtu.be/2n5MWl8KFvI
CITY GOVERNMENT
The City of Tacoma operates under a Council Manager form of government. The City Council consists of a mayor, five district representatives, and three at-large representatives. All serve staggered four-year terms. Appointed by the City Council, the City Manager administers the City's day-to-day operations. With a population of approximately 222,000 residents, Tacoma is the second-largest city in the Puget Sound area and the third largest municipality in the state. Tacoma also serves as the center of business activity for the South Sound region which has a population of approximately one million people.

The City provides a full range of municipal services. City departments include Community and Economic Development, Environmental Services, Finance, HR, IT, Fire, Hearing Examiner, Neighborhood and Community Services, Planning and Development, Police, Public Works, Venues and Events and Tacoma Public Utilities. Tacoma currently has approximately 3,700 FTEs and a total 2023-2024 biennial budget of $4.7 billion.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT & VISION
The Environmental Services Department works to protects and restores natural resources, keeping Tacoma clean, safe and livable through garbage and recycling pickup, wastewater treatment, household hazardous waste disposal, protection from stormwater pollution and much more!

In the Environmental Services Department, we believe everything we do supports healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound, leaving a better Tacoma for all.

The focus on healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound defines the core values of the Environmental Services Department and our clear focus on: Customers, Employees and Operations with the three following statements:

• Customers - Partner with the community on customer-valued services to meet the diverse needs of Tacoma neighborhoods
• Employees - Foster safe culture built on trust, conversation and equity
• Operations - Operate using best practices and innovation to meet changing environmental and community needs.

HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS + THRIVING PUGET SOUND = A BETTER TACOMA

To learn more about our Environmental Services Strategic Plan 2018-2025 , click HERE
Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste Management provides garbage, recycling and yard/food waste services for approximately 53,000 single-family homes and numerous multifamily, business and industrial customers. The utility also operates a full-service transfer station, with a recycling center and household hazardous waste collection facility, as well as a residential bulk item disposal service, Call-2-Haul.

Stormwater Management
Stormwater Management concentrates on preventing pollution before it reaches our waters and restoring sites already affected by industry and urbanization. The utility maintains more than 500 miles of public stormwater pipe, 22,000-plus storm drains (catch basins), four pump stations and numerous detention ponds/structures.

Wastewater Management
The Environmental Services Department operates and maintains two wastewater treatment plants, 50 pumping stations and more than 700 miles of sewer pipe. The treatment plants clean about 10 billion gallons of wastewater each year, ensuring that only clean water is released into Commencement Bay. The utility works with Stormwater Management and property owners to reduce sewer backups and flooding. Biosolids from the treatment process are transformed into TAGRO premium soil products.
CITY OF TACOMA COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY
At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

BENEFITS

• Medical, dental and vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Deferred compensation allowing tax-deferred savings as authorized under Section 457 of the IRS Code
• Personal Time Off accrual based on years of service starting at 18 days per year
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Life Insurance
• Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (TERS)
• 13 holidays per year, includes two floating holidays

To learn more about our Environmental Services Strategic Plan 2018-2025 , click HERE!

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's Degree in engineering, business or public administration or directly related field.
*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Minimum Experience*
12 years of public works or engineering experience including prior supervisory and managerial experience.

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

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

The City of Tacoma
The City of Tacoma is nestled along the shores of Commencement Bay in Washington State and offers many community parks, miles of beautiful waterfront, hiking and biking trails, golf courses, museums, and a world-class zoo with an aquarium. Tacoma also serves as a gateway to some of the most magnificent natural wonders in the world, such as Puget Sound, Mount Rainier National Park, and the Olympic Peninsula. Combined with the vitality of downtown, Tacoma has made it one of the most sought-after housing markets in the country. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

Apply

Interested individuals should apply online. Please attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.
Reference checks will be conducted on final candidates and appointment is subject to passing a background check.

Communication from the City of Tacoma:
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.

For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, questions regarding this job announcement, or if you are experiencing complications while applying, please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591.5400 by 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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