SWD Operations Section Manager

Executive Leadership Opportunity

If you're energized by solving complex challenges, coaching leaders, and leaving organizations stronger than you found them, here is a unique opportunity to demonstrate executive level leadership while creating lasting change!

The Operations Section of King County's Solid Waste Division is offering a six-month senior leadership assignment. This is an opportunity to hone your leadership skills while making a lasting impact on the Solid Waste Division's operations section. You will have an opportunity to serve the people that live, work, and play in King County by leading the operation of the largest solid waste systems in Washington State, where we manage nearly 900,000 tons of garbage and recyclables annually.

You'll partner with leadership to strengthen team culture, improve financial stewardship, and build systems that increase accountability, trust and operational excellence. You will foster relationships, collaboration, and teamwork within the operations section and across the division, so the division functions as "One King County."

This recruitment aims to fill a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position with an anticipated duration of six (6) months. If the position is filled by a King County employee who has successfully completed their initial probation, they will be offered the role as a Special Duty Assignment.

This six-month role will focus on organizational culture and financial stewardship. As a key leader in the organization, you will be responsible for effectively managing and communicating with staff, with fellow division leadership members, and with department and Executive leadership. Working closely and with the direct support of the Division's Deputy Director, you will lead the way through active engagement with staff to foster an anti-racist, pro-equity workplace where everyone can thrive, and work with division leadership to ensure services are equitably provided to the residents of King County.

This isn't about maintaining operations – it's about transforming how the organization works. Success will be measured by strong leadership, healthier teams, smarter financial decisions, and sustainable improvements that continue long after the assignment ends.

As a member of the Management Team, you will advocate for operational needs, monitor and control our maintenance best practices through key performance indicators, and actively support and improve the division's waste management system. You will advocate for operations projects to ensure we are doing the right projects at the right time and for the right reasons to meet our level of service targets.

This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

You will be leading a unionized workforce of over 350 people that work every day to keep our regional landfill, 8 transfer stations, two drop boxes and 9 closed landfills operating efficiently to protect our community's health and the environment. The Operation's Section leadership team you will be directly managing is made up of two Assistant Operations Managers, 15 Operations Supervisors and an administrative support team.

You will be a participating member of the division's core leadership team, setting vision, goals, and strategies for the division.

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. In this position, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.

Learn more about our commitment at http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Solid Waste Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks. Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Provide leadership in overall operation and maintenance of King County's regional solid waste system; provide guidance for assigned staff on workplace policies, public services, and professional development; and manage the work of assigned staff.
• Develop and oversee the section's operations and maintenance annual budget; monitor and control expenditures to ensure spending aligns with approved budget projections, and proactively identify, address and correct budget variances and over-expenditures to maintain fiscal responsibility;
• Monitor capital portfolio, programs and projects; coordinate start-up of new and rebuilt facilities; and participate in planning facility and system expansions to meet future growth and new requirements.
• Ensure compliance with permits and regulatory reporting requirements for the operations of the regional landfill, transfer…