Are you passionate about finding new ways to reduce the amount of edible food going into the landfill and exploring the different ways compost and mulch can be used around the community? Would you like to be part of a team of enthusiastic sustainability professionals and help the County of San Mateo develop and implement programs to address critical sustainability issues around waste reduction and diversion in the community? The County of San Mateo's Sustainability Department is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Senior Sustainability Specialist - Waste Reduction. We want "sustainability champions" with experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are looking for candidates with excellent project management and communication skills to lead initiatives and help our employees, community partners, and community members take meaningful actions on sustainability. We are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage candidates from varied backgrounds to apply.\

If you’re passionate about sustainability, waste reduction, and public service, join us on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 12 PM for a live informational session about the Senior Sustainability Specialist - Waste Reduction position.

During this LinkedIn Live session, Gordon Tong, Waste Reduction Program Manager, will discuss the responsibilities of the role, the challenges and rewards of advancing waste reduction initiatives within a government framework, and what the County is looking for in qualified candidates. You’ll also hear from Arlene Cahill, Talent Acquisition Recruiter, who will provide insights into the recruitment and selection process.

Register today to secure your spot! Click here .

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Have an extensive background in the areas of solid waste management, recycling and composting, sustainability, public administration, and public policy.
• Have knowledge and experience implementing various state recycling and composting mandates.
• Have extensive project management experience, and possess strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Have experience leading multiple projects at different stages simultaneously, including tracking project budgets and deadlines, and working with coworkers collaboratively to achieve project outcomes.
• Have experience managing contracts and collaborating with contractors to achieve project outcomes.
• Have experience leading diverse project teams and managing high-profile, complex programs and projects.
• Have worked effectively with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Have a strong commitment to public service and serving the local community.
• Have initiative, drive, and follow through to ensure all necessary tasks are completed on time with little supervision.
• Have strong oral and written communication skills, including experience with developing public-facing communications.
• Have the ability to effectively communicate with both internal and external project stakeholders, and ensure timely and effective communication.
• Be comfortable in a fast-paced, people-focused environment.
  
  

About The Sustainability Department

Formed in July 2014, as a part of the County Executive’s Office, the Sustainability Department strives to improve the sustainability of the County’s operations and the greater community through work in areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, resource conservation, active transportation, climate resiliency, affordable housing, and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Here at the Sustainability Department, we:

• Are passionate about protecting and saving the environment, while serving our community.
• Are compassionate and empathetic to the needs of our colleagues, community members, and stakeholders.
• Are committed to increasing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion through our work.
• Actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase equity in our programs.
• Value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all.
• Take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting and hiring.
  
  

We know work isn't only about what you do; it’s also about who you work for and with! The Department has a fun and supportive work environment that supports a work-life balance, including:

• Flexible, hybrid work schedule opportunities
• Wellness classes and resources to promote a healthy mind and body
• Generous benefits package
• Subsidy of up to $150 per month to cover the costs of public transit, vanpooling, carpooling, and bike and scooter share, or up to $480 per year for walking, biking, or carpooling to work
• At least 20 hours of training provided annually
  
  

A competitive benefits package is associated with this position. For complete information regarding benefits please click here .

Note: This recruitment may also be used to fill future vacancies, so those interested in the Senior Sustainability Specialist position in one or any of the other working group(s) are encouraged to apply in this recruitment.

Examples Of Duties

Reporting to the Waste Reduction Program Manager, the Senior Sustainability Specialist (Senior) will be responsible for leading a team to support the County’s compliance with various state mandates around recycling and composting including California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), Assembly Bill 1826 (AB 1826), AB 341, and AB 939. The Senior will play a pivotal role in guiding the County in its goal to reduce avoidable waste, spark innovation, create synergies, and bring the community together. Work will focus on several key areas: edible food recovery, procurement of recycled organic materials (e.g., paper products, compost, mulch), and composting in the unincorporated areas.

The Senior will:

• Lead a team to design and implement programs for the County to comply with key areas of SB 1383 including edible food recovery, recycled organic waste product procurement, capacity planning, inspection, enforcement, and reporting.
• Support the Program Manager with overall waste reporting efforts related to SB 1383 and AB 939, including gathering relevant data and key metrics from County staff, partner agencies, and haulers.
• Develop relationships and coordinate efforts with local edible food recovery organizations.
• Lead and facilitate countywide meetings with city partners, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Craft and deliver important communication related to SB 1383 implementation.
• Present to the County’s Board of Supervisors and other entities on information relating to implementation of SB 1383.
• Oversee internal efforts and initiatives with County departments to assist with compliance with various aspects of SB 1383.
• Represent the County on boards, committees, and in community groups.
• Draft and edit comprehensive reports, letters, and other written materials. Facilitate formal review processes and ensure that the final product incorporates all feedback.
• Track changes in and compliance with existing contracts, grants, laws, codes, and rules.
• Interpret local ordinance code to guide development and/or implementation of Department programs.
• Apply for and manage grants, including developing and tracking grant budgets, and managing reporting processes. Identify possible grant funding opportunities and develop grant applications.
• Conduct inspections of regulated businesses and/or residential properties to determine compliance with state and local mandates.
• Provide input on staff selection, and evaluation of opportunities to enhance employee engagement.
• Coach, mentor, and train team members. Provide staff with project direction, training, assignment, and review of work completed. Provide Program Manager with informal input around performance and feedback.
• Assist the Program Manager with program planning and budget management for the Waste Reduction team.
• Support the Program Manager with program goals and high-level strategy development.
• Work with the other Senior Sustainability Specialists in the Department to identify and coordinate collaboration opportunities across program areas, within the Waste Reduction team, and across the Department.
• Serve as a technical expert, researching, analyzing, and interpreting complex technical data.
• Perform other duties as assigned, especially related to other solid waste reduction efforts led by the Waste Reduction team.
  
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.

• A typical way to qualify is three years of program coordination experience in the field of sustainability and/or resource conservation.
  
  

Knowledge of:

• Basic supervisory principles and practices.
• Resource conservation management, including its scientific background, technology, principles, methods, research techniques and problems.
• Pertinent laws, regulations and codes governing resource conservation.
• Principles and practices of contract management.
• Government agencies, community organizations and other stakeholders as they relate to resource conservation.
• Principles, practices, and trends in multiple areas of resource conservation.
• Technical information in multiple areas such as climate adaptation, including sea level rise, fire, heat island, and other risks, and climate action planning, including emission inventories, forecasting and emission targets, measure development, and stakeholder engagement for adaptation risk and climate planning initiatives.
  
  

Skill/Ability to:

• Provide leadership and promote teamwork.
• Plan, assign, direct and review the work of others.
• Train others in departmental and program specific policies and procedures.
• Plan, direct and coordinate resource conservation and sustainability programs, its staff and activities.
• Interpret laws, regulations, and data.
• Define difficult problem areas, research, and analyze complex data and make valid alternatives and recommendations.
• Plan, implement, coordinate, and evaluate multiple complex functions and assignments.
• Serve as subject matter expert in multiple areas of resource conservation.
• Track and monitor compliance with pertinent mandates, laws, codes, rules, regulations, and agreements.
• Serve as representative on various boards, committees, and community groups.
• Speak effectively and make public presentations, conduct outreach, training and/or public education as necessary.
• Prepare comprehensive reports, letters, and other written materials.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with variety of individuals at all levels including those from government, business, private and non-profit agencies, community groups and the public.
• Integrate race and social justice considerations into work duties.
  
  

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Application MaterialsThe following are required to be submitted:

• Regular online employment application form
• Cover letter expressing interest in the position
• Resume
  
  

Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply. A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification .

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given online, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE:

LinkedIn Live Informational Session: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Application Deadline: Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Application Screening: Monday, June 9, 2025

Civil Service Panel Interviews: Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Departmental Interviews: TBD

About The County