Cleanup Coordinator I/II

Cleanup Coordinator I/II

Salary

See Position Description

Location

City of Bellingham, WA

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

26-Cleanup Coord I/II

Department

Public Works

Opening Date

08/07/2026

Closing Date

8/24/2026 8:30 AM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

231

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Nature of Work

The City of Bellinghams Public Works Department is seeking a proactive Cleanup Coordinator to direct and support coordinated cleanup activities on City property and public rights of way. If you're committed to public safety, environmental standards, and collaborative problem-solving, we invite you to apply.

Why join our team?

Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.

Nature of Work

This position is responsible for coordination of cleanup efforts of all types of illegal dumping and litter. Provides direction and oversight of contractors and city staff carrying out clean up operations of illegal encampments on public rights of way and City owned properties. Ensures compliance with legal and environmental standards and regulations, oversees property collection and storage protocols, reporting requirements and liaises with other City departments, outside agencies, law enforcement, contractors and the public to ensure collaborative and efficient operations at assigned illegal encampment or dumping sites.

This is a non-uniformed civilian enforcement position working under a limited commission including the ability to issue citations.

Cleanup Coordinator II

Provides day to day leadership for the program area. Plans and assigns work to solid waste program staff and coordinates with supervisors in other divisions to schedule resources to assist in cleanup operations. Administers contracts for cleanup services and serves as a resource to Public Works Department leadership and other City departments on complex and sensitive cleanup operations.

For more information about this position, please review the job description.

SALARY AND BENEFITS INFORMATION:

• Cleanup Coordinator I salary range: $7,214 - $8,735 monthly
• Cleanup Coordinator II salary range: $7,954 - $9,638 monthly

Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy.

The City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience as listed on the application material, in accordance with City policy. Candidates who exceed the minimum experience requirements shall be given credit for advanced step placement at the rate of one additional pay step for each two full years of directly related or equivalent professional experience beyond the minimum requirements. Candidates who meet minimum qualifications or have experience that is not directly related or in a lower-level position will be placed at step one in the salary range. For positions that require a bachelor's degree, one additional step may be granted for applicants with a master's degree in a related field when the master's degree is not required to meet minimum qualifications.

For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours of sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Mon. 08/24/26 8:30 AM Pacific Time

Experience and Training

Positions will be filled at the appropriate level based on the needs of the department and requisite experience and training.

Cleanup Coordinator I

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, environmental science, social services, mental health, or related field. Four years of directly related work experience may substitute for the education requirement.
• One year of experience in program or project coordination, code compliance, regulatory enforcement or related experience.
• Experience in social services preferred.
• In place of the above requirements an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

Cleanup Coordinator II

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, environmental science, social services, mental health, or related field.
• Two years experience in program or project coordination, code compliance, regulatory enforcement or related experience.
• Moderate to High Risk hazardous materials handling experience preferred.
• Project or contract management experience preferred.
• Experience with social services preferred.
• In place of the above requirements, an equivalent combination of education and experience, sufficient to provide the candidate with the knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, local background check and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
• Valid Washington State drivers license and good driving record. Candidates must submit a three-year driving abstract prior to hire, with periodic submission of driving abstract per City policy.
• Must successfully complete de-escalation and communication training as established by the department within 6 months of hire.
• Other training as required by the department.

Selection Process

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City's commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Interviews for the most qualified candidates are tentatively scheduled for the week of September 21, 2026. Invitations to participate in the Interview process will be sent via e-mail on or around September 10, 2026.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not discriminate or make decisions on the basis of an individuals race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicants criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section for additional information.

This position is represented by the Teamsters 231 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Teamsters 231 labor agreement.

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website for more information on PERS.

01

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions. Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have or are you willing to obtain a Washington State drivers license and provide a 3-year driving history prior to hire?

• Yes
• No

03

Are you willing and able to complete de-escalation and communication training as established by the Department within 6 months of hire?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have a Bachelors degree in public administration, environmental science, social services, mental health, or related field?

• Yes
• No

05

If you answered "No" to the question above, do you have four years of directly related work experience to substitute for the education requirement? If so, please briefly describe, including all relevant details (employer, job title, dates of employment, job duties, etc).

Note: the four years experience must be in addition to the one year experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications. How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we'll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

06

Do you have one year of experience in program or project coordination, code compliance, regulatory enforcement or related experience?

• Yes
• No

07

If you do not meet the minimum qualifications described above, do you have an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job? If so, please briefly describe, including details such as job title, employer, dates of employment, job duties, etc.

08

Do you have experience in social services?

(This is a preferred qualification; answering "no" will not disqualify your application.)

• Yes
• No

09

Work in this position takes place both in the office and outdoors, often in undeveloped areas and all weather conditions. Field duties may involve exposure to trash, debris, biohazards, hazardous materials, rough terrain, and interactions with individuals who may be angry, volatile, or verbally abusive. The role requires wearing protective gear, lifting up to 50 pounds, and moving between sites. Are you willing and able to perform work under these conditions?

• Yes
• No

10

Do you have experience handling Moderate to High Risk hazardous materials?

(This is a preferred qualification; answering "no" will not disqualify your application.)

• Yes
• No

11

Please explain your experience in program or project coordination, code compliance, regulatory enforcement or related experience, including employer and dates of experience.

12

Please describe your project or contract management experience, including the types of projects/contracts you managed, your role, and the key responsibilities you handled. (Note: This is preferred, not required.)

13

Please describe how you would de-escalate tense encounters or navigate sensitive conversations in the field.

Required Question

Employer City of Bellingham

Address 104 West Magnolia Street

Bellingham, Washington, 98225

Phone 360-778-8220

Website http://www.cob.org/employment