Senior Environmental Specialist - Recycling

Senior Environmental Specialist - Recycling

Salary

$81,379.33 - $103,088.89 Annually

Location

City of Folsom Corporation Yard, 1300 Leidesdorff Street, Folsom, CA

Job Type

Full Time Permanent

Job Number

26-00041

Department

Utilities

Division

Waste & Recycling

Opening Date

08/27/2026

Closing Date

9/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Definition

Applications must be filled out completely and thoroughly. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application, but may be additionally attached.

PLEASE ATTACH ANY DEGREES OR TRANSCRIPTS, LICENSES, AND CERTIFICATIONS TO YOUR APPLICATION.

Anchored in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada - 20 miles east of Sacramento and about 1.5 hours from Lake Tahoe - the City of Folsom is comprised of beautiful parks and trails, and boasts excellent schools, family-orientated neighborhoods, and outstanding shopping, dining, and cultural options. Folsom is a high-tech, forward-looking city, with firms ranging from small to large international corporations. Voted by WalletHub as the Best Place for Families to Live in California, and 2nd Best Lake Town in America, Folsom is recognized for its affordability, fair weather, education, and health.

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The City of Folsom is recruiting for a Senior Environmental Specialist to join the Waste & Recycling Division in the specialty area of recycling. This position will focus on recycling compliance programs relating to non-hazardous materials and will spend a majority of time providing technical assistance, inspections, and enforcement within the community, including program development and record keeping. The ideal candidate enjoys a variety of work environments and tasks, including physical outdoor labor, an office environment, and regular interaction with the public.

This is a Monday - Friday in-office position, and occasional weekend and after hours work. This position is non-exempt and represented by the Local 39 IUOE union.

Under the direction of the Environmental Specialist Supervisor, the Senior Environmental Specialist performs a variety of operational tasks (program management, educational training, safety awareness, and environmental compliance and audits) related to environmental services in a specialty area (recycling, hazardous waste, air pollution and storm water compliance). Incumbents may oversee, monitor ,and/or direct the work of lower level personnel.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Senior Environmental Specialist is the lead or specialist level in the Environmental Specialist series. In the lead assignment, incumbents provide direction to lower level staff including assigning, directing, and reviewing the work of staff. In the specialist assignment, incumbents work on specialized projects containing a high number of complex, difficult, and sensitive tasks and assignments. Positions at this level are distinguished from those in the lower level classification of Environmental Specialist I/II by the independence with which they perform their duties of handling the more difficult and complex work and performing lead work. This class is distinguished from the class of Environmental Specialist Supervisor in that the latter serves as the supervisor of incumbents in the lower levels of the series and performs the most difficult and complex projects.

Examples of Essential Duties

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed.

• Assign and monitor the work of lower level staff within the series.
• Develop environmental program designs and operating procedures according to federal and state laws and regulations.
• Provide technical assistance to staff in the development, implementation, and management of residential and commercial recycling programs; edible food recovery; household hazardous waste management programs; and/or storm water and air pollution prevention programs.
• Prepare and submit grant applications and, if awarded, oversee grant implementation and administration, and prepare grant progress reports.
• Assist in the budget development process and administer the respective programs budget.
• Prepare innovative educational and outreach material including flyers, brochures, presentations, displays, news articles, and social media posts.
• Provide information to members of the public, contractors, and consultants regarding hazardous materials, recycling, organics, and food recovery regulations and recycling programs; serve as a resource to city staff regarding proper handling and management of all manners of recyclable materials, organics and food recovery, hazardous and non-hazardous materials.
• Develop request for proposals for division services, including soliciting suppliers, reviewing proposals, making selection recommendations, and overseeing contracts.
• Compile and analyze data to prepare reports, including state required reports.
• Prepare business correspondence.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Essential Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• And experience with, composting, including the ability to develop and implement a municipal compost program, and provide educational programs on the subject.
• Methods and procedures used in inspecting, identifying, labeling, packaging, and correcting hazardous conditions associated with hazardous materials or wastes.
• Hazardous material, industrial hygiene, transportation, and disposal practices.
• Principles and practices of emergency preparedness.
• Effects of hazardous materials and their interaction with human health and the environment.
• Recycling techniques as related to the environment, energy conservation, and the economy.
• Laws, codes, regulations, and policies and ability to stay abreast of those that affect the City's programs.
• Residential municipal, commercial, and industrial waste recycling and disposal programs.
• Materials, equipment, and methods used in recycling and solid waste operations.
• Local environment, political, and planning issues of concern to solid and household hazardous waste disposal.
• Federal and state standards, acts, and regulations regarding recycling programs and hazardous materials, storm water and air pollution prevention compliance standards and controls.
• Microsoft Office including Outlook, Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint; general acumen of social media and web development.

Ability to:

• Lead professional and technical personnel on a team or project.
• Provide technical advice to subordinate personnel in solving difficult problems or assignments.
• Provide project management, budget, and project schedules.
• Prepare and administer requirements of contract plans and specifications.
• Use personal protective clothing and equipment to protect against exposure to hazardous materials.
• Analyze and use information to make sound decisions and recommendations.
• Make effective presentations before groups.
• Prepare and analyze sustainability, waste, recycling, and organics data.
• Prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence.
• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing, often in terms understandable to the general public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Conduct fieldwork to train staff and the general public.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

One (1) year of full-time experience as an Environmental Specialist II with the City of Folsom.

OR

Education:

A bachelors degree in geology, environmental engineering, industrial hygiene, environmental science, environmental studies, chemistry, biology, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.

AND

Experience:

Recycling:

Three (3) years of full-time experience developing and promoting environmental programs with at least one (1) year specific to recycling, resource recovery, or other comparable solid waste management programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with municipal procurement, grant management, and enforcement of environmental regulations.

Hazardous Waste:

Three (3) years of full-time experience developing and promoting environmental programs with at least one (1) year specific to hazardous waste disposal programs and/or facilities.

Stormwater:

Three (3) years of full-time experience developing and promoting environmental programs with at least one (1) year specific to NPDES permit compliance.

Substitution:

Additional qualifying experience in the specialty area can be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

License, Certificate, Registration Requirements:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain and retain, a California Class C driver license by the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain and retain, 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response and Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Manifest training.

Physical Requirements:

Work is performed in a typical office environment. (1) Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting for long periods of time; occasional bending or squatting. (2) Lifting: frequently up to 10 pounds; occasionally up to 25 pounds when assigned to the specialty areas of recycling or stormwater, up to 75 pounds when assigned to hazardous waste. (3) Vision: constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close-up work; occasional color and depth vision. (4) Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching. (5) Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone. (6) Emotional/ Psychological: frequent decision-making and concentration; frequent public and/or coworker contact; occasional working alone.(7) Environmental: frequent exposure to noise.

Other Requirements:

May be occasionally required to work outdoors and wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a full or half-face air purifying respirator. If assigned to the Hazardous Materials Division, will be subject to annual hazmat physical. Exposure to municipal solid waste including household hazardous waste and the elements including rain, heat, dirt, and dust.

The City of Folsom offers a wide range of employee benefits. Click here for a summary of benefits for our Miscellaneous employees. For specific benefit information, refer to the labor agreements (MOUs) of each bargaining unit.

01

These supplemental questions are an important first step in our screening process. Failure to provide complete responses may result in your application not being considered. In addition, the successful candidate is made a conditional offer subject to background check, which requires DOJ fingerprint clearance and a pre-employment physical, including screening for drug and alcohol use. By checking the box below, I acknowledge that I have read and understood the above information.

• I have read and understood background and screening process.

02

The salary range for this position is (M55) $81,379.33 - $103,088.89 annually with the City typically hiring at step 1. By checking the box below, you acknowledge your understanding of salary paid for this position.

• I acknowledge understanding of salary paid for this position.

03

Are you in a familial, cohabitant, or amorous relationship with any current employee of the City of Folsom? Examples of these relationships include: spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin, grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild, or great-grandchild. Relations may be by blood, marriage, adoption, or domestic partnership, including in-law, step- and half-relationships. (If yes, please answer the next question.)

• Yes
• No

04

Please list name of relative, relationship and department that your relative works in. (If not applicable, please type N/A)

05

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Did not complete high school or GED
• High school graduate or equivalent
• Some college
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher

06

How many years of full-time experience do you have developing and promoting recycling or resource recovery programs or other comparable Solid Waste Management or other environmental programs?

• None
• Less than 3 years
• 3 to 4 years
• 4 to 5 years
• 5 to 6 years
• 6 to 7 years
• More than 7 years

07

Why are you are interested in working for the City of Folsom as a Senior Environmental Specialist for the Waste & Recycling Division?

08

Please describe your professional experience working in the Waste and Recycling field.

09

Please explain your experience with procurement and contract management as it relates to environmental programs.

10

Do you have any additional comments pertaining to your application and/or attached documents? If not put "N/A".

Required Question

Employer City of Folsom

Address 50 Natoma Street

Folsom, California, 95630

Phone (916) 461-6050

Website http://www.folsom.ca.us