Senior Planning Specialist (Zero Waste Programs), Grade 25

Senior Planning Specialist (Zero Waste Programs), Grade 25

Salary

$85,937.00 - $137,907.00 Annually

Location

2425 Reedie Dr Wheaton MD 20902 USA

Job Type

Permanent

Job Number

2026-00568

Department

Department of Environmental Protection

Division

DEP 80 Zero Waste Programs Division

Opening Date

09/30/2026

Closing Date

10/14/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About the Position

Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $85,937 to $134,915, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery Countys air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving more sustainable economy and healthy communities. DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Planning Specialist to join the Zero Waste Programs Division (ZWPD).

The successful candidate will have the ability to collect and analyze complex information to recommend innovative, effective ways to reduce waste disposal in the County and design new programs and policies to move the County closer to zero waste.

Specifically, the ideal candidate will have:

• Thorough knowledge of the strategies for and approaches to Zero Waste.
• Excellent research and analysis skills, including the ability to analyze and interpret numerical research data and evaluate the impacts of current or proposed programs and initiatives to reduce waste and increase recycling.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to persuade and to present complex information to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private sector representatives.
• Skill in project management and supervision of technical studies
• Experience in Zero Waste programming, including development of plans, procedures, laws, regulations and programs.
• Experience in developing new and improving existing programs to reduce waste, reuse and recycle more.
• Experience presenting, explaining, justifying and defending complex solid waste related mandates, policies and issues to various audiences and segments of the community.
• Experience managing projects and technical studies pertaining to waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, including multiple deliverables, milestones and deadlines.

What Youll Be Doing

This position will be responsible for identifying and planning strategies to reduce waste, increase recycling, and help drive the County closer to zero waste.

Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Researching and analyzing information, evaluating impacts of policy and program proposals in terms of cost effectiveness, stakeholder impact, and likely diversion.
• Identifying gaps and areas for improvement in the Countys waste management and recycling programs; and recommending, planning, and coordinating the implementation of new and enhanced waste reduction and recycling programs, policies, and technologies
• Compiling information and research on policies, programs, and technologies in use in other jurisdictions to determine their feasibility in Montgomery County.
• Reviewing and analyzing data on waste generation and recycling to identify gaps in programs and policies to target future efforts.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of current recycling and waste reduction programs to identify areas for additional focus.
• Comprehensively plan new and enhanced programs, including identifying relevant steps, timelines, resource needs, and communication plans.
• Writing policy proposals, including new or amended regulations, bills, and/or guidance documents.
• Creating and communicating compelling and data-supported justifications for the adoption of new programs and policies, including for internal and external audiences.
• Developing programs to address near-term priority areas, including construction and demolition waste, reuse and repair, organics diversion, and alternative technologies to manage municipal solid waste.
• Working closely with other DEP and County representatives to incorporate feedback and ensure that new programs are designed to be feasible and coordinated with existing programs.
• Identifying and planning near-term actions that can be taken to make meaningful program quickly on priority Issues.
• Working with other planning staff in the ZWPD to develop short-, medium-, and long-range plans and projections layout out the Countys path toward zero waste.

This position involves occasional field work which includes site visits to solid waste, recycling, and other facilities.

This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office.

This position requires possession of a valid drivers license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to attend site visits, stakeholder meetings, and other events outside the office.

This position requires completion of a pre-employment Medical History Form to assess your ability to safely perform the essential duties of the role.

This position is designated as one that requires filing a Financial Disclosure Statement and you will be required to disclose information about your financial affairs.

Occasional evening or weekend work outside of normal business hours may be required.

To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Five (5) years of experience in planning, developing, and/or implementing waste reduction and recycling programs, policies, or initiatives.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelors degree in an appropriate planning specialization or related field such as environmental studies, environmental science, environmental policy, planning, engineering, public administration, public policy, economics, political science, or related field.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education or experience may be substituted.

License: Possession of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicants state of residence when required for job-related duties.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following.

• Experience developing a new or improved program that had a quantifiable impact on reducing waste or recycling more.
• Background in federal, state, or local government waste and recycling policies, programs, and initiatives.
• Experience presenting, explaining, justifying and defending complex solid waste related mandates, policies and issues to various audiences and segments of the community.
• Experience managing projects and technical studies pertaining to waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, including multiple deliverables, milestones and deadlines.
• Experience developing metrics and other methods of evaluating the impact of recycling outreach or other behavior change strategies.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicants responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the Countys "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriffs office) are subject to the Countys ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits

01

What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Juris Doctor
• Doctorate

02

How many years of experience do you have in planning, developing, and/or implementing waste reduction and recycling programs, policies, or initiatives?

• Less than 1 year or No Experience
• 1 Year Experience
• 2 Years Experience
• 3 Years Experience
• 4 Years of Experience
• 5 Years of Experience
• 6 Years of Experience
• 7 Years of Experience
• 8 Years of Experience
• 9+ Years of experience

03

Do you possess and currently maintain a VALID drivers license from your state of residence?

• Yes
• No

04

Are you able to drive a County vehicle to attend site visits, stakeholder meetings, and other events outside the office?

• Yes
• No

05

Please describe your experience developing a new or improved program that resulted in a quantifiable reduction in waste or an increase in recycling. Include an example of managing differing perspectives or priorities. Please indicate which job(s) on your resume demonstrate this experience. If you do not have experience, please state N/A. If no, please state not applicable.

06

Please describe your background working with federal, state, or local government waste and recycling policies, programs, and initiatives. If you do not have experience, please state N/A. If no, please state not applicable.

07

Please describe your experience presenting, explaining, justifying, and defending complex solid waste-related mandates, policies, and issues to various audiences and segments of the community.

08

Please describe your experience managing projects and technical studies related to waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, including coordinating multiple deliverables, milestones, and deadlines.

09

Please describe your experience developing metrics and other methods for evaluating the impact of recycling outreach efforts or other behavior change strategies.

10

Are you comfortable performing occasional field work, including site visits to solid waste, recycling, and other facilities?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Montgomery County (MD)

Address 101 Monroe Street

7th Floor

Rockville, Maryland, 20850

Phone 240-777-5000

Website https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ohr