SUPERINTENDENT - REFUSE
Salary
$117,314.12 - $153,016.79 Annually
Location
City of Long Beach, CA
Job Type
Unclassified - Full-Time, Permanent
Job Number
ER27-001
Department
Energy Resources - (UC)
Division
ER-COLL & CUST SVC-COLL SVCS
Opening Date
10/08/2026
Closing Date
11/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DESCRIPTION
The City of Long Beach is seeking a highly qualified and experienced professional to oversee the collection of residential and commercial solid waste.
THE COMMUNITY
Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and five golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best-value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America's Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach operates as a charter city governed by an elected Mayor and nine City Council members elected by district. The City Manager, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, oversees the daily operations of 15 departments and a Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) annual budget of $4B. The City employs over 6K full-time and part-time staff; dedicated to providing exceptional public services with the vast majority being represented by eleven employee associations. As the City navigates a challenging fiscal environment and addresses projected budget shortfalls, City Leadership remains focused on strategic prioritization, operational efficiency, and long-term organizational sustainability while continuing to deliver high-quality services to the community.
The City of Long Beach fosters an environment where every employee is celebrated for their individuality and unique talents they bring to their role. Reflecting the diversity of the community within the workforce is a key priority embraced at every level of the organization and integrated into hiring, professional development, leadership, and organizational decision-making. City Leadership actively promotes equity and inclusion by partnering with staff and community stakeholders to foster a more inclusive, accessible, and transparent organization. Transparency remains a cornerstone of these efforts with demographic data, including workforce diversity and pay equity by race and gender, shared publicly to ensure accountability and progress.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Energy and Environmental Services Department purpose is to manage in an environmentally responsible manner the City of Long Beach (City) and State of California's (State's) onshore and offshore production of oil and gas while maximizing production levels and revenues. To oversee the transition of the City's Southeast Resource Recovery Facility (SERRF) from its current decommissioning and demolition towards redevelopment of the site as a regional organic waste receiving and processing facility. To provide reliable and cost-effective refuse, recycling, and organics collection services to the City's ratepayers, supporting established sustainability goals and landfill diversion mandates while maintaining affordable rates and excellent service. To ensure compliance with all local and State solid waste laws and regulations.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
THE POSITION
The Superintendent of Refuse is an at-will, management position that reports to the Manager-Collections and Customer Service, in the Collections and Customer Service Bureau. The Collections and Customer Service Bureau has 158 budgeted positions and a Fiscal Year 2026 budget of $65.2 million. The Bureau services over 120,000 residential and commercial waste collection accounts on a weekly basis, collecting over 194,000 tons of waste annually.
The position is responsible for management of the Collections and Customer Service Division, comprised of 148 full-time equivalent positions engaged in the collection and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste. In the bureau, there are two Superintendents of Refuse and the oversight of operations is split between the two positions. In addition to managing the complex day to day operations of solid waste collection and disposal, the Superintendent will analyze and evaluate new technology, equipment, and systems to determine their potential utility in the collection of solid waste, and develop solutions to operational challenges. The Superintendent will maintain budget controls, ensure optimum utilization of allocated resources, work with the City Safety Officer and Safety Specialist to reduce the Divisions accident and injury rate, and enforce City, Department, Bureau, and Division policies and procedures. In addition, the Superintendent will participate in Citywide efforts affecting solid waste operations and partner with stakeholders to develop innovative projects and programs to improve the quality of life for City residents.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Superintendent of Refuse will be a seasoned supervisor or manager with a demonstrated ability to provide strong leadership in an operational environment and possess strong organizational and interpersonal skills to serve as a valuable resource throughout the City. The ideal candidate will be customer service oriented with a history of effective partnerships, responsiveness, problem solving, and conflict resolution. The ideal candidate will have the ability to fit well within an energetic and dedicated team managing diverse priorities and projects, and embody the attributes of principled leadership: trusteeship, values, ethics, commitment, honesty, involvement, and vision. Experience working in organizations of similar complexity, structure and size with similar challenges is desirable. Additional desirable qualifications includes; experience with organics collection (AB1826 & SB1383), experience conducting and implementing routing studies and experience developing employee training programs.??
REQUIREMENTS TO FILE
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
SELECTION PROCEDURE
This recruitment will close on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11:59 pm. To be considered, applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, proof of education (if qualifying). Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination before appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact (562) 570-7287.
The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We value diversity in our workforce and are committed to creating a workplace where every employee is respected and included. We strive to reflect the diversity of our community at all levels of the organization, promote fair and equitable employment practices, advance equity, and inclusion through our work with staff and community partners, and promote transparency by publishing workforce demographic information, including diversity and pay data by race and gender.
The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting Fair Chance Act | CRD (ca.gov)
The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting the Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov).
The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call 562-570-7008.
In support of the City's Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public.
For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.
Employee Benefits
The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally. As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:
Retirement: California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. The benefit is 2.5% @55 for "Classic" members and 2%@62 for new members as defined by PEPRA. Subject to employee contribution. Both the City and the employee contributes toward CalPERS retirement contributions. The city also participates in Social Security.
Health and Dental Insurance: The City offers the choice of HMO and PPO plans. The city pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/ dental plan selected.
Life Insurance: City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three (3) times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.
Disability Insurance: City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
Management Physical: Annual City-paid physical examination.
Vacation: Twelve (12) vacation days after the first year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19 years, six months of service.
Executive Leave: Forty (40) hours Executive Leave per year. The City Manager has discretion to grant an additional 40 hours each year.
Sick Leave: One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.
Holidays: Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employees discretion.
Transportation Allowance: Monthly allowance is allocated by classifications below;
Department Head $650.00
Deputy Director/Manager $550.00
Chief of Staff / Administrator / Principal DCA: $450.00
Executive Support Staff: $300.00
Deferred Compensation Plan: Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through Mission Square Retirement formerly ICMA-RC Retirement Corporation). City contributes 1% of employees base pay to the employees 401(a) plan; effective September 30, 2022, the City will contribute 2% of employees base pay to the employees 401(a) account. Employees may opt to contribute up to the IRS annual limits as well.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.
Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule: Available (subject to City Manager approval).
Paid Parental Leave: After six (6) months of City employment; up to 30 calendar days (160 hours) of PPL, taken in full-day increments, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of seventeen (17).
Management positions - Refer to the Job Posting brochure included in the job posting.
01
INSTRUCTIONS: The purpose of these supplemental questions is to derive more specific information about the qualifications of applicants for this position. Applicants must clearly demonstrate their qualifying experience. These questions will serve as the basis for qualifying candidates for advancement into the selection process. Do you understand these instructions?
02
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Do you hold a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field? Candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
03
Please indicate if you possess five (5) years of progressively responsible solid waste or recycling experience.
04
Of the required five (5) years of required work experience noted in the previous question, please indicate if you possess two (2) years of supervisory/managerial level experience directing large, complex solid waste or recycling collection operations.
05
Do you have a valid Class C Driver License?
06
Please describe your experience planning, managing, and overseeing the daily functions, operations, and activities of a solid waste or recycling collection operation. Include the name of the employer, your length of employment, the nature of the operation(s), the number and type of personnel supervised/managed, and what your role was. What was the most challenging issue you faced in supervising or managing the operation(s) and what steps did you take to overcome it?
07
Please describe projects or programs you have developed or been a participant in that seeks to enhance sustainability and improves the quality of life for residents. Include the name of the employer, your length of employment, the nature of the project/programs, the number and type of personnel supervised/managed, and what your role was. Municipal operations should be focused on improving effectiveness and efficiency. Provide an example of an effort you led to improve effectiveness and/or efficiency. Include the process utilized, the stakeholders, the performance measures used to gauge success, and the outcome. Was the effort successful? Why or why not? Looking back, what would you have done differently?
08
Providing excellent customer service is extremely important to the City Manager, the City Council, the Department of Public Works and our community. Poor customer service hurts the image and credibility of public employees and causes us to spend more time mending fences rather than building bridges. What specific actions would you take to monitor and enhance customer service? What challenges do you foresee in solid waste or recycling collection operations that hamper or can aid this type of effort? Finally, list 5 specific actions you have undertaken to enhance a solid waste or recycling collection operations customer service.
09
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS NOTICE: I understand that required documents, such as resumes, cover letters, degrees, or transcripts, must be uploaded to my online application in PDF format at the time of filing. I also understand that any proofs submitted must contain either my name or other identifying characteristics on the form, that proof of education for academic degrees must indicate degree conferral, and that proof of education for degrees or units outside the United States must include proof of educational equivalency.
10
The application process for this position requires that you attach: 1. a cover letter, 2. a resume, and 3. proof of education (degrees or transcripts) if qualifying with education. Did you attach these documents?
11
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT: I hereby certify that all information provided in my online application, including the Supplemental Questionnaire, is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I acknowledge that the department may contact my current and past employers or educators to verify the information that I have provided in my application. I understand that any falsification or omission of material facts disqualifies me from further consideration for this recruitment.
To certify the above statement, please type your full name below.
Required Question
Employer City of Long Beach
Department Energy Resources - (UC) Address 2400 E. Spring Street
Long Beach, California, 90806
Phone (562) 570-2000
| Location | Long Beach, CA |
| Salary | $117,314.12–$153,016.79 Per Year |
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