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waste program supervisor

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Waste Program Supervisor
salary: $ - $
categories:
- Environmental Services
- Waste Management
- Public Works
description: A comprehensive overview of the key responsibilities, required technical skills and professional background for the role of a Waste Program Supervisor.
Clear, SEO-optimized summary of the Waste Program Supervisor role: The Waste Program Supervisor leads municipal or regional solid waste, recycling, composting and hazardous waste programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, contract and budget management, and community engagement. Ideal candidates have hands-on experience in waste operations, route logistics, permitting and public outreach, plus demonstrated leadership, data-driven decision-making and vendor/contract oversight.

🎯 Role Definition

The Waste Program Supervisor is responsible for planning, implementing and supervising comprehensive waste management programs including curbside collection, transfer station operations, landfill management, recycling and organics diversion, household hazardous waste (HHW) collection, and special waste events. This position ensures compliance with federal, state and local regulations, manages budgets and contracts, supervises front-line staff and contractors, develops performance metrics and public education campaigns, and drives continuous improvement in diversion, safety and customer service.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Recycling Coordinator or Program Specialist with hands-on program delivery experience.
  • Operations Supervisor or Crew Lead in municipal public works or private solid waste collection.
  • Environmental Technician or Compliance Specialist with waste-related responsibilities.

Advancement To:

  • Solid Waste Operations Manager
  • Director of Environmental Services or Public Works
  • Regional Waste Management Program Director

Lateral Moves:

  • Composting Program Manager
  • Sustainability Program Manager
  • Environmental Compliance Supervisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead, plan and oversee day-to-day operations of municipal and regional waste programs (curbside collection, recycling, organics, transfer stations and HHW facilities), ensuring efficient service delivery, adherence to schedules and 24/7 operational readiness where required.
  • Supervise, train and evaluate field crews, supervisors and administrative staff; develop staffing plans, assign work, enforce safety protocols and maintain personnel records, progressive discipline and performance improvement plans.
  • Develop, administer and monitor program budgets, prepare cost projections, track expenditures, recommend budget adjustments, and identify opportunities for cost savings and revenue generation (tip fees, recycling rebates, grants).
  • Manage contracts and service agreements with waste haulers, processing facilities, landfill operators and vendors; prepare scopes of work, lead procurement processes, monitor contractor performance and ensure compliance with contractual terms.
  • Ensure regulatory compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and permits (RCRA, state solid waste codes, air and water permits); prepare permit applications, coordinate inspections and respond to regulatory inquiries and mitigation requests.
  • Design, implement and evaluate waste diversion strategies and programs (source reduction, curbside recycling, composting, construction & demolition diversion, organics processing), set diversion targets and monitor program impacts.
  • Oversee facility operations including transfer stations, composting sites and drop-off centers: enforce operational procedures, supervise maintenance schedules, manage equipment needs and coordinate capital improvement projects.
  • Develop and implement health and safety programs for operations staff, conduct safety training, manage incident investigations and maintain OSHA and HAZWOPER compliance where applicable.
  • Develop and maintain performance metrics and data systems for route efficiency, tonnage tracking, contamination rates, customer service KPIs and program cost effectiveness; use data analytics to optimize routes, staffing and program design.
  • Plan and coordinate household hazardous waste (HHW) collections and special waste events; ensure safe handling, transport and disposal of hazardous materials and maintain manifests and chain-of-custody documentation.
  • Lead public outreach, education and customer service initiatives: create outreach materials, perform community presentations, manage complaints, and guide behavior-change campaigns to reduce contamination and increase participation.
  • Prepare grant applications, manage awarded grants and funding programs; track project deliverables, financial reporting and compliance with funder requirements.
  • Coordinate emergency response and contingency planning for spills, fires, natural disasters or service disruptions that affect waste collection and disposal operations.
  • Perform regular inspections of landfills, transfer stations and collection equipment to assure environmental controls, erosion prevention, leachate and stormwater systems are functioning and meeting permit requirements.
  • Oversee data collection for waste composition studies, perform or commission audits, and translate findings into program improvements and policy recommendations.
  • Collaborate with planning, engineering and environmental teams on capital projects, permitting, site design and construction oversight for facilities such as transfer stations and composting plants.
  • Maintain and update operational policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), contingency plans and manuals to reflect best practices and regulatory changes.
  • Coordinate interdepartmental and interagency partnerships (public works, parks, health departments, neighboring jurisdictions, private sector partners) to streamline service delivery and share resources.
  • Manage purchasing and inventory for operational supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), small equipment and vehicle spare parts; work with fleet managers for vehicle acquisition and preventative maintenance.
  • Provide technical guidance to elected officials, advisory committees and community boards; prepare reports, presentations and briefings that summarize program outcomes, budgets and policy options.
  • Oversee contamination reduction programs and policy enforcement (bag limits, cart programs, recycling ordinances), including issuing citations or penalties where required and managing appeals processes.

Secondary Functions

  • Support development and maintenance of GIS-based route maps and fleet routing software to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
  • Assist in the development of procurement specifications and evaluation of new processing technologies (MRF upgrades, anaerobic digestion, advanced composting systems).
  • Contribute to strategic planning for long-term solid waste management including zero-waste initiatives and regional integrated solid waste management plans.
  • Lead pilot programs for new collection methods, materials recovery technologies or community drop-off models and evaluate scalability and cost-effectiveness.
  • Track industry trends, attend conferences, and participate in professional networks (SWANA, state associations) to bring best practices to the organization.
  • Coordinate with finance for rate-setting studies, fee structure adjustments and public hearings regarding service level changes or rate increases.
  • Maintain records and prepare compliance reports for state environmental agencies and the EPA, including tonnage reports, emissions inventories and diversion documentation.
  • Support workforce development, apprenticeship programs and cross-training to build organizational capacity and resilience.
  • Assist in internal audits and third-party audits of environmental compliance, safety and program performance.
  • Serve as on-call manager for operational escalations, public inquiries and emergency response outside of normal business hours as assigned.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Solid waste operations management (collection, transfer, processing, landfill operations, organics).
  • Regulatory compliance knowledge (RCRA, state solid waste regulations, air & water permits, HHW handling).
  • Contract administration and procurement (RFP development, contractor oversight, performance metrics).
  • Budgeting and financial management for municipal programs, including rate modeling and grant administration.
  • Data analysis and reporting (Excel advanced functions, data visualization, familiarity with SQL or business intelligence tools preferred).
  • Route optimization and fleet logistics (experience with routing software, GPS telematics and fuel efficiency strategies).
  • HAZWOPER, hazardous material handling and safe transport procedures for HHW and special wastes.
  • Facility operations oversight (transfer station, MRF, compost facility operations and maintenance).
  • GIS basics and use of mapping tools for route planning and facility siting.
  • Familiarity with recycling and organics processing technologies and markets (MRF operations, composting, AD).

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and people management with experience coaching frontline crews and supervisors.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills for public outreach, reporting and stakeholder engagement.
  • Problem-solving and analytical mindset; able to convert data into actionable operational improvements.
  • Customer service orientation with conflict resolution and complaint management experience.
  • Project management skills, including scheduling, stakeholder coordination and delivery under tight timelines.
  • Diplomacy and political acumen when advising elected officials and handling sensitive community issues.

(Collectively these skills reflect competencies commonly cited in municipal and private sector Waste Program Supervisor job postings.)

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, Civil Engineering or a related field OR equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible work experience in solid waste management.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field plus coursework or certificate in solid waste management, or a Master’s degree in Public Administration, Environmental Management or related discipline.
  • Professional certifications such as SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America) Supervisor/Manager certification, Certified Recycling Professional (CRP) or HAZWOPER certification are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Science
  • Public Administration
  • Civil or Environmental Engineering
  • Business Administration
  • Sustainability or Resource Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in waste management, recycling or public works operations; includes at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead capacity.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of experience overseeing municipal or regional solid waste programs, with demonstrated success in contract management, regulatory compliance and community engagement.
  • Experience with program budgeting, grant writing/administration and data-driven program optimization.
  • Demonstrated track record of improving diversion rates, reducing costs and enhancing customer service in a comparable organization.
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