Supervising Recycling Ambassador (Community Activity Specialist) - Environmental Services Department

Job Description

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.

Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! We offer an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility - offering hybrid work and alternative work schedules in select roles. Additionally, the City offers excellent health and pension benefits , as well as 15 paid holidays!

To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook , Instagram , and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn .

About the Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Division:
ESD's Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Division leads one of the largest and most advanced solid waste management systems in the United States through creativity and innovation. IWM oversees San José's solid waste programs serving approximately 331,000 residential households, over 8,000 commercial customers and about 140 municipal facilities. Division staff collaborate with other City departments and establish strong partnerships with private companies, other government agencies, non-profits, and the community on a variety of key efforts. Experience fast-paced work and learn new skills that contribute to the bigger purpose of protecting the environment at a local level.
The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) Overstrength Supervising Recycling Ambassador (Community Activity Specialist) position in the IWM Division.

The annual salary range for this classification is:
$74,627.28 - $90,679.68

This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates' qualifications and experience.

The Supervising Recycling Ambassador (Community Activity Specialist) position is responsible for leading field operations and organizing the work activities for four (4) part-time Recycling Ambassadors (Community Activity Workers) in support of the Contamination and Recycling Tagging (CART) Program. The CART Program aims to reduce single-family dwelling recycling contamination. This work helps the City reach its zero-waste goal to increase material recycled, educate residents about items that are recyclable, reduce material landfilled, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and avoid future recycling fee increases. The Supervising Recycling Ambassador will lead the Recycling Ambassador team to efficiently provide residents across the San José Metropolitan area with recycling program expertise and community engagement while also addressing other Residential Program elements in the field. This position provides the individual with valuable recycling program experience, rewarding field work engaging residents in the community, and helps San José Recycle Right.

Typical duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Serve as the field supervisor directly supervising four (4) Recycling Ambassadors.
Supervise and train employees and monitor work activities.
Provide quality control and quality assurance in on-the-job training and support.
Drive an assigned City vehicle to residential neighborhoods.
Conduct, coordinate and direct outdoor fieldwork, scheduled starting at 6:00 AM Monday through Friday, for most of the workday.
Conduct remaining work in an office environment after outdoor field work is complete.
Plan, organize, and conduct team visual inspections of recycling carts at single-family homes focusing on visible contents only. Input data using a tablet and affix an education tag onto the cart.
Troubleshoot real-time technical issues in the field using a tablet and survey application.
Confirm team inspection materials including notes, cart photos, and quality control checks are processed and filed.
Engage with residents in a courteous and professional manner to answer recycling program or City service questions and guidance when leaving cart tags.
Support database management and recordkeeping activities and prepare written responses to residents as needed.
Maintain the field vehicle and order field supplies as needed to ensure uninterrupted operations and efficient data collection.
Support the development of the CART fieldwork Standard Operating Procedure and improvements to continue lowering the recycling contamination rate.
Plan team logistics for assigned fieldwork and ensure field supplies are re-stocked as needed.
Create and distribute field maps for planned neighborhood visits.
Ensure the team has required equipment and materials for daily field visits.
Provide ongoing program updates to leadership and collaborate with City staff as needed to maintain uninterrupted field operations.
Operate general office equipment including printers and scanners.
Maintain teamwork and ensure team goals are met efficiently.
Perform other IWM work as assigned.

This is a temporary (Overstrength) position that is anticipated to be funded through June 30, 2026, subject to further extension as appropriate. If this position is not extended through the budget process, the City may seek to place you in other internal job opportunities based on your previous work experience.
Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent (General Education Development (GED) Test or California Proficiency Certificate).

Experience: Three (3) years of full-time equivalent work experience (6,240 hours) with diverse neighborhoods, residents experiencing homelessness, blight reduction programs, underserved communities, or neighborhood engagement and mobilization.

Acceptable Substitutions: Up to two (2) years of undergraduate course work from an accredited college or university (equivalent to at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units) may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Certifications: Must possess a valid California Driver's License.

If selected, the Conditional Offer of Employment may be contingent upon you providing proof of a valid State of California driver's license, and an assessment of your California DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) as per the DMV Release of Driver Record Information form. Failure to pass the DMV Pull Notice assessment will deem you ineligible for employment.
The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.

Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills - Devel