Special Projects Manager
About The Position
The Special Projects Manager leads, plans, and coordinates high-priority initiatives to improve operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, environmental performance, and organizational effectiveness within the waste management system. The role manages complex, cross-departmental projects from concept through implementation, ensuring they meet objectives within established timelines, funding parameters, and strategic priorities. The manager evaluates business needs, develops project frameworks, oversees resource allocation, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, technical experts, and service partners. The position provides analytical, technical, and operational leadership to support innovation and modernization, mitigate risks, and deliver sustainable, measurable outcomes aligned with organizational goals. Waste Services provides weekly curbside waste collection and every-other-week curbside recycling collection to more than 151,000 customers in the urban services district, and collects more than 200 public litter baskets in downtown Nashville. The division operates four convenience centers and eight recycling drop-off locations. Its staff work in collection, administration, customer service, education, landfill engineering, development review, and outreach.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and five years of verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry; additional verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry may substitute for education at a 1:1 ratio.
- Demonstrated successful completion of assigned projects with progression in project size and complexity.
- Employees must reside in Tennessee or become residents of Tennessee within six months of employment.
Nice To Haves
- Waste management experience in the public sector, including community resources, related agencies, and available services.
- Experience preparing, administering, and managing grants; analyzing program effectiveness; and implementing program or process improvements.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent, such as PMI-ACP or CAPM.
- Certified Solid Waste Manager (CSWM) certification through the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).
- SWANA certifications in relevant specialty areas.
Responsibilities
- Review project proposals and plans to define timelines, funding limits, methods, and resource allocation.
- Oversee and approve project design from concept through construction closeout.
- Establish, manage, and monitor project schedules to ensure adherence to planned milestones.
- Review and certify contractor and consultant progress payments for accuracy and compliance.
- Develop project staffing plans and establish work plans and schedules for all project phases.
- Assign personnel, define responsibilities, and establish authority levels for project team members.
- Direct and coordinate project activities through subordinate staff and manage budgets to control expenditures.
- Review project status reports and adjust schedules or resources as necessary.
- Prepare project status reports and communicate updates to management and stakeholders.
- Collaborate with project personnel, vendors, and contractors to provide technical guidance and support problem resolution.
- Coordinate project activities with governmental or regulatory agencies as required.
- Conduct or oversee operational audits covering regulatory compliance, environmental performance, operational processes, vendor and contractor performance, financial controls, QA/QC, risk mitigation, and project delivery.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
