SWD Operations Section Manager

King County•Maple Valley, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a six-month senior leadership assignment within the Operations Section of King County’s Solid Waste Division. The role focuses on organizational culture and financial stewardship, aiming to transform how the organization works rather than just maintaining operations. The successful candidate will lead the operation of one of the largest solid waste systems in Washington State, managing nearly 900,000 tons of garbage and recyclables annually. Key responsibilities include partnering with leadership to strengthen team culture, improve financial stewardship, and build systems that increase accountability, trust, and operational excellence. The role involves fostering relationships, collaboration, and teamwork within the operations section and across the division to function as “One King County.” This is a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position with an anticipated duration of six months. Success will be measured by strong leadership, healthier teams, smarter financial decisions, and sustainable improvements. The position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.

Requirements

Knowledge of the principles and practices of management and supervision, budget development, financial management in capital improvement and operating programs, policy implementation and governance.
Experience in managing programs, ensuring deliverables, managing tasks, and communicating results.
Demonstrated experience effectively leading a diverse workforce that includes employees from multiple racial, ethnic, gender and ableness communities.
Ability to communicate diplomatically on sensitive issues.
Politically savvy, well equipped with managerial courage, and the ability to incorporate conflict management and collaboration skills based on situational needs.
Organizationally agile to manage multiple complex programs and projects, get things done and understand the culture of the organization.
Skillfully maneuver in a politically highly unionized environment.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering and systems operation.
Experiences that demonstrate the ability to manage down to section staff, collaboratively across division leadership and up to department leadership and the Executive.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership in overall operation and maintenance of King County’s regional solid waste system.
Provide guidance for assigned staff on workplace policies, public services, and professional development.
Manage the work of assigned staff.
Develop and oversee the section’s operations and maintenance annual budget.
Monitor and control expenditures to ensure spending aligns with approved budget projections.
Proactively identify, address and correct budget variances and over-expenditures to maintain fiscal responsibility.
Monitor capital portfolio, programs and projects.
Coordinate start-up of new and rebuilt facilities.
Participate in planning facility and system expansions to meet future growth and new requirements.
Ensure compliance with permits and regulatory reporting requirements for the operations of the regional landfill, transfer stations, closed landfills, and landfill gas processing facility, including, but not limited to, stormwater, leachate, air quality, groundwater, and public health.
Provide leadership, collaborating with the sections in complying with regulations.
Establish and implement section policies and procedures.
Oversee the evaluation, development, and implementation of solid waste management systems, operation and maintenance improvements utilizing new technology.
Monitor and stay up to date with current trends in the solid waste industry including legislation, science, safety, and professional practices and techniques.
Recommend policy, procedural and equipment purchases and modifications.
Participate with division leadership in managing relationships among various sections within the division.
Identify section needs and priorities to plan and implement systems’ improvement.
Oversee daily work.
Advocate for key organizational initiatives, values and priorities of King County and the Solid Waste Division.
Provide senior leadership level direction to the Operations Management Team by developing performance management systems, setting clear expectations, coaching, and managing performance.
Ensure efficient and effective allocation of resources within a multi-disciplinary system of integrated operational functions.