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Montgomery County MD

Recycling Volunteer Coordinator (Program Specialist II - Grade 21)

Montgomery County MD, Silver Spring, MD, United States


Salary : $68,501.00 - $108,899.00 Annually

Location : 2425 Reedie Dr Wheaton MD 20902 USA

Job Type: Permanent

Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number: 2024 - 00302

Department: Department of Environmental Protection

Division: DEP 80 Waste Reduction and Recycling

Opening Date: 10/22/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

FLSA: Exempt

About the Position

The expected salary range for this role on hire is: $65,551 - $102,005

WHO WE ARE

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is a nationally recognized and award-winning agency with the mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water, and land in a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and industry-leading way while fostering smart growth, a thriving more sustainable economy and healthy communities.

DEP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. DEP encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

DEP is seeking an experienced individual to join the Waste Reduction and Recycling Section in the Recycling and Resource Management Division. The Program Specialist II will oversee the Recycling Volunteer Program and must have knowledge of recycling, reuse and waste reduction to have a positive impact.

The successful candidate will have the following experience, knowledge, and skills:

  • Knowledge of public education, outreach, and techniques to communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of recycling technologies, processes, trends, and equipment, as well as recyclable commodity markets/conditions, as well as program development to maximize recycling and increase the amount of materials recycled.
  • Experience in planning, coordinating, and implementing program plans and projects related to solid waste and recycling.
  • Experience working independently, as well as in interdisciplinary teams to jointly resolve problems, achieve common goals, and meet deadlines.
  • Ability to deal tactfully, effectively and equitably with people to collaborate on issues, resolve problems, and achieve consensus.
  • Strong organizational skills.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences to interpret and explain requirements, and work through issues.
  • Experience preparing presentations, written reports, documentation and correspondence.
What You'll Be Doing

The Recycling Volunteer Coordinator will supervise a corps of volunteers who donate their time and effort to educate County residents (their peers) and the general public about waste reduction, reuse, recycling, buying recycled, composting, and other related topics and programs. With almost 1.1 million residents in Montgomery County, and almost 550,000 people employed in the County, the Recycling Volunteers are critical to our efforts in providing direct outreach and education to as many as possible.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Providing education, training and technical assistance that support County waste reduction policies and practices to residents, multi-family and business properties, as well as to landscapers/lawn service contractors.
  • Coordinating program initiatives that encourage waste reduction, reuse and recycling by residents and employees in the County.
  • Coordinating the Recycling Volunteer Program, including recruiting, training, retaining and supervising volunteers at education events and activities.
  • Planning, organizing, conducting, and participating in numerous educational events.
  • Implementing efforts to maximize effectiveness of volunteer activities and coordinating and tracking recycling volunteer efforts.
  • Writing and distributing quarterly Recycletter (recycling newsletter).
  • Assisting in the development and design of materials and other resources supporting the County's waste reduction, reuse and recycling program.
  • Developing new strategies and innovative solutions to increase waste reduction, reuse and recycling by County residents.
  • Distributing various materials and resources (at events, presentations and trainings) for use by residents.
  • Participating in other special projects and events, as needed.


To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe.

This position requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle. This position frequently convenes, meets with, and presents information to community members, including residents. These meetings often occur in the evenings and on weekends.

Bilingual applicants in the Spanish/English languages, or other languages, are encouraged to apply. The selected candidate with multilingual skills may qualify for additional compensation but will be required to successfully pass an examination assessing oral communication, reading comprehension, and interpreting skills. For Advanced proficiency, the candidate must also pass an examination requiring translating text from other language to English and vice versa.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Two (2) years professional experience in recycling or solid waste field, including experience providing direct education and technical assistance concerning recycling and/or solid waste to individuals or groups, one year of which must be managing a volunteer program.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicant's state of residence.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

All Applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Human Resources (OHR) for minimum qualifications. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated "Qualified," placed on the Referred List, and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade or higher will be placed on the Referred List as a "Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following:

Please address this information in a separate section of the resume.
  • Experience with waste reduction and recycling issues and evaluating effectiveness of recycling efforts.
  • Experience in coordinating a volunteer program or directly supervising volunteers.
  • Experience orally presenting and promoting program requirements to a variety of audience types.
  • Experience in public education and training techniques, including writing, and editing a newsletter, developing, and designing educational messages, materials, literature, and other resources.
  • Experience working with individuals and groups to inform them of and educate them about a program's requirements, and directly assisting them in their efforts to meet those requirements.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits

01

MQ Question

What is your highest level of completed education?
  • N/A
  • High School/GED
  • Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree
  • Juris Doctor
  • Doctorate


02

MQ Question PROGRAM SPECIALIST II (000836)

How many years of professional experience do you have in in recycling or solid waste field, including experience providing direct education and technical assistance concerning recycling and/or solid waste to individuals or groups, one year of which must be managing a volunteer program?
  • No Experience
  • 1 Year Experience
  • 2 Year's Experience
  • 3 Year's Experience
  • 4 Year's Experience
  • 5 Year's Experience
  • 6+ Year's Experience


03

MQ Question

Do you have experience in coordinating a volunteer program or directly supervising volunteers?
  • Yes
  • No


04

MQ Question

Do you have experience with waste reduction and recycling issues and evaluating effectiveness of recycling efforts?
  • Yes
  • No


Required Question