Environmental Operations Manager Jobs in California

Position Overview: The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing and coordinating recycling operations across assigned Recycle Depot locations throughout the State of California. This position ensures Recycle Depot’s redemption services are delivered in a manner that is compliant, efficient, and accessible to the Association’s members and the communities the Association serves. The Operations Manager directly oversees redemption contractor performance, supports compliance and audit efforts, collaborates with both current and potential redemption contractors as well as third-party service providers, and provides operational data, analysis, and recommendations to the Executive Director to support both operational and strategic decision-making designed to improve program service delivery.

Summary of Responsibilities (not comprehensive of all tasks):

Operational Management

• Oversee day-to-day redemption operations across Recycle Depot locations statewide.
• Coordinate and conduct regular meetings with redemption contractors to discuss areas for potential service delivery improvements and expansion.
• Identify and onboard redemption contractors aligned with the Association’s Mission and Purpose.
• Ensure redemption operations consistently meet established service standards for efficiency, accessibility, and compliance.
• Monitor operational performance of redemption contractors and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide regular updates to Association leadership concerning redemption operations, with a focus on continual improvements aimed at enhancing service delivery.
• Prepare ad hoc operational analyses as needed.

Contractor Oversight and Compliance

• Manage and oversee third-party redemption contractors to ensure compliance with all contractual obligations, stewardship plan requirements, operational best practices, safety requirements, and all applicable municipal and/or county permitting, business, and environmental regulations.
• Ensure redemption contractors execute contractually prescribed operational duties as required in assigned service areas.
• Provide guidance, corrective direction, and operational support to redemption contractors as needed.

Third-Party Services Collaboration

• Partner with the RMS Sustainability Division to ensure operational alignment through site visits, site audits and other compliance activities.
• Oversee, participate in, and support on-site redemption contractor audits related to operational, environmental, contractual, and regulatory compliance.
• Collect, review, and analyze operational and compliance data in coordination with RMS Sustainability.
• Prepare reports, findings, and recommendations for improvements to service delivery to the Executive Director.

Travel: Intra-state travel of up to 60% of the time to oversee site operations and meetings with redemption contractors.

• Frequently work weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) to ensure consistent service delivery and operational compliance throughout the Cooperative network.
• Support new site launches and operational expansions as assigned. Reporting:
• Provide relevant, actionable, and consistent operational, compliance, and performance updates and reports to the Executive Director.
• Track redemption contractor performance metrics and service outcomes.
• Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in operations management, Business Administration, Environmental Services, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of operations management experience, preferably in recycling, waste management, or logistics.
• Demonstrated experience managing third-party contractors.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to work remotely with limited oversight with the goal of providing timely, actionable, and relevant service delivery results.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other office software.
• Ability to maintain confidential and handle sensitive information
• Strong planning, organization, and communications skills
• Ability to develop and interpret operational data and present findings clearly to executive leadership and Board Meetings

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of the California Beverage Container Recycling & Litter Reduction Act and associated legislation.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical, vision, and dental benefits
• Monthly media and cell stipend
• Paid time off: vacation, sick, personal
• 401(k) + employer match

Physical Demands (Working Conditions):

• Employees may occasionally experience prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at a time.
• Traditional office environment, but may require nonstandard workplaces.
• Employees will often work weekends (Saturdays and Sundays), as well as some evenings, and overtime hours to accommodate activities such as Contractor compliance and oversight, launching of expanded services, attendance at Board Meetings, meeting deadlines or assigned tasks, and representing the Cooperative at public events, as assigned.