Waste Management Owner Operator Jobs in Colorado

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose - for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $34.00 - $37.00/hour, based experience and education. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service

• 457B Retirement Plan

• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year

• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location & Schedule

In this position, you can expect to work both on-site and, in the field, as operational needs require. This position is based out of one of our three campuses: Central Platte, Cherry Creek, or Roslyn.

Who We Are & What You'll Do

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), through its employees, enhances the quality of life in Denver by efficiently delivering effective, high quality, safe and equitable public infrastructure, and services.

For more information, please visit the DOTI website.

DOTI's Commitment to Equity:

• DOTI is committed to providing attention and resources to the areas, assets, and people of the city with the greatest need through equitable contracting, equitable investments, and equitable workforce development.

• DOTI's culture revolves around four key principles: (1) Invest in Our People, (2) Operate with Discipline, (3) Use Data to Drive Decisions, and (4) Deliver Results.

Solid Waste Management within DOTI provides essential trash collection, recycling, composting, and other waste services to the Denver community. We are seeking experienced and dependable Crew Leads to join our team and provide day-to-day field leadership to Waste Service Operators responsible for delivering these critical services.

Crew Leads will help coordinate daily collection activities, promote safe and efficient operations, provide guidance and support to team members, and help ensure routes and services are completed accurately, safely, and on schedule. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who takes pride in public service, works well in a team environment, and can lead by example while working in the field.

In addition, Crew Leads will:

• Provides day-to-day field leadership and direction to Waste Service Operators to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable collection operations.

• Coordinates daily crew activities and helps ensure assigned routes are completed accurately, safely, and within established service expectations.

• Leads by example by following all safety policies, procedures, and operational standards and promoting a strong culture of safety and incident prevention.

• Provides guidance, coaching, and informal training to less experienced Waste Service Operators on equipment operation, collection procedures, safety practices, customer service, and departmental policies.

• Communicates daily assignments, operational expectations, route information, and changes to crew members and provides updates to appropriate leadership as needed.

• Monitors route progress and service delivery and assists with identifying and resolving operational issues, including missed collections, difficult access conditions, equipment concerns, and other service interruptions.

• Ensures crew members properly complete required vehicle inspections, operating reports, route documentation, and other required records.

• Supports the proper use of route management technology, tablets, communication systems, and other technology used to document service and operational activities.

• Assists with addressing customer service issues and escalates complex or sensitive concerns to appropriate leadership.

• Reinforces departmental policies and procedures related to waste, recycling, compost, container suitability, collection practices, and service requirements.

• Observes work practices and provides feedback to crew members to promote consistent application of safety and operational procedures.

• Assists leadership with identifying equipment, vehicle, route, staffing, and other operational needs or concerns.

• Maintains effective communication with other crews, supervisors, and Solid Waste staff to support overall service delivery and operational needs.

• Performs collection and equipment operation duties as needed to support the crew and maintain service delivery.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

What You'll Bring

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

• Strong knowledge of solid waste operations, route management, workforce deployment, and service delivery best practices.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to navigate difficult conversations, resolve conflict, and build collaborative relationships with employees, leadership, elected officials, and community stakeholders.

• Strong commitment to workplace safety, regulatory compliance, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

• Knowledge of City, departmental, and operational policies and procedures, with the ability to apply them consistently and effectively.

• Proficiency with technology, operational reporting systems, and emerging tools that support data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education requirement: Graduation from high school or the possession of a GED, HiSET or TASC Certificate.

• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of experience as a member of a crew performing a wide variety of construction, maintenance, waste services, and/or repair work.

• Education/Experience Equivalency: A combination of appropriate education and experience may be substituted for the minimum education and experience requirements.

• License/Certifications:

  • Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.

  • Requires a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL "B") with appropriate endorsements at the time of application.

  • Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until August 30, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than August 30th at 11:59 PM to ensure consideration.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CJ1869 Crew Lead

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$29.56 - $45.82

Target Pay

$34.00 - $37.00/hour, based experience and education.

Agency

Dept of Transportation & Infrastructure

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days' notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.