Waste Reduction Recycling Program Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $78,929.00 - $126,097.00 Annually
Location : 2425 Reedie Dr Wheaton MD 20902 USA
Job Type: Permanent
Job Number: 2026-00521
Department: Department of Environmental Protection
Division: DEP 80 Waste Reduction and Recycling
Opening Date: 09/02/2026
Closing Date: 9/16/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA: Exempt
About the Position
Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $78,929 - $120,813,based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
WHO WE ARE
The (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
The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking a dynamic individual to fill a full-time Program Manager I (Multi-Family Waste Reduction and Recycling Program Manager) position in the Zero Waste Programs Division, Waste Reduction and Recycling Section, to lead the County's Multi-Family Waste Reduction and Recycling Program.
The ideal candidate should have prior experience in recycling and/or solid waste, or experience implementing a program focused on an important public initiative designed to bring about significant behavior change to meet established program goals. We welcome collaborative leaders who have experience educating broad and varied audiences and stakeholders about complex, multi-faceted programs, as well as experience supervising professional staff.
What You'll Be Doing
This position will be responsible for managing the Multi-Family Waste Reduction and Recycling Program and supporting the planning, development, and evaluation of County strategies that encourage multi-family residents and properties to reduce waste, reuse, recycle, and buy recycled products.
Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Administering mandatory multi-family recycling regulations and reporting requirements.
• Implementing program metrics, evaluations, and resource planning to ensure effective and compliant recycling initiatives.
• Formulating County policies, establish and manage program initiatives that encourage multi-family properties (including apartments and condominiums) to reduce waste, reuse, recycle, and buy recycled products.
• Directly supervising recycling Program Specialists.
• Conceptualizing, planning and implementing activities designed to increase the amount of materials recycled by multi-family properties.
• Capturing and analyzing data in developing/improving program efforts and further expand partnerships to increase recycling by multi-family properties and residents.
• Overseeing compliance with the County's mandatory multi-family recycling regulations, including annual reporting requirements, and improving accounting/documentation for tonnages of recyclable materials recycled annually by the multi-family sector.
• Developing, producing, updating, and providing information, educational and training materials, social media content, and deliver a wide variety of resources which provide guidance and technical assistance on recycling, waste reduction, reuse, buying recycled goods, and other relevant topics, for both the single-family and multi-family residential sectors.
• Conducting formal training sessions and presentations to multi-family property owners, managers, residents, and community organizations, and assist in the planning and implementation of numerous events coordinated by the County to increase recycling across all sectors.

The Program Manager position is primarily office-based but also includes community-focused work, such as attending community meetings, delivering presentations, conducting trainings, and participating in community education events and activities. When duties are performed outside the office environment, exposure to potential hazards may be significant.
This position may require overtime, including early mornings and evenings during the week, as well as Saturdays and Sundays, as work activities dictate.
This position requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to visit multifamily properties, business properties, and government facilities; attend meetings; conduct and participate in educational programs and events; and perform other work at locations outside the office.
As a manager/supervisor of unionized employees, this position has a responsibility to foster a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.
To ensure a positive workplace and comply with federal, state, and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months of employment or within the specified timeframe.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Considerable three (3) years of experience coordinating, supporting, training/educating, or managing programs related to waste reduction, recycling, or solid waste management.
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: Possess and maintain at all times 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) to determine whether they meet the minimum qualifications. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be rated as "Qualified," placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for an interview.
Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following areas:

• Directly supervising and managing multiple employees, as well as managing, overseeing, and monitoring work performed by contractors.
• Addressing commercial/business or multifamily recycling issues and regulations, including working with customers to resolve concerns.
• Managing complex, multifaceted programs, preferably related to recycling, including coordinating work and providing direction and instruction to ensure the successful completion of multiple assignments and projects.
• Gathering and analyzing data to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a program, preferably a recycling-related program.
• Proposing, justifying, implementing, and monitoring program budgets, as well as applying sound budgeting practices and procedures.
• Communicating effectively both orally and in writing, including conveying and presenting programmatic information, issues, and recommendations.

If selected for further consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence demonstrating that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities identified on your resume.
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 Hiring@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
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
How many years of experience do you have coordinating, supporting, training/educating, or managing programs related to waste reduction, recycling, or solid waste management?

• Less than 1 year or No Experience
• 1 Year Experience
• 2 Years Experience
• 3 Years Experience
• 4 Years of Experience
• 5 Years of Experience
• 6 Years of Experience
• 7+ Years of experience

03
Do you possess and maintain a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from your state of residence?

• Yes
• No

04
Are you able to drive a county vehicle to visit multi-family properties, business properties, and government facilities, attend meetings and educational programs/events, and perform other work at locations outside the office?

• Yes
• No

05
Do you have a minimum of one year o