Assistant Refuse Superintendent
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Assistant Refuse Superintendent
Salary
$73,567.94 - $128,743.89 Annually
Location
SOLID WASTE DIVISION, 4618 WEST OX RD, FAIRFAX (EJ17), VA
Job Type
FT Hourly W BN
Job Number
26-01042
Department
DPWES Solid Waste Management
Opening Date
07/11/2026
Closing Date
7/24/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade
S25
Posting Type
Open to General Public
Description
Benefits
Questions
Job Announcement
$2,500 Signing Bonus*
Are you an experienced leader with a passion for operations, safety, and environmental stewardship? Do you enjoy leading teams, solving operational challenges, and ensuring essential public services run safely and efficiently? If so, consider joining Fairfax County's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) and help support the delivery of critical solid waste management services that benefit our community every day.
The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), Solid Waste Management Program, seeks an Assistant Refuse Superintendent to support the Assistant Complex Manager in the daily management of county municipal solid waste operations. This position provides field supervision of staff and operations at a solid waste transfer station, closed landfill, and/or residential curbside collection and recycling operation. The successful candidate will provide strong leadership, promote a culture of safety and regulatory compliance, and help ensure the efficient delivery of essential public services.
Responsibilities include:
Assisting with the day-to-day management of county municipal solid waste operations, including supervising staff and activities at transfer stations, closed landfill sites, and residential collection and recycling operations.
Coordinating operational logistics, including staffing, equipment, materials, and resources to ensure safe, efficient, and uninterrupted operations.
Monitoring field activities, assigning and scheduling work, tracking project and operational progress, and ensuring performance goals are achieved.
Providing input on budget planning and operational needs related to personnel, equipment, materials, and contracted services.
Serving as the hiring manager for assigned recruitments and supporting workforce planning, employee development, performance management, and career growth initiatives.
Ensuring accurate employee time and attendance reporting and addressing performance or behavioral issues through coaching, feedback, and formal performance management.
Responding to routine and emergency operational issues, including equipment failures, vehicle incidents, workers' compensation injuries, and other operational challenges.
Ensuring compliance with all applicable environmental regulations, permits, laws, policies, and operational standards, including Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements.
Conducting inspections of facilities, infrastructure, grounds, and equipment and coordinating corrective actions to maintain safe and efficient operations.
Promoting a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with safety regulations, safe work practices, personal protective equipment requirements, and DPWES safety competencies.
Assisting with safety meetings, participating on incident review committees, investigating accidents and injuries, and preparing related reports while working collaboratively with agency safety staff and Risk Management to reduce preventable incidents.
Providing exceptional customer service by responding to inquiries from employees, residents, contractors, and other stakeholders and clearly explaining solid waste programs, regulations, and disposal options.
Performing additional administrative, operational, and customer service duties as assigned.
DPWES is a diverse, nationally accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia. Join our team to help us protect the environment and serve the people of Fairfax County by creating and preserving a sustainable community that is an ideal place to live, work, and play for everyone.
Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates and engages employees and retirees to make lifelong choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental emotional, social, spiritual and financial wellness.
Please review our awesome benefits:
Benefits (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hr/fairfax-county-benefits-summary)
Retirement
DPWES provides award-winning solid waste collection services for approximately 45,000 homes, operates a transfer station and landfill, regulates solid waste services, and leads sustainability initiatives to promote zero waste goals for Fairfax County. DPWES Solid Waste is a diverse work force of approximately 300 merit and 50 non-merit employees and has an annual operating budget of more than $100M. Our nationally recognized team of professionals are working together towards a singular goal: providing environmentally responsible and cost-effective management of municipal solid waste, keeping Fairfax County safe, green, healthy, and clean.
Note: This position is located at I-66.
*A $2,500 signing bonus is available to new county employees hired in the Assistant Refuse Superintendent position. Applicants must possess a valid CDL at time of application submission to be eligible.
Illustrative Duties
(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all- inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)
Supervises staff in the collection and disposal of refuse, yard waste, white goods, household hazardous waste, and various other solid waste items;
Plans and schedules work assignments for various activities within the solid waste management program;
Responds to a variety of operational situations which may include vehicle incidents, routine and non-routine operational matters, equipment failures, workers compensation injuries, etc.;
Ensures operational compliance to all environmental rules, regulations, laws, codes, and standards;
Leads safety program management and monitors compliance with safety regulations;
Conducts safety meetings;
Works closely with agency safety staff and Risk Management to reduce preventable incidents;
Prepares reports, documents, and electronic files in regard to safety issues, compliance issues, daily work activities, and employee performance;
Coordinates vehicle and equipment repairs with appropriate maintenance facilities;
Investigates vehicle accidents and personal injuries and serves on safety review panels;
Ensures facility, vehicles, operations, and employees comply with all applicable rules and regulations;
Counsels, trains, schedules training, and mentors employees;
Participates in interview panel and recommends new hires;
Respond to complaints on various issues that may arise;
Provide input and statistical data in preparation of budgets;
Maintain inventory of supplies and materials and order new as needed;
Performs special projects as required;
Effectively communicates with customers, employees and managers;
Reinforces a safety culture and continually seeks to expand safety knowledge through training, mentoring, self-study or other methods of continuous learning;
Investigates, documents and reports safety issues;
Clearly communicates safety expectations;
Resolves safety-related matters in a timely manner;
Complies with the safety competencies.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Considerable knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental rules and regulations;
Extensive knowledge of safety regulations, safety review and investigative procedures;
Thorough knowledge of traffic laws, safety procedures and practices;
Thorough knowledge of supply and policy and procedures;
Ability to use computers;
Ability to read and comprehend maps;
Ability to work outside with regular exposure to severe weather, noxious fumes, high levels of dust, etc.;
Ability to plan, schedule, and supervise work of others;
Ability to counsel and mentor others;
Ability to perform audits of work procedures, work performance, facility, and equipment and take corrective action as required;
Ability to operate heavy vehicles and equipment;
Ability to supervise and train others in the operation of a variety of heavy vehicles and equipment;
Ability to supervise and train others in the safe operation of a variety of heavy vehicles and equipment;
Ability to prepare reports and documents that pertain to operational and compliance issues within the solid waste management program;
Ability to give and follow oral and written instructions;
Ability to maintain good working relationships.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hr/equivalencies-education-and-experience)
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") an associate's degree in environmental science, business administration or related field; plus, two years of experience in environmental operations, compliance, refuse collection or disposal, or managing field operations involving heavy equipment operations, scheduling, and maintenance, two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.
DOT Medical Card.
Class "A" commercial driver's license (CDL)
Forklift Safety Training Certificate within 3 months of hire.
Waste Management Facility Operator's License Class II (VA) within 18 months of hire.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check, a pre-employment physical examination, and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.
Required to report to work during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies, including after-hours and weekend work during emergency incidents to fulfill emergency service duties.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Three or more years of Solid Waste experience.
Three or more years supervising more than 50 employees.
Three or more years working at a transfer station.
Three or more years working in the heavy construction industry or a related.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. without assistance and 25 to 50 pounds with or without assistance. Ability to operate keyboard driven and office equipment. Ability to operate light, medium and heavy equipment or vehicles. Ability to see and hear and be exposed to dangerous machinery and moving equipment. Ability to walk, stand, climb, stoop, reach and work in positions for lengthy periods of time. Ability to work in adverse weather conditions and temperatures. Able to tolerate and be exposed to continuous loud noises. Able to tolerate and be exposed to hazardous chemicals, odors, and infectious diseases. Manual strength and dexterity needed to handle equipment, machinery or materials. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.
BONUS ELIGIBILITY:
Positions within this classification that require a CDL that are general merit may be eligible for a one-time hiring incentive bonus for new county employees only. This bonus program requires a signed payback agreement between the department and employee. Must have CDL at time of hire.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/demographics/fairfax-county-general-overview) .) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.
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