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Assistant Refuse Superintendent

Fairfax County Government
$70,711.26 - $117,851.76 Annually
medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, child care, retirement plan
United States, Virginia, Fairfax
Jun 28, 2025

Job Announcement

$2,500 Signing Bonus*

Are you interested in overseeing the daily operations of Solid Waste management, including supervising staff and activities at collection sites? If so, join us and make a difference.

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) seeks an Assistant Refuse Superintendent to support the Assistant Complex Manager in daily operations and staff supervision, requiring strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

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 life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial wellness. Please review our awesome benefits:

  • Benefits
  • 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.

Responsibilities include:
  • Support the assistant complex manager in the day-to day management of county municipal solid waste operations to include the field supervision of staff and activities at ta solid waste transfer station site, a closed solid waste landfill site and/or a residential curbside collection/recycling operational site.
  • Oversees operational logistics to include manpower, material, and equipment necessary to ensure safe and efficient operation of all solid waste activities.
  • Provides feedback and input into the budget in regards to goods, services, equipment, and personnel needs.
  • Supervises operational field staff. Creates and schedules staff assignments and monitors work progress.
  • 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.
  • Performs regular preventive maintenance inspections of grounds, infrastructure, and equipment and remediates deficiencies as necessary. Also, ensures staff compliance with safety rules, regulations, laws, codes, and standards including safe work practices and the wearing of personal protective equipment.
  • Assists with the coordination and presentation of regular safety meetings to staff. Works closely with agency safety staff and Risk Management to reduce preventable incidents.
  • Serves on incident review committees. Investigates vehicle incidents and workers compensation injuries. Prepares and reviews accident and injury reports. Engages in safety working practices and complies with Solid Waste safety programs and guidelines. Complies with the DPWES Safety Competencies.
  • Performs administrative human resources activities such as employee performance reviews, including goal setting and ongoing feedback.
  • Provides approachable, proactive, prompt, and accurate customer service to internal or external customers. Provides assistance and/or support to co-workers, supervisors, the general public, or any other end users of county solid waste services.
  • Thoroughly and accurately explains agency regulations and alternatives as they relate to the collection and disposal of solid waste to staff, the public, and other end users.
  • Performs related duties as required..
Note: This position is assigned at the DPWES I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 Ox Rd, Fairfax, VA 22035.

*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:
(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.
  • A 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, 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 field.
  • Experience with drivecam and proficient in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. without assistance and 25 to 50 pounds with or without assistance. Ability to operate a motor vehicle. 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.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others ) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to 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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