The Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) mission is to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting and improving Montgomery County's air, water and land in a sustainable way while fostering smart growth, a thriving economy and healthy communities. 

DEP's Division of Solid Waste Services is seeking a Program Manager I to plan, develop, and evaluate County strategies, programs, initiatives and activities to decrease generation of food that is wasted, and to increase recycling of food waste/food scraps generated in the commercial sector. 

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Identify, test, evaluate and recommend new or revised programs, operations and processes, as well as policies to increase the amount of food waste/scraps recycled by the commercial sector in the County and maximize recycling in order to achieve recycling goals.  Develop, recommend, and implement strategies, initiatives and activities to divert food waste/scraps from the waste stream, and ensure that they are recycled.   
• Develop program plans to advance food waste/scraps recycling by the commercial sector, such plans to include the following:  program and resource needs (short and long-term) to achieve recycling goals; risks and risk-management strategies to achieve program success; budget initiatives and proposals; metrics to assess effectiveness and success of activities; and stakeholder engagement, education/outreach, and management strategies.  Prepare budget proposals required to support food waste/scraps recycling programs.  Develop annual budgets, to include capital, operating, and personnel requirements.  Ensure that recommendations are supported by justification and rationale.  Coordinate approved program budgets, manage and oversee all expenditures.  Develop recycling tonnage projections to indicate potential recycling increases corresponding to budgeted activities.
• Develop and perform evaluation and analysis of various technical food waste research studies, including waste generation analyses, waste composition studies, etc., to assess opportunities for new and expanded food waste/scraps reduction efforts and recycling programs targeting the commercial sector.
• Convene and lead meetings with relevant staff to ascertain input in the process of developing program initiatives, modifications, and during implementation.
• Develop and administer contracts, which may include preparing requests for proposals (RFP's), reviewing bids and proposals, contract preparation and processing, administration of funds, and oversight of contractor performance. 
• Develop recommendations concerning modifying and/or proposing County regulations regarding food waste/scraps recycling, methods to increase food recycling, and conducive to implementing expanded food waste/scraps recycling initiatives, programs, and activities.
• Review proposed legislation, particularly at the State level for potential impact on current and planned facilities and initiatives to reduce food waste/scraps, reuse, and recycle food waste/scraps to identify compatibility and conflicts, evaluate and assess implications on County programs, operations, revenues, finances, and achievements in order to draft position recommendations and statement of fiscal impacts.

The employee will play a significant role in helping reach the County's current goal to reduce waste and recycle 70% by 2020.  Therefore, the employee may supervise or exercise direction over other subordinate employees in carrying out program activities, providing work guidance and instruction, as well as developing new approaches, methods and standardized operating procedures. 

Employee will be REQUIRED to attend/participate in meetings and/or community events and activities which can occur during early morning, evening and weekend hours. 

Applicants with experience planning, implementing and managing food waste/food scraps recycling programs are encouraged to apply. 

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.  If the candidate selected for this position possesses multilingual skills, he/she will be required to successfully pass an examination assessing oral communication, reading comprehension, and interpreting skills.  For Advanced proficiency, the candidate must also pass an examination requiring translating text from other language to English and vice versa.

This position requires possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a County vehicle to conduct and attend meetings and presentations, perform work at locations outside the office, and participate in other work-related duties.