Residential Zero Waste Associate - Department of the Environment (Job Class 9922)

Company Description

Are you someone committed to the environment and wanting to gain concrete skills to launch your budding environmental career? Do you love using your communication skills to inspire behavior change and advance environmental policy? Is piloting new approaches to promoting zero waste practices your forte? If so, we invite you to take advantage of an opportunity to use your skills to build a better future for San Francisco.

Who We Are - The San Francisco Department of the Environment (SF Environment) advances climate protection and enhances quality of life for all San Franciscans. SF Environment is a department within the City and County of San Francisco, a local government committed to innovation, leadership and collaboration in creating environmental change.  SF Environment is recognized worldwide for its environmental policies and programs, which center on achieving zero waste, reducing toxic chemical hazards, advancing environmental justice, promoting low-carbon transportation modes, expanding clean energy infrastructure, greening our built environment and protecting our urban forest. We’re a passionate, mission-driven team that values credibility , collaboration, impact, innovation and equity. SF Environment is also a great place to work, offering an attractive benefits package that includes healthcare and retirement.

SF Environment Racial Equity Statement  - For over 20 years, SF Environment has worked with San Francisco’s Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities to mitigate environmental burdens, increase accessibility of environmental programs and benefits, engage community members, and improve health outcomes. BIPOC communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental stressors that include air and soil pollution, illegal dumping of toxics and other materials, industrial land uses and transportation impacts. They are more likely to live in housing conditions with limited access to green space and where poor indoor air quality from pests, mold, and the use of toxic products contributes to the prevalence of asthma and other health disparities. They are more likely to be employed in areas with high levels of exposure to toxics. Now, they are the first communities feeling the impacts of climate change, with the fewest resources to respond. SF Environment has a longstanding commitment to the principles of environmental justice, whereby communities most impacted by environmental stressors and climate change are prioritized and the long-time work of community leaders is recognized and supported. We are committed to uplifting the contributions of local environmental leaders of diverse racial backgrounds and ensuring that racial equity is the cornerstone of all of our programs, policies, and services.

Job Description

As the Residential Zero Waste Associate, you’ll support the City’s sustainability goals by working with property managers, residents, nonprofits, events and festivals of San Francisco to maximize zero waste practices and follow the City’s zero waste policies. You will also assist in administering, developing, and conducting outreach campaigns and grants in support of zero waste. You can expect to work collaboratively with colleagues, partners and stakeholders that include City departments, San Francisco property management companies, nonprofits, community groups, event producers and residents—so you’re someone who values working in a collaborative setting with an expectation of innovation, inclusivity, and impact.

The Residential Zero Waste Associate is an entry-level role designed to offer exposure to a career pathway in environmental outreach and policy compliance. Through work duties, mentorship, and professional development opportunities, you’ll build foundational experience in environmental policy compliance, community-based social marketing, public outreach, program administration, project management, and customer support while meeting designated position objectives. Knowledge and experience gained will position you for success as an environmental outreach and policy professional equipped to serve San Franciscans and beyond—plus career advancement opportunities in related fields.

What You’ll Do - The duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this position and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

• Assist with implementation, monitoring and improvement of zero waste programs and policies in the residential sector.
• Work with service providers, apartment property managers, tenants, nonprofits and community groups to increase residential waste prevention and material recovery.
• Conduct on-site refuse assessments at apartments to assist property managers in implementing and increasing composting and recycling, and reducing landfill.
• Assist with development and disseminate residential outreach, including maintaining web information, tracking action plan progress, and supporting outreach.
• Research, analyze, maintain spreadsheets, and respond to surveys and residential inquiries.
• Support events in complying with applicable zero waste requirements, and assist with quarterly zero waste events workshops.
• Provide administrative support and perform other tasks as required.

Exempt Employment Status - This is a one-year position with a second year contingent upon Department budget conditions and demonstrated competence and professionalism in the first year of employment. Appointment to the position does not guarantee a second year of employment nor any future employment with SF Environment or the City and County of San Francisco. In addition, the position is exempt from the Civil Service examination and selection process and shall serve at the discretion of the appointing officer.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications - Education

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; or
• Two years of college education from an accredited college or university, and six (6) months of professional work experience, including internships, research positions, or other experience, relevant to the duties described in the job description.

Desirable Qualifications - The desirable qualifications may be used to select among finalists at the end of the selection process. We don't expect any one candidate to have all the qualifications listed below - please know that you can be a great candidate without all of the below qualifications. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have a mix of the desirable qualifications and a passion for this work – please don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

• Knowledge of environmental and zero waste principles and issues.
• Excellent speaking, writing, organizational and project management skills
• Responsible, motivated and able to work independently and in a team
• Familiarity with San Francisco
• Fluency in other languages used commonly in San Francisco (especially Chinese, Spanish or Russian)
• An understanding of equity, inclusion and diversity concepts.

Additional Information

• Salary - $51,792 per year
• Application period open: January 18, 2022
• Application Deadline: February 7, 2022
• Recruitment ID: RTF0118756-01116628
• Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every position to which they apply. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Supplemental Information - after submitting your application, you will receive two emails with requests for additional information about your knowledge, skills and abilities relevant to these positions, and a request to submit a cover letter.

Selection Process

Due to the volume of inquiries we receive, we are unable to give application status updates. While we are not able to reach out to every applicant, the hiring manager will contact you directly after the filing deadline if your skills and experiences are a strong match for the position.

Stage 1 of the selection process will consist of an evaluation of applications and cover letters. Stage 2 - Based on the evaluation of applications, candidates whose skills and experiences are a strong match for the position will be invited to a phone interview. Stage 3 - Candidates who most closely meet the needs of the position will be invited to participate in the panel interview selection process, including an assessment of relative job-related skills and abilities. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to Stage 2 or Stage 3 of the hiring process.

For any questions regarding the position or hiring process- please contact the recruitment analyst, Adam Romoslawski at [email protected]

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.