Environmental Services Manager

* Note on Salary: Effective the first pay period of January 2026, this position will receive a 3% base salary increase, including up to an additional 1% based on CPI.

The City of Goleta seeks qualified applicants to fill one (1) vacancy for the position of Environmental Services Manager.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate has a strong background in environmental program management, stormwater compliance, solid waste regulation, and watershed protection. They are a proactive leader who can manage complex regulatory requirements, oversee program development, and collaborate effectively across divisions, agencies, and the community. They bring strong analytical, communication, and fiscal stewardship skills to ensure compliance, service delivery, and long-term program performance.

ABOUT THE POSITION
This position manages the Environmental Services Division within the Public Works Department, where they oversee the City's stormwater (MS4) compliance program, solid waste and recycling programs, creek and watershed management initiatives, environmental permitting for City projects, and the administration of state-mandated solid waste and stormwater requirements. The division is responsible for public education, regulatory reporting, permit tracking, rate analysis, contract oversight, and cross-department coordination on environmental programs.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Public Works Department is comprised of seven divisions, including Administration, Transportation and Development Engineering, Capital Improvement Program, Parks & Open Space, Streets Maintenance, Street Lighting, and Environmental Services.

The following duties are typical for positions in this classification. Incumbents may not perform all listed job functions, nor are all listed duties necessarily performed by everyone in this class depending upon business need and changing business practices:

• Coordinates efforts to integrate environmental services programs into the City's long-term vision, mission, and operating principles.
• Plans, develops, implements, coordinates, monitors, and updates projects in the City's Environmental Services Program and other related policies and projects in the assigned area of emphasis, such as waste reduction and management, recycling and reuse, storm water quality, and creeks and watershed protection.
• Leads the City's regulatory compliance efforts in all assigned areas of responsibility and serves as a liaison to the local water and wastewater districts on regulatory compliance in these areas.
• Develops, manages, monitors, and coordinates the City's franchise agreements for refuse and recycling collection and contracts for household hazardous waste and e-waste disposal; coordinates the development of solid waste rates; manages the City's AB 939 compliance and related residential and commercial recycling, organics, and waste diversion programs.
• Develops and implements the City's stormwater (NPDES MS4) compliance programs and monitors all program requirements and deadlines. Coordinates with Development Engineering to ensure that land development projects meet applicable stormwater requirements, and develops related policies, procedures, and guidance documents to maintain City compliance with MS4 permit conditions, City code, and adopted objectives.
• Supervises, coordinates, and leads personnel and volunteers involved in implementing environmental services programs and related policies and projects.
• Serves as a leader and champion for the City's environmental services programs in the organization and community.
• Formulates action plans with defined objectives, targets, and responsibilities to support agreed-upon strategies within areas of responsibility.
• Measures and monitors progress against Environmental Services Program strategies, objectives, and performance targets. Develop counter measures where required to ensure objectives are met.
• Performs departmental and citywide program-specific organizational, operational, financial, and policy analysis, including analysis related to solid waste rates and other fees charged to residents for services; prepares narrative and statistical reports to support recommendations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
• Develops and recommends to the Public Works Director the operating budget for the Environmental Services Program and program-specific environmental services projects.
• Reports to City management and City Council on the progress of the Environmental Services Program. Conducts complex studies and prepares a variety of reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, ordinances, agreements, and other written materials.
• Applies for and manages grant applications and funding.
• Coordinates response, investigation, and enforcement when needed for all reports of illicit discharge of non-stormwater, illegal dumping, and other code violations related to the Environmental Services Program; coordinates timely response to public inquiries and complaints.
• Meets with community groups, neighborhood, civic and business organizations, and members of the public.
• Communicates regularly with the public and organization on environmental services policies and projects.
• Serves as staff liaison to the City Council Solid Waste Issues Standing Committee.
• Serves as City liaison to relevant regional bodies such as the Multi-Jurisdictional Solid Waste Task Group, California Stormwater Quality Association, Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, Cal Recycle, Creek and Watershed Stakeholders Group, Goleta Slough Management Committee, Integrated Regional Water Management Group, Santa Barbara County Regional Reporting Authority, and others.
• Oversees and manages initiatives within areas of responsibility, such as: Zero Waste initiative, Full Trash Capture, Beautify Goleta (and volunteer cleanup efforts), Edible Food Recovery, and others.
• Coordinate environmental permit activities for all Public Works projects, including preparation of submittal packages in collaboration with consultants and agency staff.
• Maintain the City's Environmental Permit Tracking Log, ensuring accurate records of all active and pending permits and their conditions, expiration dates, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure the City's compliance with SMARTS (Storm Water Multiple Application and Report Tracking System), including submission of required reports and updates under the City's MS4 Permit.
• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies on environmental permit matters and lead coordination for any renewals or amendments.
• Serve as the program manager for the City's Creek and Watershed Management Plan (CWMP), leading its implementation, maintenance, data management, and reporting. Coordinate CWMP activities with development review, Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs), and all Public Works divisions to ensure consistency and alignment with City objectives.
• Coordinates with the City's Community Relations division to create and implement communications strategies to publicize the City's environmental services programs and promote broad awareness of related initiatives, both internally and externally.
• Analyzes and summarizes initiatives, legislation, and actions related to areas of responsibility that Council may choose to support or oppose.
• Develops and prepares requests for proposal to procure necessary services according to the City's purchasing rules; evaluates proposals and participates in the selection process; performs contract administration; coordinates, monitors and oversees the work of contractors and consultants in the implementation and maintenance of assigned program/project areas; and evaluates contractors' performance according to contractual agreements.
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

Education, Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in solid waste management, environmental science, environmental engineering, civil engineering, earth sciences, natural resources management, urban planning, public administration, or related field. A master's degree is preferred.

• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in environmental program development, sustainability, resource conservation, water resources management, waste reduction, recycling, climate change, or a related area, including two or more years of lead supervisory responsibility. Public sector experience is highly desirable.

• Possession of a Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) certification, or the ability to obtain certification within six months of appointment.

• Detailed organizational and functional structure of City government.
• Principles of solid waste management, including waste reduction, handling, processing, recycling, composting, and disposal.
• State and federal laws pertaining to solid waste management, water resources and water quality.
• California State Integrated Waste Management Board and Water Quality Control Board regulations.
• Current best management practices and compliance techniques/technologies within areas of responsibility.
• The development of user rates and fees for Environmental Services Program services, including compliance with Prop 218 requirements.
• Principles, practices and techniques of planning, project management, public administration, organization, and management, with emphasis in environmental programs and policy.
• Knowledge of watershed and hydrologic principles, including gravity-driven storm drain systems, drainage basin behavior, and flow conveyance capacity sufficient to evaluate project feasibility and design consistency.
• Relationships between local, state, and federal governments, public interest groups and private enterprise as they affect and interact with the City.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to the environment and sustainability.
• Methods of performing complex administrative, organizational, and procedural analyses.
• Knowledge of state and federal permitting processes, including timelines, renewal protocols, and interagency coordination, and the ability to maintain a centralized tracking system to ensure timely compliance with permit conditions.
• Basic municipal budgetary principles and practices.
• Principles of long-range financial planning and financing methods and practices of local governments.
• Local, state, and federal laws, regulations and procedures affecting functions of the City.
• General understanding of the framework of land use policies and related fiscal implications.
• Standard office practices and procedures, including the use of standard office equipment and computer applications related to the work.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups and various business, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for making effective public presentations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

• Identify and respond to community and City Council issues, concerns, and needs.
• Independently research, analyze and make effective recommendations on administrative, management budgetary and fiscal practices, procedures, and problems.
• Understand important and complex state, federal and local regulatory requirements in areas of responsibility and ensure the City's compliance with these requirements.
• Understand, interpret, and explain the concepts and principles of environmental services policies and projects.
• Ability to review and interpret hydrology and drainage studies, assess storm drain design capacity, and identify design deficiencies or inconsistencies prior to project approval.
• Research, analyze and compile appropriate data and other information related to the Environmental Services Program.
• Research, compile and analyze statistical and other complex data.
• Coordinate the development of solid waste rates and other user fees and perform other complex numerical analyses.
• Write complex reports in a logical, comprehensive, concise manner.
• Prioritize workload efficiently and manage multiple projects, without direct instruction, to meet deadlines under changing conditions.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines.
• Effectively communicate in both oral and written forms.
• Prepare and present both concise and comprehensive oral and written reports.
• Acquire subject matter expertise in program-specific special projects.
• Initiate and develop efficient, cost-effective policies.
• Collaborate with a variety of diverse interest groups in reaching a consensus for the betterment of the community; establish and maintain effective working relations with those contacted in the course of work.
• Develop and refine the scope of the program in response to evolving organizational and community context.
• Work in a team atmosphere and participate in a variety of departmental and City-wide committees to enhance the provision of all City services.
• Work in a standard office setting, to use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to move between various office and City locations.
• Lift and carry office materials weighing up to ten pounds.
• Read printed materials and a computer screen; and hear and speak to communicate in person, over the telephone, and before groups.
• Read, interpret, and review engineering and construction drawings, site plans, grading plans, and specifications to ensure compliance with MS4, CWMP, and solid waste requirements.
• Identify potential conflicts or deficiencies in plan details related to drainage, grading, and BMP implementation prior to project approval.
• Assist in the development and review of SWPPPs and other stormwater management documents to ensure regulatory compliance and practical constructability.
• Perform independent technical reviews of development and capital project plans for compliance with solid waste, stormwater, and watershed requirements.
• Develop, update, and maintain environmental permit tracking systems and documentation directly, without reliance on external consultants.
• Prepare draft permit applications, reports, and regulatory correspondence for agency review, including SMARTS submittals, MS4 annual reports, and CWMP updates.
• Apply hydrology, drainage, and watershed management principles to evaluate feasibility, flow capacity, and consistency with City design standards and MS4 requirements.
• Coordinate directly with design engineers and project managers to resolve technical deficiencies and ensure compliance with permit and CWMP objectives.

• Possession of a valid Class "C" California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record may be required.

The physical and mental demands herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.

• Mental function: Includes reading, writing, mathematical computations, operating a computer, problem solving, managing multiple projects, calmly handling complaints and problems from irate citizens or contractors, and decision making under stressful conditions.

• Productivity: Incumbents must perform work in an efficient, effective and timely manner with minimal direction.

• Mobility: Incumbents require sufficient mobility to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. Incumbents may be required to perform light lifting and carrying, file documents in various locations and heights, and sit, stand, walk, remain seated, and work at a video display terminal for prolonged periods of time.

• Vision: Vision sufficient to read small print, computer screens, and printed documents, and to operate assigned equipment.

• Hearing: Incumbents are required to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

• Environment: Normal office setting with some travel to attend meetings. Incumbents may be exposed to noise and/or dust.

• Other factors: Incumbents will be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.

• Incumbents may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.