Business Recycling Technical Assistant (Community Service Aide II)
The Position
The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is seeking two (2) Business Recycling Technical Assistants to join the team.
Job Appointment: Casual. Casual employees may work up to a maximum of 1,400 hours in a calendar year.
Work Schedule: 26 hours per week, Monday - Friday. Some inspections and ride-alongs may begin at 6am or earlier. The incumbent should have flexibility in work hours.
Work Location: This position primarily works out in the community with an estimated 5-10% of hours per week working in the office. Reports to the Vanport building, 1810 SW 5th Ave Suite 700, Portland, OR.
Benefits: Check the benefits tab for an overview of benefit for this position.
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees
Union Representation: This position is non-represented.
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a résumé.
Position Summary
The Business Recycling Technical Assistant position is a core component of the City's recycling contamination reduction work funded through the Oregon's Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA). This position is a Community Service Aide (CSA) II classification and is a one year casual position with the possibility of extension.
This position will work with business owners, managers and employees, property owners and managers, throughout Portland to help implement the RMA, an act that improves the quality of recycling and reduce the percentage of items that don't belong (referred to as 'contamination' of recycling). This position will support the improvement of recycling collection at commercial, business, and multifamily properties. The incumbent will inspect recycling bins and roll carts and provide feedback to their users as well as assist in field work and project monitoring; perform outreach in businesses/commercial/multifamily settings around recycling contamination; conduct site assessment, mapping, data collection, and data entry; and assist properties in recycling properly and reaching compliance with city recycling standards.
As The Business Recycling Technical Assistant, You Will
Provide technical assistance and conduct business visits:
The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability develops creative and practical solutions enhance Portland's livability, preserve distinctive places and plan for a resilient future. We are committed to advancing equity as a means of achieving prosperous, healthy, resilient communities. In collaboration with community partners, we provide; comprehensive land use, neighborhood, economic, historic and environmental planning, and urban design; policy and technical services to advance green building and a just transition to clean energy, waste prevention, composting and recycling, and a sustainable food system; administration of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund; policy to address climate change; regulation of private franchise utilities; administration of the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission; and digital equity and inclusion policy, projects and outreach.
https://www.portland.gov/bps ( http://www.portland.gov/bps )
BPS values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization. We encourage candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with abroad range of individuals and diverse communities to apply. Although not required, BPS encourages candidates that can fluently speak more than one language to include that information in your resume. BPS offers an excellent benefits package, flexible work schedules and support for training and skills development in a positive, engaging, and creative work environment.
Studies have shown that women, non-binary people, and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all the qualifications listed. BPS considers lived experience and transferrable skills as qualifying unless an item is labeled as required. We are most interested in finding the best candidates for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply.
To Qualify
The Following Minimum Qualifications Are Required For This Position
Although not required, we are seeking individuals with:
STEP 1: Apply online between November 3, 2025 - November 10, 2025
Required Application Materials
Click here for additional information regarding the following:
The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is seeking two (2) Business Recycling Technical Assistants to join the team.
Job Appointment: Casual. Casual employees may work up to a maximum of 1,400 hours in a calendar year.
Work Schedule: 26 hours per week, Monday - Friday. Some inspections and ride-alongs may begin at 6am or earlier. The incumbent should have flexibility in work hours.
Work Location: This position primarily works out in the community with an estimated 5-10% of hours per week working in the office. Reports to the Vanport building, 1810 SW 5th Ave Suite 700, Portland, OR.
Benefits: Check the benefits tab for an overview of benefit for this position.
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees
Union Representation: This position is non-represented.
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a résumé.
Position Summary
The Business Recycling Technical Assistant position is a core component of the City's recycling contamination reduction work funded through the Oregon's Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA). This position is a Community Service Aide (CSA) II classification and is a one year casual position with the possibility of extension.
This position will work with business owners, managers and employees, property owners and managers, throughout Portland to help implement the RMA, an act that improves the quality of recycling and reduce the percentage of items that don't belong (referred to as 'contamination' of recycling). This position will support the improvement of recycling collection at commercial, business, and multifamily properties. The incumbent will inspect recycling bins and roll carts and provide feedback to their users as well as assist in field work and project monitoring; perform outreach in businesses/commercial/multifamily settings around recycling contamination; conduct site assessment, mapping, data collection, and data entry; and assist properties in recycling properly and reaching compliance with city recycling standards.
As The Business Recycling Technical Assistant, You Will
Provide technical assistance and conduct business visits:
- Inspect recycling carts/bins, assess and record contamination issues;
- Speak with and provide technical assistance to staff/owners/managers on recycling and waste prevention work;
- Convey proper recycling practices and support business establishments overcome challenges they may face around contamination reduction; adequate service levels, and confusion about roles of property managers and garbage and recycling companies;
- Provide in-person basic recycling related guidance with other BPS Business staff;
- Compile issues; identify areas of concern and develop recommendations for solutions and improvements; prepare clear and concise responses.
- Manage high numbers of business visits/follow up visits and email/phone communication;
- Understand when to deliver difficult situations to other BPS staff members and communicating the complexities in a clear and concise manner;
- Coordinate with garbage and recycling companies;
- Communicate with garbage haulers to gain access to enclosures;
- Facilitate conversations between customers/property managers/haulers to resolve simple recycling service issues while collecting qualitative and anecdotal information;
- Participate in occasional garbage hauler ride-alongs on high contamination routes.
- Track and record business interactions, collect data and metrics in a shared database;
- Analyze data, identify gaps, and resolve basic issues.
- Experience providing technical assistance or outreach and education in relevant sustainable practices.
- Works well independently and is self-motivated.
- Multilingual: Bilingual, both oral and written fluency, strongly preferred (e.g., fluency in writing/speaking/reading in Spanish or one of the top-spoken languages in Portland, such as Vietnamese, Chinese, or Russian).
- Engaged with the Community and Collaborative: An outgoing professional who values partnership and stakeholder relationships. Develops and supports relationships to get things done. Passion for working with teams and problem solving.
- Solutions Oriented: Uses strong communication skills to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to create, implement, and document solutions.
- Invested in equity and inclusion: Aligned with the city's core value of equity to guide and inform your work. Experience with inclusive, respectful, and culturally responsive settings and values.
- Emotionally Intelligent: Motivated, passionate, team-oriented, and empathetic. Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
- Basic proficiency with Office Suite (ex., Excel, Word, PowerPoint), basic database tools.
The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability develops creative and practical solutions enhance Portland's livability, preserve distinctive places and plan for a resilient future. We are committed to advancing equity as a means of achieving prosperous, healthy, resilient communities. In collaboration with community partners, we provide; comprehensive land use, neighborhood, economic, historic and environmental planning, and urban design; policy and technical services to advance green building and a just transition to clean energy, waste prevention, composting and recycling, and a sustainable food system; administration of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund; policy to address climate change; regulation of private franchise utilities; administration of the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission; and digital equity and inclusion policy, projects and outreach.
https://www.portland.gov/bps ( http://www.portland.gov/bps )
BPS values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization. We encourage candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with abroad range of individuals and diverse communities to apply. Although not required, BPS encourages candidates that can fluently speak more than one language to include that information in your resume. BPS offers an excellent benefits package, flexible work schedules and support for training and skills development in a positive, engaging, and creative work environment.
Studies have shown that women, non-binary people, and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all the qualifications listed. BPS considers lived experience and transferrable skills as qualifying unless an item is labeled as required. We are most interested in finding the best candidates for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply.
To Qualify
The Following Minimum Qualifications Are Required For This Position
- Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with a diversity of others.
- Ability to provide effective customer service and communicate in a professional and courteous manner, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability work effectively in a deadline-driven environment.
- Ability to use good judgment to choose appropriate actions within established guidelines.
- Ability to use City-specific technology and general office software, including the Microsoft suite especially Outlook, Word, Teams, and Excel, for document production and data management.
- Possess a valid state driver's license and acceptable driving record.
- Be able lift up to 25 lbs. of outreach and technical assistance materials.
- Be able to conduct door-to-door pavement business outreach 2-4 hours per day.
Although not required, we are seeking individuals with:
- Proficiency in a second language (e.g., Spanish, Vietnamese, etc.) to effectively communicate with diverse community members and stakeholders, enhancing our ability to provide inclusive and equitable services.
STEP 1: Apply online between November 3, 2025 - November 10, 2025
Required Application Materials
- Résumé
- Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
- Veteran’s Preference documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) must be submitted by the closing date.
- Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
- To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.
- Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
- Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
- How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act . Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
- Do not attach any additional documents. Do not attach a cover letter, it will not be reviewed.
- All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process by the closing date and time.
- E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
- You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
- An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their résumé and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
- Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
- You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
- Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.
- Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
- Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview
- Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.
- A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
- Timeline is approximate and subject to change.
Click here for additional information regarding the following:
- City of Portland Core Values
- Recruitment Process - Work Status
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Veteran Preference
- ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations