Waste Reduction Specialist

About the Position

Lane County Public Works is seeking a knowledgeable, collaborative, and solutions-focused Waste Reduction Specialist to help drive the County’s work around waste prevention, recycling, and sustainable materials management. This position plays a critical role in advancing initiatives that reduce waste at the source, strengthen a circular economy, and improve long-term environmental outcomes for our community.

The Waste Reduction Specialist develops, coordinates, and promotes programs, projects, and policy initiatives aligned with Lane County’s Solid Waste Management Plan, Lane Code, and Oregon’s evolving solid waste and recycling statutes. This includes leading waste-reduction strategies, evaluating policy and rule changes conducting research, and preparing clear, data-driven, actionable recommendations to guide County decisions.

This role also represents Lane Country on local and statewide committees and working groups. The Specialist convenes and leads the Solid Waste Coalition Meetings, collaborates with community partners, regional governments, industry stakeholders, and residents, and ensures transparent and effective communication across diverse audiences. Success in this position requires strong analytical abilities, skill in interpreting complex information, and confidence facilitating group discussions. 

Key responsibilities include managing consultant contracts, administering grant opportunities, overseeing regulatory compliance, and supporting materials-management initiatives such as Extended Producer Responsibility. The ideal candidate excels at synthesizing technical and regulatory information, developing practical, operational solutions, and delivering high-quality public service. Prior experience in materials management or solid waste is preferred. A relevant bachelor’s degree meets the minimum qualification; candidates without a degree must have prior experience in waste reduction, materials management, or a closely related field.

This is a unique opportunity to shape policy, influence sustainable practices, and directly contribute to Lane County’s waste-reduction goals. If you’re motivated by community impact, collaborative problem-solving, and environmental stewardship, we encourage you to apply!

Qualifications, skills, and all relevant experience needed for this role can be found in the full description below.

About the Division  

This Division of Waste Management oversees the management of solid recycling and solid waste in Lane County. Our mission is to provide, safe, responsible and economical recycling and disposal services, while respecting the environment and communities we serve. 

  Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 5:00pm

*This is an ADMIN-PRO represented position*

Training:

• Bachelor's degree in a field related to area of assignment, such as sustainability, environmental studies, natural resource management, biology, chemistry, or other natural sciences, and sufficient experience as necessitated by the competency level of the position.

Experience:

• Entry/Contributing Level: 0-2 years of professional experience in materials management or solid waste; entry level for incumbents with bachelor's degree.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Engineering Analyst - Environmental  Responsibilities will generally include researching and investigating County environmental issues to prepare scientific reports outlining recommended actions, programs, budgets and timelines; coordinating and managing required and voluntary environmental remediation and preservation programs.

Licensing Requirements 

• Valid Oregon Driver's License 

Studies have shown that women and BIPOC individuals are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. The county will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. xrczosw If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.