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Operations Manager / District Superintendent

Public Service

You run the waste management operation for an entire district. Fleet management, route optimization, staffing, regulatory compliance, and budget — it's all yours. You're the person who decides when to buy new trucks, how to restructure routes when a new subdivision gets built, and what happens when a landfill reaches capacity. You report to the public works director, deal with city council members who want better service for less money, and manage an operation that's genuinely essential — because when trash collection stops, civilization unravels faster than you'd think.

Salary Range

Low

$70k

Median

$85k

High

$110k

10-Year Growth

5%

US Workers

15K

Education

10+ years waste management experience + bachelor's degree (preferred) + fleet management + municipal operations

Environment

indoor

Tools & Technical Skills

  • Fleet operations management
  • Municipal budget planning
  • EPA regulatory compliance
  • Route optimization software
  • Landfill capacity management
  • Contract negotiation (disposal/recycling)
  • Capital equipment procurement

People & Mindset Skills

  • Executive leadership
  • Political navigation
  • Strategic planning
  • Workforce management
  • Public relations
  • Stakeholder communication
  • Crisis management

What you'll actually do

  • 01Oversee fleet operations for 50-200+ collection vehicles across the district
  • 02Present budget proposals to city officials who chronically underestimate what trash collection costs
  • 03Manage route optimization — because the city keeps building subdivisions without telling you
  • 04Handle regulatory compliance with EPA, state environmental agencies, and landfill permits
  • 05Negotiate contracts with disposal facilities, recycling processors, and equipment vendors
  • 06Deal with the political fallout when service changes make the local news