Operations Manager / District Superintendent
Public ServiceYou 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
Learn the skills
Courses and certifications to get you job-ready
Fleet operations management
Landfill capacity management
Capital equipment procurement
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
Related Shifts
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