The first application review will take place on May 21st, 2025. For consideration, please apply before this review date by sending your resume and cover letter to: saexecsearch@sanantonio.gov
The anticipated offer to a selected candidate would be in the range of $120,000 - $165,000.Offered salary is commensurate with experience.
To be considered for this position candidates must apply by sending a resume and over letter to saexecsearch@sanantonio.gov before May 21st, 2025.
About San Antonio
The City of San Antonio is the nation’s 7th largest city and is home to more than 1.5 million residents. Located in South Central Texas, approximately 140 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, San Antonio offers its residents one of the most attractive and affordable lifestyles in the country. Residents enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in the State as well as a plentiful supply of high-quality housing and low utility rates. The economy of San Antonio is an excellent mix of business services, manufacturing, health care, communications, corporate and regional offices, government, and the convention and tourism industry. San Antonio is also home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States. One of the nation's fastest growing cities, San Antonio is rich in recreational and cultural opportunities with over 15,000 acres of public parks and 150 miles of trails, over 50 museums and galleries, and home to the San Antonio Spurs. The Historic San Antonio Missions are Texas’ only Unesco World Heritage site, and is a Unesco designated Creative City of Gastronomy.
City Government
San Antonio has a Council-Manager form of government with an eleven-member City Council. Councilmembers are elected by District, while the Mayor is elected at-large. The term of office for the Mayor and all members of the City are four-year terms, for not more than two (2) full terms of office. The City Council appoints the City Manager, who appoints all officials in executive positions with the exception of the City Clerk, City Auditor, Presiding Judge, and Municipal Judges.
The City of San Antonio has been recognized for its high level of professional management by the ICMA and National Civic League, amongst others. For ten consecutive years, the City has maintained a AAA bond rating. The Fiscal Year 2025 adopted budget is $3.9 billion with close to 14,000 employees across approximately 40 departments. The City has made a commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, primarily through the formation of a citywide Office of Equity in 2017, which was transformed into the Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in 2022.
The Solid Waste Management Department
The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) executive team consists of a Director, Deputy Director, and 2 Assistant Directors. Jointly they manage a team of 805 employees that provide service to about 380,000 households. SWMD is an enterprise fund with a budget of $161M. The Department also has a separate Fleet budget of $32M.
SWMD’s primary service is curbside cart collection of garbage, recycling, and organics for single-family homes, utilizing automated side-load trucks. SWMD customers also receive curbside brush collection twice per year and curbside bulky collection twice per year. The department also manages a variety of other programs, including bulky waste drop-off, household hazardous waste disposal, brush grinding, dead animal collection, illegal dumping cleanups, homeless encampment abatements, litter collection, and maintenance of closed landfills. Although the Department does not provide commercial collections, there is a division called ReWorksSA that provides technical assistance to businesses on recycling and other sustainability issues. SWMD also manages a heavy fleet maintenance division responsible for maintaining over 2,000 pieces of equipment for both SWMD and other City departments.
The Position
The Assistant Director is responsible for planning, directing, and managing activities within the SWMD. While they will have specific areas of assigned responsibility, active participation in all aspects of the department is expected. SWMD operates in a fast-paced environment where service delays are not an option, and no two workdays are the same. The department is known for its ability to deliver results, even when tasks fall outside of typical operations. Despite the high demands, our focus remains on our employees and the customer experience - evidenced by a 97% customer satisfaction rate in the most recent residential survey.
Job Functions & Responsibilities
As a member of the SWMD executive team, this position assumes full management responsibility for all departmental services and activities, and is responsible for recommending and administering policies and procedures.
The position is expected to have direct oversight of various programs, which may include collection operations, fleet services, customer billing, and fiscal management.
Develops and implements department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for each assigned service area; establishes appropriate service and staffing levels; and allocates resources accordingly.
Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods; assesses and monitors workload and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; directs the implementation of changes.
Frequently acts as the official departmental representative to other City departments, City Manager's Office, elected officials and outside agencies; explains, justifies, and defends department programs and activities; and negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues
Sets team morale by motivating and evaluating department staff; provides or coordinates training and works with employees to correct deficiencies; and implements and administers disciplinary and termination procedures.
Assists in planning and directing the department work plan through subordinate-level staff; meets with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; and reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures.
Participates in the development and administration of the department budget; estimates funds needed for staffing, equipment, and supplies; directs the monitoring and approval of expenditures; and directs the preparation and implementation of budgetary adjustments as necessary.
Facilitates and coordinates departmental activities with other departments and outside agencies and organizations; provides staff assistance to the City Manager, Assistant City Managers, and City Council; and prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary communications.
Education and Experience
Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, Construction Technology or a related field. They will also have five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in public works, solid waste, environmental sciences, or a related field, including three (3) years of administrative or supervisory responsibility. The most highly qualified candidates for consideration will be selected based on a combination of education, career experience, and accomplishments that best fits the needs of the City of San Antonio.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader committed to collaboration, ethics, and customer service. They will be a superior communicator that can establish and nurture relationships with staff, stakeholders and the community being served. They will be an experienced solid waste professional with a proven ability to coordinate logistics and a financial understanding to monitor the expenses to increase efficiency. The Assistant Director must be a consensus builder with the courage to make tough decisions and a forward-thinking leader who interacts with front-level staff.
Salary
The most highly qualified candidates for consideration will be selected based on a combination of education, career experience, and accomplishments that best fits the needs of the City of San Antonio. An expected salary offer will be in the range of $120,000 - $165,000. Salary is commensurate with experience. The City offers generous benefits and retirement including annual and personal leave, monthly car allowance, deferred compensation plans, relocation/moving expenses and participation in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS).
How to Apply
If you are interested in this opportunity, please send a cover letter, resume, references and salary requirements to:
saexecsearch@sanantonio.gov
This position is open until filled. First review of resumes will occur on May 21st, 2025. Please submit your application prior to this date and as soon as possible to ensure you are considered for this position. Upon receipt, resumes will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted by the City of San Antonio’s Executive Recruiter.
For additional information please contact:
Jeff Baldwin, Executive Recruiter
City of San Antonio
Human Resources Department
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283
saexecsearch@sanantonio.gov
Phone: (210) 207-7939
Please note: Under the Texas Public Information Act, information from your resume may be subject to public disclosure.
The City of San Antonio is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
About San Antonio
The City of San Antonio is the nation’s 7th largest city and is home to more than 1.5 million residents. Located in South Central Texas, approximately 140 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, San Antonio offers its residents one of the most attractive and affordable lifestyles in the country. Residents enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in the State as well as a plentiful supply of high-quality housing and low utility rates. The economy of San Antonio is an excellent mix of business services, manufacturing, health care, communications, corporate and regional offices, government, and the convention and tourism industry. San Antonio is also home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States. One of the nation's fastest growing cities, San Antonio is rich in recreational and cultural opportunities with over 15,000 acres of public parks and 150 miles of trails, over 50 museums and galleries, and home to the San Antonio Spurs. The Historic San Antonio Missions are Texas’ only Unesco World Heritage site, and is a Unesco designated Creative City of Gastronomy.
City Government
San Antonio has a Council-Manager form of government with an eleve...n-member City Council. Councilmembers are elected by District, while the Mayor is elected at-large. The term of office for the Mayor and all members of the City are four-year terms, for not more than two (2) full terms of office. The City Council appoints the City Manager, who appoints all officials in executive positions with the exception of the City Clerk, City Auditor, Presiding Judge, and Municipal Judges.
The City of San Antonio has been recognized for its high level of professional management by the ICMA and National Civic League, amongst others. For ten consecutive years, the City has maintained a AAA bond rating. The Fiscal Year 2025 adopted budget is $3.9 billion with close to 14,000 employees across approximately 40 departments. The City has made a commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, primarily through the formation of a citywide Office of Equity in 2017, which was transformed into the Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in 2022.
