Career Center

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

The Waste Prevention and Environmental Services (WPES) Department is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as Deputy Director. In this role, you will provide executive leadership and operational oversight across a complex, regionally significant garbage and recycling system. You will act as the principal deputy to the Department Director and serve as the Director in their absence, ensuring continuity of leadership and decision-making across the organization. 

This position plays a central role in translating Metro Council priorities, regional plans, and environmental goals into effective, service delivery. You will oversee programs, facilities, and staff to ensure services are delivered safely, efficiently, and in compliance with Metro Code and applicable regulations. At the same time, you will help guide the department’s strategic direction—balancing operational performance with long-term system planning, financial sustainability, and public accountability.

As Deputy Director, you will lead and support division directors and managers, providing direction, coaching, and performance oversight to ensure alignment with departmental goals. You will be responsible for maintaining a comprehensive understanding of WPES programs and services, identifying risks and opportunities, and keeping the Director informed on operational performance and emerging issues.

A key component of this role is ensuring strong operational systems and governance. You will oversee the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and internal controls, ensuring consistency and compliance across the department. You will provide oversight to department-wide incident and emergency response efforts, ensuring coordinated, effective responses to service disruptions and other operational challenges.

In partnership with the Director and Finance leadership, you will contribute to budget development, financial forecasting, and oversight of revenues and expenditures. You will bring a strong understanding of fee structures and financial drivers, helping to align operational decisions with the department’s financial framework and long-term sustainability.

You will also stewardship and maintenance of public assets, including oversight of the department’s Capital Improvement Program, ensuring that planning and project delivery are aligned with operational needs and regional priorities. In this capacity, you will work closely with internal teams and external partners to support effective implementation and continuous improvement.

Success in this role requires a leader who can operate effectively in a complex public sector environment—someone who is equally comfortable managing day-to-day operations and contributing to long-term strategy. You will bring strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate competing priorities while maintaining a focus on service, safety, and public trust. 

As the Deputy Director you will: 

• Provide executive leadership, supervision, and management of assigned operational programs and services, including site-based operations, and internal policies and procedures. 
• Monitor the planning and execution of cross-divisional/team systems, performance measures, and service delivery standards. 
• Translate Council and executive policy direction into operational plans and oversees implementation to ensure safe efficient, safe, and compliant service delivery. 
• Assist the Director and Finance Manager with department-wide budget preparation, forecasting, and monitoring of expenditures and revenues. 
• Maintain expertise in the department’s fee structures and budget and represents the department in public meetings and presentations. 
• Provide oversight of the department’s Capital Improvement Program, ensuring alignment of project planning, funding, and execution with operational and strategic goals.  
• Lead and oversee the development, documentation, and governance of department policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance with Metro, state, and federal requirements. 
• Represent the department with internal partners, union representatives, and external agencies; communicates operational performance, risks, and opportunities to the Director.
• Assist with department-wide short- and long-range planning. Identifies and implements improvements in operational systems, technology, data use, performance metrics and program evaluation to enhance service delivery and accountability.

 Attributes for success:

• Strong leadership and organizational management skills, with the ability to guide teams and drive alignment across programs. 
• Experience translating policy direction into operational implementation.
• Knowledge of budgeting, financial management, and performance monitoring. 
• Knowledge of management theory and principles of supervision.
• Knowledge of regulations and laws applicable to area of assignment.
• Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, and operational frameworks. 
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with experience working across diverse stakeholder groups. 
• A commitment to public service, accountability, and continuous improvement. 
• Knowledge of solid waste systems or similar public infrastructure and regulatory environments.

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant. 

Minimum qualifications

• Seven to ten years of specialized experience or operational management in area of responsibility, and 
• A Bachelor's degree in the assigned program area or a related field, or
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Experience leading large, complex operational programs, utilities, public works, environmental services, infrastructure systems, or similar public sector operations.
• Experience developing and administering operating and capital budgets, financial forecasts, fee-supported programs, or enterprise funds.
• Experience leading organizational change, operational improvement initiatives, or business transformation efforts.
• Experience overseeing capital improvement programs, asset management programs, facility operations, or infrastructure investments.
• Experience working with elected officials, governing boards, advisory committees, community stakeholders, or regulatory agencies.
• Knowledge of solid waste systems, recycling systems, environmental services, utility operations, transportation systems, or other regulated public infrastructure systems.
• Experience implementing performance management systems, operational metrics, data analytics, or continuous improvement programs.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, governance systems, and internal controls across complex organizations.
• Experience translating strategic plans, policy direction, or regulatory requirements into operational implementation.
• Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, Environmental Management, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• Professional certification related to leadership, public administration, project management, asset management, finance, emergency management, or continuous improvement.