Landfill Operations Management Trainee

As an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

I. Job Summary

The Disposal Operations Management Trainee (DOMT) position is part of a required developmental training program lasting up to 18 months. The duties and responsibilities are under the direction and supervision of WM frontline managers (Area Directors of Disposal Operations, Landfill District Managers, and Operations Managers) related to the operations of a landfill. The primary mentor for this position will be the Landfill District Manager at the training location to which the DOMT is assigned or the Area Director of Disposal Operations. The DOMT, through assigned work activities, a training curriculum, and hands-on projects, will develop a strong working knowledge of all aspects of the day-to-day disposal operations at a WM landfill, including but not limited to, safety, environmental protection and permitting, finance and accounting, personnel management, heavy equipment, community and customer service, construction and engineering, gas and leachate management, and waste streams and sales. The Disposal OMT training program is designed to develop individuals into Operations Managers and District Managers with a strong career path to Directors of Disposal Operations or other roles.

II. Duties and Responsibilities

• Successfully complete the Disposal OMT curriculum consisting of Foundational, Intermediate, and Advanced level training. Complete all required training items through participation in the WM Learning Management System.
• Attend and participate in all mandatory group training sessions.
• Disposal Operations: Responsible for the knowledge development and progressive understanding and expertise in all aspects of day-to-day management of a landfill, including, but not limited to, fill sequencing, cover operations, waste placement and compaction operations, equipment and labor deployment, storm water management, and traffic flow.
• Develop a working knowledge of heavy equipment functionality and maintenance care including actual operation and in-shop maintenance.
• Learn how to effectively manage site personnel including non-exempt operators through experiential efforts and training.
• Develop an understanding of landfill design and construction including cell excavation and earthwork, liner cross-sections, slope stability, geosynthetics deployment, leachate control and landfill gas control systems and final cover cross sections.
• Develop proficiency and understanding in all aspects of leachate and landfill gas management. Develop general understanding of renewable energy operations and its relationship with the landfill gas systems.
• Develop a strong sense of community affairs and community relations management through actual participation in public affairs events and processes.
• Develop a complete understanding of environmental monitoring and environmental protection issues that exist at a landfill including interaction with various regulatory agencies. Review and understand regulatory requirements and site permits.
• Develop understanding of financial, accounting, and forecasting processes and systems including experience in reporting to senior management and showing proficiency in operations of the scalehouse.
• Develop understanding of how waste streams are sold and priced within WM sales and marketing organization, and its relationship to operations.
• Develop a strong understanding and dedication to the WM Safety Program; work with Corporate and local safety teams to continue to create an increasingly aware and observant safety conscious culture.
• Participate in landfill operational reviews and provide constructive feedback to operations staff.
• Participate in Area mentor programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned that may include special projects and interim management assignments. Learning will be very action and experiential based.

III. Supervisory Responsibilities

This job may have periodic leadership / management responsibilities throughout the program.

IV. Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the qualifications necessary to perform the job.

A. Education and Experience

• Education: Bachelors Degree (accredited), or in lieu of degree, High School Diploma or GED (accredited) and 4 (four) years of relevant work experience.
• Experience: 5 (five) years of relevant work experience with increased responsibility in construction, engineering, geology, operations management or heavy equipment (in addition to education requirement).

B. Preferred Certificates, Licenses or Registrations

• PE (Professional Engineer)
• RLS (Registered Land Surveyor)
• PG (Professional Geologist)

C. Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office
• Must be willing to work various hours and weekends as necessary
• Must be willing to work outdoors and/or in a maintenance shop
• Must be skilled in problem solving and conflict resolution
• Must have excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Must have exceptional time management and organizational skills in order to plan days and meet all reporting requirements and training arrangements
• Proven problem solving ability and successful conflict resolution
• History of leadership achievements
• Ability to multi-task
• Strong analytical skills

D. Key Competencies Required

Work Standards - Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.

Safety and Environmental Performance Awareness - Identifying and correcting conditions that affect employee safety and environmental protection.

Planning & Organizing - Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently.

Active Learning - Demonstrating zeal for new information, knowledge, and experiences, regularly seeking and capitalizing on learning opportunities; quickly assimilating and applying new information.

Coaching - Providing timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem.

Communication - Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message.

Applied Learning - Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a timely manner.

Building Strategic Working Relationships - Developing and using collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals.

Building a Successful Team - Using appropriate methods and a flexible interpersonal style to help build a cohesive team; facilitating the completion of team goals.

Continuous Improvement - Originating action to improve existing conditions and processes; using appropriate methods to identify opportunities, implement solutions, and measure impact.

Customer Focus - Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind business decisions and activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet the needs of the customer and ones own organization.

Decision Making - Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

V. Essential Functions, Environment and Physical Requirements

While some of the Disposal OMT work is performed within an office atmosphere, field work and frequent field assignments are the core foundation of the DOMT and operations positions. These field assignments will include exposure to the elements, weather, and other non-office type conditions. When conducting field work and assignments one should possess the ability to ascend onto and descend from various pieces of heavy equipment and ride accordingly for many consecutive hours. The DOMT will be exposed to climatic weather as depicted by the geographical region for which you reside or are assigned. A Disposal OMT will also periodically be required to work non-traditional work schedules . 12 hour workdays, some weekends, some early start times, etc.

This program strongly prefers the candidate to have the ability to relocate throughout the and Canada either for the Disposal OMT program or when placed into a permanent operations role. The program may require some travel (both air and car).

Benefits

At Waste Management, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Short Term Disability. As well as a Stock Purchase Plan, Company match on RRSP, and more Our employees also receive Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Personal Days. Please note that benefits may vary by site.