Lead Specialist, Environmental Sustainability

POSITION TITLE:
Lead Specialist, Environmental Sustainability (Zero Waste) (Full-Time Regular) (Classified)

REQUISITION #:
req8278

DEPARTMENT:
Environmental Services

LOCATION:
222 LAPORTE

BENEFIT CATEGORY:
Classified (Non-CBU) View Classifications & Benefits

EMPLOYMENT TYPE:
Full-Time Regular

FLSA STATUS:
Exempt

ANNUAL SALARY RANGE:
$68, , Salaries are paid biweekly)

ANNUAL ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE:
$84, , Salaries are paid biweekly)

SELECTION PROCESS:
Application deadline is
3:00 p.m. MT on 1/16/2026
.

The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.
Post-offer background check required
. (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)

While the City of Fort Collins offers many remote and/or hybrid positions, all remote or hybrid work must be performed in the state of Colorado.

Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

• Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, children) – eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
• Retirement + company contributions – after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
• Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Wellness program, workout facilities
• Employee/family onsite health clinic
• Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
• Collaborative work environment

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure
Job Summary
The Environmental Services Department seeks an experienced project manager with a proven track record in waste reduction, recycling, and composting to join a dynamic team of sustainability practitioners within the Sustainability Services Area. The role requires a commitment to environmental stewardship, resilience, and Zero Waste strategies pragmatically delivered as part of the Service Area's integrated purpose to create and transform human-centered systems, support basic needs, create meaningful value, and progress toward a thriving and engaged community.

With particular emphasis on implementing Zero Waste strategy and supporting municipal sustainability and adaptation initiatives, this Environmental Sustainability Lead Specialist position is expected to lead interdepartmental and cross-functional teams to support policy development and strategy to advance City Council's adopted goals and priorities. Additionally, this position manages sustainability planning, implementation projects, and reporting processes by fostering collaboration across the City organization and engaging with the Fort Collins community.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills to effectively facilitate community and staff engagement and must be able to simplify technical information for diverse audiences. Extensive experience with data management and processing, including data assessment, analysis, interpretation, and storytelling to inform decision-making is preferred.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities
The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Develops plans and policies regarding environmental sustainability and collaborates with other staff and consultants regarding issues.
• Develops and manages complex projects.
• Supports the development and implementation of equitable public outreach and engagement.
• Prepares Council agenda materials; participates in City Council meetings regarding resolutions, ordinances, and programs.
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepares data and annual reports and may conducts periodic public surveys.
• Responds to community member, employee, and City Council inquiries, complaints and service requests.
• Responsible for preparing and managing portions of the program budget.
• Pursues and manages grants.
• Collaborates on developing a compliance plan for the City's program including enforcement activities.
• May serve on task forces and may serve as team leader on interdepartmental and interagency teams related to environmental sustainability.
• Supports the City of Fort Collins' Triple Bottom Line decision-making, performance excellence and integrated systems thinking.
• May hire and direct the work of classified and temporary employees.
• Conducts best practice research and maintains peer relationships in other communities.

Management Responsibilities
Yes

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

Required Knowledge Skills And Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to communicate technical subject matter to the general public and present to diverse audiences, including racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in relevant area.
• Familiarity with related Federal and State environmental laws and regulations.
• Ability to develop and implement effective education and engagement campaigns.
• Familiarity with, and commitment to, equity, diversity and inclusion principles.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including historically underrepresented populations, in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process.
• Experience managing contracts and grants
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with peers, stakeholders, customers, and city employees
• Demonstrated knowledge of practice and principles of project management.
• Ability to negotiate, facilitate discussion and conflict resolution among diverse groups and individuals.
• Ability to collect, organize and analyze sets of data; ability to deduce implications of collected data and communicate findings to a non-technical audience.
• Experience mentoring and/or supervising teams in a supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Demonstrated expertise with standard Office programs.

MinimumPreferred
Required Qualifications
College degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certification or advanced degrees Bachelor's degree in planning, sustainability, natural resources management, ecology, planning, public health, or a related field.

Master's Degree

Experience Requirements

• Five years related experience.

At the City, we are focused on finding the strongest candidate for the role, and we recognize that excellence can come from a wide variety of experiences and paths. When reviewing applications, we consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and lived experiences that align with the minimum qualifications. If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to view your background broadly and highlight the skills and experiences that best prepare you for the role.

The content in this posting was created for recruitment purposes. To view the full job description click the link below.
Lead Spc, Env Sustainability

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical And/or Recreational Marijuana Use
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee's protected status, or any behavior that violates this policy.

Consistent with the City's respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.

The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City's commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIRED. (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.