Project Manager

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Project Manager positions. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 11:59 P.M. (PST).

OC WASTE & RECYCLING
OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) serves the County’s solid waste disposal needs by providing waste management services, operating public landfills, protecting the local environment, investing in renewable energy enterprises and promoting recycling in order to ensure a safe and healthy community for current and future generations. The department manages one of the nation's premier solid waste disposal systems, serving residents and businesses in the County’s 34 cities and unincorporated areas. Our three active landfills reflect environmental engineering at its best. They are among the largest in the state and annually receive more than 4 million tons of solid waste. These state-of-the-art facilities - Olinda Alpha Landfill near Brea, Frank R Bowerman Landfill near Irvine and Prima Deshecha Landfill next to San Juan Capistrano—take pride in being good neighbors. The landfills use sanitary and environmentally friendly operational methods and have earned many awards for their modern management techniques, regulatory compliance and environmental practices.

THE OPPORTUNITY

OCWR has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Project Manager supporting the Project Management Office (PMO) unit of the Compliance Support and Landfill Technology division. This Division focuses on improving efficiency, using advanced technologies, and streamlining processes to support safe and reliable operations. The PMO handles both capital and non-capital projects included in OCWR's Strategic Financial Plan and provides construction and project management services from start to finish. This position is stationed at the Prima Deshecha Landfill in the city of San Juan Capistrano and reports to the South Region's assigned Senior Project Manager. 

The Project Manager job duties include but are not limited to:

• Independently managing a broad range of landfill related projects including horizonal infrastructure, maintenance and repair, operations, and capital projects
• Managing service contracts (landfill gas, liquids management, habitat maintenance, pest abatement, etc.), facilities maintenance and repair (paving, painting, fencing, HVAC, tenant improvement, etc.) and moderately technical and complex capital projects
• Managing all project phases that include initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing, utilizing tools and techniques derived from the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Authoring scopes of work, request for proposals, contract task orders, agenda staff reports and contract agreements
• Drafting, negotiating, and executing different contracting vehicles that include Purchase Orders, Regional Cooperative Agreements, Job Order Contracts, Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, Construction Manager at Risk, Landfill Service Contracts, A-E On-Call Contracts, Task Orders, and other Special Service Contracts
• Overseeing diverse project teams composed of internal clients, consultants, contractors, building departments, regulatory agencies, trade staff and contracted staff from a broad range of disciplines including architecture/engineering, construction management and specialty consultants    
• Administers and manages design, construction, and maintenance contracts, change orders, time extensions and modifications of contract agreements, and monitors progress, recommends payments, and ensures contract compliance during warranty period
• Supporting the Department and Landfills to ensure compliance with legislative and environmental regulations specific to the solid waste industry, as well as ensuring permitting compliance with Federal, State and Local regulatory agencies, including permit application and variance submittals  
• Overseeing complex landfill maintenance, repair, facilities and capital improvement design, planning, and construction projects
• Managing OCWR projects that range from small ($500K or under), medium ($500K - $2M), to large ($2M+)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate has six (6) years of experience in project management including horizontal construction, capital improvement, and maintenance and repair projects.  

In addition, the ideal candidate will demonstrate strong knowledge of the following competencies: 

Technical Expertise

• Experience applying project management industry standards and practices in the areas of project planning, coordinating, budget management, scheduling and monitoring
• Knowledge and application of principles of architectural/engineering design and construction practices in multiple disciplines such as landfilling, architectural, civil, structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and heating, ventilating and air conditioning
• Knowledge of California Public Contracting Code (PCC), Uniform Building Codes (UBC), Cal-OSHA building construction regulations, Federal, State and local codes and regulations and other pertinent safety rules and regulations
• Experience with regulatory compliance enforced by the local, federal and state agencies such as CalRecycle, Local Enforcement Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and Environmental Protection Agency

Analysis and Problem Solving

• Ability to understand, interpret and enforce compliance with plans, specifications schedules and contract provisions
• Ability to recognize and anticipate problems of project scope, budget, schedule, plans and specifications and determine necessary changes
• Ability to research, evaluate, estimate, and accurately interpret and apply technical data and policy information to solve problems and/or make recommendations to management
• Ability to identify issues, choose the best option, and make timely decisions

Planning and Organization

• Ability to plan and organize work effectively to ensure that assignments are on schedule, within budget and adhere to policy
• Ability to manage multiple projects with changing and competing priorities

Leadership Skills

• Ability to manage project scope, schedule, and budget and provide recommendations as needed
• Ability to lead project team and coordinate with stakeholders from project concept to completion
• Ability to make well-informed and objective decisions by perceiving the impact and implications of the decisions in a professional ethical framework

Active Communication and Writing Skills

• Ability to build consensus and negotiate with public and private parties
• Ability to clearly communicate expectations, tasks, plans, and schedules to stakeholders

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here for details on the Project Manager classification, including the physical, mental, environmental and working conditions. 

NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Application Appraisal Panel | AAP (Weighted 100%)
An Application Appraisal Panel (AAP) of job knowledge experts will thoroughly screen and evaluate the application, and supplemental questionnaire for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above. Only the most qualified candidates will move forward to the next step in the recruitment process or will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Based on the County's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The County of Orange is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should notify the recruiter listed on the job posting as soon as possible. Documentation supporting the accommodation request may be required.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION 
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.