Community Activity Worker (Recycling Ambassador) (Part-Time) – Environmental Services Department

Job Description:

Community Activity Worker (Recycling Ambassador) (Part-Time) – Environmental Services Department

Description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San José.

Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents!

To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on X (formally Twitter), Facebook , Instagram , and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn .

About the Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Division:
ESD’s Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Division leads one of the largest and most advanced solid waste management systems in the United States through creativity and innovation. IWM oversees San José’s solid waste programs serving approximately 331,000 residential households, over 8,000 commercial customers and about 140 municipal facilities. Division staff collaborate with other City departments and establish strong partnerships with private companies, other government agencies, non-profits, and the community on a variety of key efforts. Experience fast-paced work and learn new skills that contribute to the bigger purpose of protecting the environment at a local level.

Position Duties

The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill four (4) Part-Time Community Activity Worker (Recycling Ambassador) unbenefited positions in the Integrated Waste Management Division.

The current salary range for this classification is: $25.08 - $30.53 Hourly. This amount includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.
These positions support the Contamination and Recycling Tagging (CART) Program to reduce single-family dwelling recycling contamination. This work helps the City reach its zero-waste goal to increase material recycled, educate residents about items that are recyclable, reduce material landfilled, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and avoid future recycling fee increases. These positions provide individuals with valuable recycling program experience, rewarding field work engaging residents and the community, and helps San José Recycle Right.
Typical duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Drive an assigned City vehicle to residential neighborhoods and conduct outdoor fieldwork scheduled between 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Monday through Friday for 20 hours per week.
• Conduct quick visual inspections of recycling carts at single-family homes, either individually or in pairs, focusing on visible contents only.
• Record observations and capture cart photos using a tablet, conducting quality control checks as needed.
• Place educational tags onto recycling carts based on inspection findings.
• Communicate with recycling service provider staff through daily check-ins or as needed.
• Engage with residents in a courteous and professional manner to answer recycling program questions and distribute printed outreach materials.
• Plan the logistics for assigned fieldwork and ensure the field supplies are re-stocked as needed.
• Print field maps and plan neighborhood visits.
• Load equipment and materials into the City vehicle and re-fuel vehicle as needed.
• Keep the program supervisor informed with regular updates and collaborate with City staff as needed to maintain uninterrupted field operations.
• Comfortable working outdoors and performing four hours of standing and walking per shift.
• Basic computer skills and the ability to use office equipment such as printers and scanners.
• Ability to report to San José City Hall to meet with the team and pick up necessary field supplies.
• Quick learner with the ability to follow instructions and carry out field tasks independently with minimal supervision.

Desirable Qualifications also include:

• Multilingual English, Spanish and Vietnamese language skills
• Passionate about recycling and waste reduction
• Interest in helping the San José community Recycle Right
• Interest in gaining solid waste industry experience

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent (General Education Development (GED) Test or California Proficiency Certificate).

Experience: Two years of full-time equivalent experience (4160 hours) in organizing groups for community action.

Required Licenses: Possession of a valid State of California driver's license is required. If selected, the Conditional Offer of Employment may be contingent upon you providing proof of a valid State of California driver’s license, and an assessment of your California DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) as per the DMV Release of Driver Record Information form. Failure to pass the DMV Pull Notice assessment will deem you ineligible for employment.

Acceptable Substitution: An acceptable substitution for the Community Activity Worker Part-Time classification is one year of college (30 semester units or 45 quarter units) may be substituted for one year of the required experience in organizing groups for community action.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

• Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
• Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.
• Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
• Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.
• Social Awareness - Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people’s emotions and how they influence the situation of interest or concern; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.
• Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Selection Process:
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Angela Tea at angela.tea@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

Part-time positions(less than 40 hours per week) are required to participate in the City’s PTC 457 Deferred Compensation Plan per Federal regulations. Employees are required to contribute 3.75% of gross earning and the City contributes a matching amount of 3.75%. The funds contributed by the City are 100% vested upon initial deferral and will be held in in a stability of principal investment. This plan is in lieu of social security and does not include any healthcare benefits or contributions.

Part-time employees may elect to contribute additional retirement savings through the City’s Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. Additional Information on both plans can be found on the City’s website.

Closing Date/Time: 10/14/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$25.08 - $30.53 Hourly