DPW Organic Waste Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Public Works (DPW) Organic Waste Manager will lead the DPW Organic Waste Crew, overseeing all aspects of organics collection and sorting operations at the Staff Commissary during the Black Rock City event cycle. This role manages the Commissary exodus flow, coordinates the separation of organics, recyclables, and landfill waste from the vendor kitchen and staff camps, and ensures the efficient operation of the washing station and proper loading of dumpsters. Other responsibilities include resource allocation, crew scheduling, maintaining safety standards, and educating staff camps on proper waste disposal practices. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership and organizational skills, experience in waste management (especially with organics), a good sense of humor and the ability to communicate effectively across diverse groups. Due to the nature of the work, this role demands flexibility in hours and a commitment to sustainability practices in a dynamic event environment.

 This temporary, ineligible for benefits role is: 

• From May - July: Part-Time (approximate 4 hours per week), Non-Exempt, based fully remote.
• From August - September: Full-Time, Exempt, based in Black Rock City, Nevada.

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00pm Pacific on April 8th.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Site Operations (30%)

• Ensure a clean and safe work environment by maintaining rigorous standards, providing OSHA-approved personal protective equipment (PPE), and training crew members in best practices.
• Execute Organics Waste infrastructure site survey and layout as per the site plan and oversee aspects of construction, setup, operation, and dismantling of materials sorting stations.
• Manage the placement and servicing of dumpsters in coordination with the Waste Stream Sustainability Manager and direct the setup and operation of the washing station.
• Train crew members on the proper use and maintenance of pressure washers and the gray water system.
• Maintain radio availability during working hours, on-call shifts, and respond to emergencies as needed.
• Quickly assess, troubleshoot, and resolve operational issues, reporting significant problems to management.
• Engage in cost reduction and implement sustainability practices actively.

Personnel Management (30%)

• Develop and manage daily staffing schedules and operational plans, ensuring appropriate coverage and efficiency in the collection and sorting of organics.
• Mentor and train the Organic Waste Crew in safety practices and operational procedures.
• Maintain effective communication with all stakeholders; Coordinate with the Commissary Manager, catering vendors, and waste stream Leads at staff camps, Ranger, and ESD Outposts to ensure seamless waste management operations.
• Encourage personal responsibility among the crew for their health, well-being, and accountability, proactively addressing management concerns.
• Uphold safety, cleanliness and respectful behavior as a leader within the TSA camp, enforcing the Behavioral Agreement when necessary.
• Foster team morale and encourage continuous education on best practices in waste management and environmental sustainability; Promote a culture of health, safety, and productivity by setting clear expectations, open communication and providing regular feedback.

Asset Management (15%)

• Oversee the transportation of assets including storage containers, stairs, platforms, crates, and other items to and from the Event Site and Black Rock Station.
• Coordinate with Transfer Station management to secure storage and maintain inventory for all equipment and materials.
• Ensure that fleet vehicles issued to the Organics Waste crew are properly utilized, maintained, and kept clean throughout the event.

Documentation (10%)

• Assist the Environmental Restoration Manager in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), job descriptions, policies, and culture for the Organics Waste Crew & Operations. 
• Document processes for educational, training, and communication purposes.
• Oversee the accurate collection and submission of staff working hours, ensure all payroll entries are precise, and facilitate timely distribution of paychecks.
• Manage and submit all expense reports and receipts timely, ensuring completeness and accuracy.
• Provide end-of-season feedback via the designated form or the EMBER process, highlighting successes and challenges to enhance future efficiency and effectiveness

Advance Planning (10%): 

• Review SOPs, inventories, and plans with material and tool needs for the season; Collaborate with the Waste Stream Sustainability Manager to manage the procurement, delivery, storage, transportation, and inventory of all Organics Waste assets necessary for operations.
• Assist with assembling and optimizing the DPW Organics Crew; Learn the hiring/recruiting process using established processes, proactively promoting open roles to parties with a good cultural fit.
• Read and understand the Integrated Plan, other departmental timelines, and objectives for the completion of each phase of BRC city development- set-up, maintenance, and tear down.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of the logistics, setup, maintenance, and removal of Organics Waste Crew infrastructure; help streamline processes for organic and non-organic waste at the Staff Commissary, aligning strategies and improving sustainability measures.
• Accurately track hours worked; submit personal time-card promptly on a bi-weekly deadline.

Other Functions and Responsibilities (5%)

• Work closely with relevant leadership and crews to execute and refine Leave No Trace (LNT) plans, including line sweeps of the Commissary compound.
• Attend and participate in DPW Manager Meetings regularly.
• Promptly communicate any personal or interpersonal issues, injuries, or concerns about personal duty performance to your Manager. Provide clarity about your capabilities, boundaries, and self-care needs.
• Read, understand, and act in accordance with Burning Man’s staff policies, protocols and behavioral standards.
• Perform various other duties as directed.

Additional On-playa Duties and Responsibilities 

• Exercise discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance within the department.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

• Documentation - Drives the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to assigned duties.
• Teaching – Takes a leadership role in the acculturation and training of staff. Teaches live or e-learning classes, as requested. Promotes a culture of teaching and learning throughout the community.
• Mentoring - Mentors subordinates in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and experience that will allow them to advance in the organization. Aids, encourages, and inspires their team.
• Training development - Collaborates with the education team to develop training materials in their area of expertise, as requested.
• Learning – Pursues ongoing learning in their area of expertise, working to stay current on emergent knowledge, skills, and processes. Participates in conferences, forums, and networking events, where appropriate.
• Speaking – Represents Burning Man as a subject matter expert and culture-bearer, as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Knowledge of Burning Man values, ethos, and 10 Principles; especially Leaving No Trace.  
• Able to follow directions, receive and integrate feedback into action, maintain a professional demeanor, and respectfully interface with collaborators.
• Effective at task switching, with good time-management skills, can evaluate and reprioritize workload as necessary.
• Ability to think quickly, problem solve, apply critical thinking to create solutions, and remain calm under pressure; Situationally aware and safety-minded, able to work long hours in extreme conditions.
• Proven leadership skills and experience managing a diverse team with a willingness to promote their strengths and respect their limitations; Ability to lead by example, energize and engage people while still maintaining firm boundaries and adhering to set standards.
• Operates with behavioral integrity, is organized and detail-oriented, reliable, and fulfills obligations.
• Experienced (3+ years) in waste stream sorting or similar, preferably with a strong knowledge of Resource Recovery Management (Organics/Recycling).
• Working knowledge of Google products (Gmail, Groups, Docs, Sheets, Drive).
• Clear, service-oriented, and respectful communication, verbally and written, with strong interpersonal teaching skills. Experienced with using 2-way radios and following radio protocol.
• Capable of working in an extreme environment including drastic temperature changes, high winds, poor air quality and low to no visibility at times.
• Ability to temporarily relocate for work at the Burning Man event held in Gerlach, Nevada.

Preferred

• It is helpful if the candidate has previously been to Burning Man and/or is familiar with its culture.
• It is helpful if the candidate has previously worked for Burning Man’s Transfer Station Crew or Organic Waste Crew and/or is familiar with its operations.
• OSHA 10 Certification.
• Experienced (3+ years) leadership experience in event-based production work.
• Practiced in facilitating team meetings and mediation.
• Basic carpentry skills.

Note: If you have gained the necessary experience to succeed in this role and have acquired this experience in other ways, we encourage you to apply and share all relevant experience in your application.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Valid driver’s license and a good driving record.

COMPENSATION: 

Individual compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including prior experience and geographical location. The anticipated pay rate for this position is:

• From May - July is $21.00 to $25.00 per hour.
• From August - September is $1,150 to $1,300 per week.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Off-playa:  Work is primarily sedentary in nature; no special demands are required.
• On-playa:  This position requires periods of heavy lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting, and climbing. This position will be physically demanding and requires individuals with good physical health, and endurance. Work will include the need to find and meet with department representatives who may not be in the vicinity therefore this could include walking or using some form of transportation. Much of the work will be in outside weather conditions and will be exposed to fumes or airborne particles as well as possible extremes in temperature.

NOTICE FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

• Burning Man Project celebrates the importance of creating a diverse environment and enthusiastically encourages Black, Indigenous, Peoples of Color, LGBTQIA+, Immigrant, women, and people with disabilities, of all ages, to apply.
• Burning Man Project provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
• Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.