With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.
The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The hiring salary range for this position is $75,000.00 - $98,000.00. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:
A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
457B Retirement Plan
140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day, and 1 volunteer day per year
Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date
The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site 3 days per week and off-site as needed. The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency requires 3 days in office at the Wellington Webb Municipal Building. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days.
The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency’s (CASR) vision is to build a carbon pollution free, sustainable, and resilient Denver for all. Guided by science and shaped by community input, CASR delivers bold solutions through policies, programs, and capital projects that reduce emissions, advance environmental justice, and strengthen climate resilience. Our portfolio includes beneficial electrification, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, climate adaptation, community resilience, nature-based solutions, natural resource conservation, embodied carbon, waste reduction and diversion, communications, community engagement, and workforce development—all with a strong focus on equity. This work is driving measurable progress toward a healthier, more sustainable Denver for generations to come.
CASR is seeking a Universal Recycling Program Manager to guide and oversee the implementation of Denver’s updated Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance (URCO). Originally passed in 2022 and updated in 2025, Denver’s Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance is a key policy priority for CASR. The Program Manager will support URCO implementation through managing program timelines and work plans, coordinating internal and external stakeholders, overseeing the development of rules and regulations, managing contractors and working groups, and delivering outreach, education, and technical assistance resources that support Denver residents, businesses, and organizations in fulfilling the policy objectives and requirements. In addition to leading URCO implementation, this position will contribute to other zero waste and circular economy priorities that support Denver’s goal of achieving a 70% communitywide waste diversion rate by 2032 as outlined in Denver’s Sustainable Resource Management Plan. This role is a key member of the CASR Zero Waste and Circular Economy team and reports to the Zero Waste & Circular Economy Manager. We are seeking a highly motivated, organized, and collaborative individual with demonstrated experience in implementing waste diversion or sustainability-related policy and programs.
Specifically, in this position, you will:
Develop or modify program work plans, methods, and procedures and determine work priorities.
Coordinate and manage inter-agency working groups and project teams.
Develop and recommend solutions for program implementation that balance community expectations and administrative realities.
Coordinate with internal communications teams and external vendors to develop educational resources and strategic marketing and communication deliverables.
Administer the overall financial operations of the program, including identifying annual operating costs, monitoring financial activities, developing required budget reports, preparing justification for budget-related requests, and submitting final program budgets for executive management approval.
Direct the evaluation of the program to determine if the program is achieving its goals and objectives and meeting the needs of impacted entities and the community.
Ensure that policy implementation is equitable and inclusive of under-resourced communities, low-income households, and communities of color.
Communicate with representatives of various city agencies, community and business groups, the public, and other stakeholders in a professional and clear manner.
Represent CASR at public meetings, conferences, and other events as needed.
Other duties as assigned.
What You’ll Bring
We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.
Research shows people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups tend to apply only when they check every box in the posting. If you are reading this and hesitating to click “apply” for that reason, we encourage you to apply.
Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:
Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability, Environmental Science, or other related field.
Demonstrated experience implementing or supporting policies and/or programs to prevent waste, increase waste diversion through recycling and composting, and encourage reuse/reclaim/circular economy systems for the residential, commercial and/or construction & demolition sectors.
Knowledge of waste management and circularity systems, regulation, and legislation at the local, state, and federal levels; knowledge of the materials management landscape in the Denver metro area is a plus.
Strong program or project management experience with ability to strategically and tactfully work through barriers to deliver exceptional results on time.
An ability to work with representatives from a variety of City agencies and external organizations in a collaborative manner.
Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including under-represented communities in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of programs.
Willingness to grow professionally and technically, innovate, analyze, and change processes or procedures.
A proven ability and desire to build and maintain a positive and respectful culture within the division and the office.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to present to diverse audiences.
Results-oriented, self-driven to contribute to a high performing team.
Willingness to take on additional responsibilities or volunteer for special projects.
Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Management, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, or a related field.
Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of full performance professional level experience developing, implementing, and administering programs.
Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education for all classifications.
Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
License/Certifications: None
This position is expected to stay open until Sunday, December 21, 2025. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than that date at 11:59 p.m. to ensure consideration.
To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):
Cover letter detailing your experience in program management and subject matter expertise
Resume
Job Profile
CA1714 Program ManagerTo view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.
Position Type
UnlimitedPosition Salary Range
$72,534.00 - $119,681.00Target Pay
$75,000.00 - $98,000.00Agency
Climate Action, Sustainability & ResiliencyRedeployment during Citywide Emergencies
City and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor.
The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.
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Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.
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