About the San Jose Conservation Corps (SJCC+CS):
One of the first urban conservation corps in the country, the San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School was founded in 1987 to empower young adults aged 18 to 27 ("Corpsmembers") to upskill themselves and advance their career in conservation and green spaces. Today, SJCC+CS continues to operate its 1-year-long paid workforce development program, while also functioning as a WASC-accredited charter high school, allowing those who have aged out of the traditional education system to earn their high school diploma.
SJCC+CS offers an engaging work environment focused on growth, teamwork, and making a positive impact. We value collaboration, respect diverse perspectives, and provide opportunities for employees to contribute their skills to create a hopeful and sustainable community. Whether you're passionate about education and development, environmental conservation, or community engagement, joining our team means embracing a shared commitment to service and the chance to make a meaningful difference. Be a part of our mission to create transformational change and learn more at www.sjcccs.org.
Position Summary:
The Zero Waste Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the SJCC+CS recycling and Zero Waste social enterprise. This role combines strategic leadership, operational management, and workforce development to ensure the program meets its goals for job training, revenue generation, and environmental impact.
Key responsibilities include developing and implementing recycling and waste diversion projects funded through government grants and customer contracts, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and high-quality service delivery. The Director will lead efforts to expand the program’s reach by identifying and developing new revenue streams and creating additional training opportunities for corpsmembers.
The position also includes oversight of SJCC+CS disaster response deployments, which currently fall under the Zero Waste program. While the Director manages the planning, coordination, and professionalism of these deployments, they are not required to deploy personally each time.
Overall, the Zero Waste Director is responsible for maintaining excellence in program operations, fostering innovation, and expanding SJCC+CS’s Zero Waste initiatives into new markets while upholding the organization’s mission of environmental stewardship and workforce development.
Job Duties:
Social Enterprise Management
- Manages the overall operations of the recycling social enterprise to achieve the triple bottom line goals: financial, social and environmental.
- Plans and implements commercial collections program. Negotiates contracts for commercial recycling collections.
- Assures high level of professionalism and customer service.
- Coordinates all billing and contracts with Accounting & Finance Department.
- Negotiates sales of all recyclable materials.
- Determines the cost, potential funding, feasibility, and appropriateness of projects and programs.
- Assures compliance with all state and local health, safety, work and facilities requirements.
- Identifies growth areas and develops proformas for each new revenue stream
- Networks with jurisdictions, non-profits and for profits to build partnerships and grow the business.
- Public speaker/presenter
- Participates in professional conferences as needed by attending, presenting, and actively participating in dialogue.
Grants Management
- Manages CalRecycle annual grant including grant proposal submissions, record keeping, reporting, and submitting budget modifications.
- Develops recycling programs that comply with CalRecycle funding guidelines, currently focused on beverage containers, waste oil, used tires and e-waste. Identifies markets for existing and new recycling streams.
- Assists Development Department in providing information for other recycling and training grants.
- Develops and maintains relationships with state and local government agencies, recycling organizations and community agencies.
- Evaluates programs, tracks and documents results. Monitors and modifies programs to ensure they are completed within approved budgets. Prepares written evaluations on program accomplishments as required by the funding source.
- Submits all required reports accurately and on time.
Certification and Training Program
- Develop program standards and implement training and certification programs that prepare Corpsmembers for workforce integration.
- Provide coordination with SJCC career, college and case management counselors to assure Corpsmembers have access to all services available.
Staffing and Supervision
- Interviews, hires, and trains employees.
- Plans, assigns, and directs work.
- Conducts yearly performance evaluations and monitors professional development.
- Manages 2 direct reports and 13+ indirect reports plus 20-30 Corpsmembers.
- Periodically evaluates departmental structure and restructures as needed
Budget and Administrative
- Develops and monitors program budgets and modifies work projects and budgets as appropriate.
- Serves as member of SJCC+CS Leadership Team.
- Provides written program updates to the Board of Directors.
Benefits of Working at SJCC+CS
- Health: SJCC+CS offers group health insurance through Kaiser, and Dental / Vision insurance through Principal. The organization covers 100% of the premium for staff member’s dental, vision, Long Term Disability, Life, and AD&D insurance.
- Financial: Retirement savings plan with up to 3% employer match after 1 year of service, credit union membership and benefits, Tuition Reimbursement program for associate or bachelor’s degree, and FSA
- Time Off: Paid holidays, Vacation, Sick Leave, Bereavement Leave, and Jury Duty leave. Other unpaid leave of absence options are available, such as Medical, Military, Parental, and Family Care Leave.
- Other: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Pet Insurance, and Supplemental insurance plans available (Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Short Term Disability, and more).
Work Environment & Requirements
Position may require prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. The incumbent may be required to drive a vehicle up to 25% of the time. The position may require the incumbent to occasionally lift up to 25lbs. Additionally, the position requires far and near vision when driving, reading, and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal service. The nature of the work may require the incumbent to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.
Equipment Used: Desktop computer, laptop computer, keyboard, mouse, cellular phone, handheld (wired) phone, personal vehicle or company vehicle (sedan).
Reasonable Accommodations: The San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, SJCC+CS will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact accommodations@sjcccs.org.
NOTICE: The statements herein are intended to give a broad description of this job function and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. Other duties and/or projects may be assigned.
SJCC Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
The San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. The Corps and School does not discriminate based on an individual's race, sex, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, hair style, hair texture or any other basis prohibited by law. Working at SJCC+CS means that you agree to and abide by our commitment to equity and our expectation that we all work together to create an inclusive work environment focused on a sense of belonging.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. SJCC+CS makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
Employment At-Will
The San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School is an “At-Will” employer. This means that employment with SJCC+CS is voluntarily entered into and staff members are free to resign at any time. Similarly, SJCC+CS may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or prior notice, as it deems appropriate. This at-will employment relationship can be changed only in a written agreement signed by the staff member and the CEO of SJCC+CS.
**SJCC+CS IS A MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION EMPLOYER**
All new hires will be required to provide proof of vaccination absent an approved medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. If a new hire is in the process of being vaccinated, their start date may be adjusted to a future date after they have been vaccinated. Fully vaccinated means at it has been at least two weeks since the person has completed the entire recommended initial series of a COVID-19 vaccine.
