Special Projects Manager

Salary: $127,222.00 Annually
Location : Nashville, TN
Job Type: Full-Time Civil Service
Job Number: 27122E
Division: Waste Services
Department: NWS Administration
Opening Date: 10/30/2026
Closing Date: 11/6/2026 11:59 PM Central

Position Description

The Special Projects Manager leads, plans, and coordinates a diverse portfolio of high priority initiatives designed to enhance operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, environmental performance, and organizational effectiveness within the waste management system. This role is responsible for managing complex, cross departmental projects from concept through implementation, ensuring that objectives are achieved within established timelines, funding parameters, and strategic priorities. The Special Projects Manager evaluates business needs, develops project frameworks, oversees resource allocation, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, technical experts, and service partners. The position provides analytical, technical, and operational leadership to drive innovation, support modernization efforts, mitigate risks, and deliver sustainable, measurable outcomes that align with organizational goals.

Waste Services is responsible for weekly curbside waste and every other week curbside recycling collection for over 151,000 customers in the urban services district as well as collection of over 200 public litter baskets in the downtown Nashville corridor. The division also operates four convenience centers where residents of Davidson County can bring waste, recycling, bulk items, food waste, household hazardous waste, and other items for recycling or disposal and eight recycling drop-off locations available to residents who do not qualify for curbside recycling collection.
Waste Services currently employs staff members working in collection, administration, customer service, education, landfill engineering, development review, and outreach.
Typical Duties

• Reviews project proposals and plans to define timelines, funding limits, methods, and resource allocation.
• Oversees and approves project design from concept through construction closeout.
• Establishes, manages, and monitors project schedules to ensure adherence to planned milestones.
• Reviews and certifies contractor and consultant progress payments for accuracy and compliance.
• Develops project staffing plans and establishes work plans and schedules for all project phases.
• Assigns personnel, defines responsibilities, and establishes authority levels for project team members.
• Directs and coordinates project activities through subordinate staff and manages budgets to control expenditure.
• Reviews project status reports and adjust schedules or resources as necessary.
• Prepare project status reports and communicate updates to management and stakeholders.
• Collaborates with project personnel, vendors, and contractors to provide technical guidance and support problem resolution.
• Coordinates project activities with governmental or regulatory agencies as required.
• Conducts or overseas operational audits, including regulatory compliance, environmental performance, operational processes, vendor/contractor performance, financial controls, QA/QC, risk mitigation, and project delivery audits.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university and five (5) years of verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry. Must have demonstrated successful completion of projects assigned with a progression in both project size and complexity.

***Additional verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry may be considered in lieu of education (1:1 ratio).***
Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.
Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Waste management experience in public sector including community resources, related agencies, and available services
• Experience in preparing, administering and managing grants, analyzing program effectiveness, and implementing program or process improvements
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent (e.g., PMI ACP, CAPM)
• Certified Solid Waste Manager (CSWM) through the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
• SWANA certifications in relevant specialty areas

Metro offers a generous core benefit package to eligible employees who are regularly and consistently working 20 or more hours per week. Insurance and benefit coverage is effective the first of the month after the employee has worked 30 days. Employees can change their benefits within 60 days of an eligible change in status or during Annual Enrollment. Metro also offers optional benefits from which the employee may choose. Family members, including eligible spouses, domestic partners and children, are covered under most of our benefits programs.

CORE BENEFITS
Medical: Choice of two plans; Metro pays 75% of premium
Dental: Choice of two plans; Metro pays for single coverage
Basic Life: $50,000 basic term life coverage; Metro pays 100% of premium
Pension: Formula-driven pension; 100% Metro funded; 10 year vesting for new employees
Paid Family Leave: Runs concurrently with time designated as FMLA leave (up to 30 days)

Longevity: Annual bonus beginning after 5 years of service; increases annually up to 20 years
Work Life/ Employee Assistance Program: Wide variety of counseling, referral and consultation services provided free
Other*: In-line-of-duty injury benefits, AD&D insurance, and Medical Disability eligibility after 10 years with Metro
Paid leave: (Full-time employees)

• Vacation: 10 vacation days a year; increasing after 5 years of service (For Non Civil Service departments, contact the department's human resources office)
• Holidays: 12 holidays per year (For Non Civil Service departments, contact the department's human resources office)
• Sick leave: 12 days of sick leave per year
• Other leaves: Judicial leave, military leave, bereavement leave

*See the Human Resources webpage for more details and optional benefits at nashville.gov/hr
01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• No diploma
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree

02

How many years of verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry do you have?

• No Experience
• One to Four Years
• Five to Six Years
• Seven to Eight Years
• Nine Years or More

03

Briefly describe your verifiable project management experience in the waste management industry. If none, write "N/A".
04

Briefly describe your Waste management experience in public sector including community resources, related agencies, and available services. If none, write "N/A".
05

Briefly describe your Experience in preparing, administering and managing grants, analyzing program effectiveness, and implementing program or process improvements. If none, write "N/A".
06

Do you have Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent (e.g., PMI ACP, CAPM) certification?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you a Certified Solid Waste Manager (CSWM) through the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)?

• Yes
• No

08

Please list any SWANA certifications in relevant specialty areas you have. If none, write "N/A".
Required Question