>Wouldn't you value someone who actually knows how to control vermin populations at scale in an urban environment? Why would you value someone who has a "public policy" degree. What even is that?
Probably because the real solution (not putting trash directly onto the streets like it's 1780) isn't going to happen, so a degree in public policy will help make it look like you're actually going to do something.
It's a management role. They want you to understand and navigate the bureaucracy involved in being a middle manager in city government. Negotiating with Czar of Trash in order to make that real solution a reality, is probably more important than being an expert trap maker. But you definitely want that person on your team!
The nature of the description makes more sense, given that. It sounded mis-targeted at first, but I was assuming they wanted someone who would actually be waist deep in filth and killing. They want someone to put a hip and sanitized face to those people, but who is also unconventional enough to respect them. They put a line in a about being hands on, but presumably that's a photo-op type/learning thing.
We put trash on the streets in Tokyo and it's fine; there's no rats here. The key is only putting the trash out the morning before pick-up (so it's only out there a short time; putting it out the evening before is not allowed), and also just keeping the city generally clean, which is NOT something NYC does.
Also, to facilitate this, most buildings (esp. multi-unit dwellings) have large trash rooms for collecting and sorting trash before management puts it out on the correct day for that type of trash.
Probably because the real solution (not putting trash directly onto the streets like it's 1780) isn't going to happen, so a degree in public policy will help make it look like you're actually going to do something.