Rethink Waste Program Coordinator

The Rethink Waste Program Coordinator at The Environmental Center in Bend, OR, supports the Rethink Waste Project, promoting sustainability and waste prevention in Central Oregon. Responsibilities include organizing events, conducting community outreach, managing logistics, and creating educational content. This part-time role requires about 24 hours of work per week, with some evening and weekend commitments. The position seeks a passionate individual with experience in event management and community engagement.
About the position

The Rethink Waste Program Coordinator (RWPC) plays a vital role in supporting the Rethink Waste Project (RWP), a key initiative of The Environmental Center (TEC). This program aims to foster a community that is aware of the environmental impacts associated with resource consumption and disposal. The RWPC will work towards creating a sustainable relationship with materials in Deschutes County and Central Oregon by focusing on waste prevention and recovery. The coordinator will be responsible for organizing various RWP events, managing low-waste logistics at select events, conducting educational outreach, coordinating reusable resource checkouts, and supporting innovative waste prevention initiatives. This part-time position requires approximately 24 hours of work per week, with some evening and weekend commitments for events, typically with prior notice. The RWPC will engage with the community through high-quality education and outreach efforts, including tabling at events, delivering presentations, and creating engaging content for social media and newsletters. The role also involves coordinating reusable resource checkouts and supporting pilot projects aimed at waste reduction. The RWPC will collaborate closely with the Rethink Waste Program Manager and other TEC staff to ensure the successful execution of events and initiatives. The position is designed for someone who is passionate about sustainability and has a strong interest in waste prevention and recovery practices. The Environmental Center is committed to embedding sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon and prioritizes equity and accessibility in its operations. The RWPC will be expected to contribute to TEC's mission by creating an annual work plan aligned with the organization's strategic goals and participating in ongoing learning opportunities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Responsibilities
• Organize and grow events like Repair Cafés, managing low-waste logistics for TEC-wide and select community events.
,
• Conduct community education and engagement through tabling at events, delivering presentations and workshops, and creating engaging content for social media and newsletters.
,
• Coordinate reusable resource checkouts and support innovative waste prevention initiatives that reduce waste in Deschutes County.
,
• Lead and support low-waste event logistics, including managing waste-sorting stations and implementing reusable dishware at events.
,
• Perform outreach to businesses, organizations, and community groups to promote waste prevention and recovery education.
,
• Create informative content for newsletters, blog posts, and the website, and update promotional materials for RWP programming.

Requirements
• Passion for sustainability and interest in waste prevention and recovery.
,
• Prior relevant experience in managing events and/or volunteers.
,
• Experience conducting community education and engagement activities.
,
• Ability to initiate and coordinate projects related to sustainability, climate action, or waste reduction.
,
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is highly encouraged and may lead to a wage increase.
,
• Self-motivated with a desire to take initiative and connect with diverse audiences.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience in general sustainability, climate action, or waste reduction work.
,
• Proficiency in using email and other communication tools.
,
• Comfortable driving for events, with access to a shared electric vehicle.

Benefits
• Group medical, vision, and dental insurance policies with TEC covering up to 50% of the monthly premium for the employee only.
,
• Access to a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer match up to 3% of the employee's annual gross income.
,
• Paid holidays and a generous personal-paid-time-off policy.
,
• Annual stipend for growth and development opportunities.
,
• Provision of a laptop, external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, plus a stipend for a comfortable home office.