Sustainability Associate, Cities (Remote US)

The Sustainability Associate, Cities position at Waste Management involves managing sustainability projects for public sector clients. Responsibilities include conducting evaluations, designing programs, engaging stakeholders, and developing strategies for emissions reduction. The role requires collaboration with clients, performing sustainability assessments, preparing reports, and providing training. The job allows for remote work in the US, with some on-site project execution, ensuring compliance with regulations and promoting best practices in environmental sustainability.
About the position

The position is designed for an environmentally motivated and customer service-driven individual who will manage comprehensive sustainability projects for customers in the public sector. The role involves conducting organizational evaluations, designing and implementing programs, engaging stakeholders, and developing strategies for emissions accounting and reduction. The individual will work closely with public sector agencies to develop, implement, and manage sustainability initiatives, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and promoting best practices. Projects will be executed both remotely and on-site at customer locations, with a strong emphasis on maintaining pre-established standards for safety and environmental issues. Key responsibilities include consulting with existing and potential customers to identify their sustainability goals and solutions, performing full facility and organization sustainability assessments, and analyzing results to identify and implement environmental sustainability initiatives. The individual will also prepare final reports that include environmental, social, and economic analyses, and present these conclusions to customers in a timely manner. Collaboration with public sector clients to understand their sustainability goals and challenges is essential, as is providing technical support and guidance on sustainability projects and initiatives. The role requires the development and delivery of training sessions, workshops, and educational materials for public sector clients and their employees. Additionally, the individual will research and identify relevant grants and funding opportunities for clients, prepare and submit detailed applications, and integrate environmental justice priorities into program development. The position also involves designing project schedules, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and ensuring compliance with client and government regulations. A culture of safety must be promoted by ensuring site personnel are properly trained and compliant with safety and environmental regulations. The individual will also monitor changes in legislation and industry standards that may impact public sector clients and self-educate on current sustainability topics, issues, and trends.

Responsibilities
• Consult with existing, new, and potential customers to identify goals and solutions and develop implementation strategies.
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• Engage with customers on their strategic direction for sustainability, advising on targets and potential improvement levers.
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• Perform full facility and organization sustainability assessments and implement programs.
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• Analyze assessment results and consult with clients to identify, design, and implement environmental sustainability initiatives and cost-saving opportunities.
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• Prepare final reports, including environmental, social, and economic analysis, and present conclusions to the customer in a timely manner.
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• Collaborate with public sector clients to understand their sustainability goals and challenges.
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• Provide technical support and guidance on sustainability projects and initiatives.
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• Assist clients in preparing sustainability reports and meeting regulatory requirements.
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• Develop and deliver training sessions, workshops, and educational materials for public sector clients and their employees.
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• Research and identify relevant grants and funding opportunities for public sector clients; prepare and submit detailed applications aligned with client objectives and funding requirements.
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• Integrate environmental justice priorities into program development.
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• Research and implement greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies.
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• Support on-site program implementation.
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• Design project schedules, maintain multiple projects at the same time, meet deadlines and deliver quality deliverables.
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• Analyze data sets, baseline data, and assessment findings to identify improvement opportunities.
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• Ensure compliance with client and government regulations when performing assessments, implementing programs, and managing other on-site functions.
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• Promote a culture of safety by ensuring site personnel are properly trained to perform assigned duties and comply with safety, environmental, federal, state, and local regulations.
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• Propose customer solutions that are compliant with appropriate local, state, and federal regulations.
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• Maintain communications and a close working relationship with key WM Market Area personnel.
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• Monitor changes in legislation and industry standards that may impact public sector clients.
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• Self-educate on current sustainability topics, issues, and trends.

Requirements
• Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability, Architectural Design, Community Planning, Business or related field, or High School Diploma/GED with four years of relevant experience.
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• 3 years of relevant work experience in project/business management and Environmental or services industry experience required.
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• Experience with sustainability risk and management frameworks, public sector specific or otherwise strongly preferred.
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• Experience conducting a baseline environmental impact assessment for public sector agencies, analyzing data on energy use, waste generation, and water consumption strongly preferred.
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• Experience leading waste reduction initiatives for public sector agencies, including implementing a comprehensive recycling program and conducting community outreach strongly preferred.
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• Knowledge of relevant regulations, policies, and market trends related to sustainability and climate change strongly preferred.
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• Experience with conducting a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and executing mitigation initiatives, organizational advisory services, and materials management strongly preferred.
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• Experience with environmental justice and intersectional environmentalism preferred.
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• Experience managing material minimization and diversion programs, supply chain analyses, and sustainable material management planning preferred.
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• Experience managing multiple customers and/or projects simultaneously preferred.
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• Experience with the development of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs preferred.
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• Experience with implementing GHG emissions reduction initiatives and researching mitigation technology preferred.

Nice-to-haves
• Knowledge of sustainability trends
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• Knowledge and experience in grant writing
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• Computer and tech savvy - must be adaptable to new programs and systems
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• High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

Benefits
• Medical Insurance
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• Dental Insurance
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• Vision Insurance
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• Life Insurance
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• Short Term Disability
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• Stock Purchase Plan
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• Company match on 401K
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• Paid Vacation
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• Paid Holidays
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• Personal Days