Sustainability and Community Engagement Manager - Northwestern University - Evanston, IL

Compass Group is seeking a Sustainability and Community Engagement Manager for Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. This role connects dining services with sustainability initiatives, focusing on program implementation, staff training, and data monitoring. Key responsibilities include promoting M/WBE purchasing, engaging the campus community, developing client-specific sustainability strategies, conducting audits, and organizing educational events. The ideal candidate should have an undergraduate degree in Sustainability or Environmental Science and a passion for fostering sustainable practices within the foodservice sector.
About the position

The Sustainability and Community Engagement Manager at Northwestern University serves as a vital link between dining services and the campus sustainability department for Chartwells. This role is focused on implementing sustainability programs, providing training to foodservice staff, and monitoring data to identify efficiencies and solutions that further sustainability initiatives. The manager will work closely with clients to align Chartwells' programs with their sustainability goals, ensuring that resources and data are available to support these objectives. Community involvement is a significant aspect of this position, including partnerships with Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and engaging the campus community in sustainability discussions. In this role, the manager will actively promote M/WBE hyper-local purchasing and motivate associates to embrace sustainability initiatives. Regular compliance evaluations and data analysis will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of sustainability programs. The manager will also assist in developing client-specific sustainability initiatives related to foodservice, building strong relationships with clients and the campus community to drive these initiatives forward. Regular assessments of sustainable purchases and programs will be made, with updates provided to both clients and Chartwells leadership. The Sustainability Manager will engage with the student community, assist culinary teams in sourcing appropriate products, and contribute innovative ideas to enhance sustainability efforts on campus. Conducting audits related to sourcing, waste, and carbon footprint will be part of the responsibilities, along with organizing educational sustainability events and community volunteering projects. The role may also involve assisting other functions and performing additional work as needed.

Responsibilities
• Promote and increase M/WBE hyper-local purchasing at the account.
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• Motivate, train, and develop associates in relation to sustainability initiatives.
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• Implement Chartwells' sustainability programs and conduct regular compliance evaluations.
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• Assist in the development and implementation of client-specific sustainability initiatives related to foodservice.
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• Build effective relationships with clients, campus community, and Chartwells managers to drive initiatives.
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• Regularly assess the progress of sustainable purchases, programs, and efficiencies, providing updates to clients and leadership.
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• Engage the campus student community in sustainability discussions and initiatives.
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• Assist culinary and management teams in identifying and sourcing appropriate products and materials.
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• Contribute suggestions to improve process efficiencies impacting sustainability initiatives.
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• Evaluate potential solutions for unintended sustainability impacts and prove ROI of sustainability projects.
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• Generate innovative ideas to drive sustainability on campus.
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• Conduct audits including sourcing, waste, AASHE STARS, and carbon footprint.
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• Organize educational sustainability events and community volunteering projects.
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• Assist other functions and perform additional work as needed.

Requirements
• Undergraduate degree in Sustainability or Environmental Science.
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• Minimum of 2 years' experience in sustainability, energy management, or waste minimization/recycling.
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• Sustainable Resource Management Professional or GRI/Leeds/True Zero Waste certification may offset formal education.
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• Strong public speaking skills.
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• Ability to work with diverse individuals and groups on complex issues.
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• Track record of program management experience.
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• Experience with environmental auditing and tracking (waste, electric, water, etc.).

Nice-to-haves
• Experience in community engagement and outreach programs.
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• Knowledge of foodservice sustainability practices.
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• Familiarity with local sustainability regulations and initiatives.

Benefits
• Medical
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• Dental
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• Vision
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• Life Insurance/AD
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• Disability Insurance
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• Retirement Plan
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• Paid Time Off
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• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
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• Associate Shopping Program
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• Health and Wellness Programs
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• Discount Marketplace
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• Identity Theft Protection
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• Pet Insurance
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• Commuter Benefits
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• Employee Assistance Program
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• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)