Recycling Associate - East Portland

Habitat for Humanity Portland Region•Portland, OR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Recycling Associate coordinates day-to-day recycling operations at assigned ReStore locations, working with store team members and volunteers. The role operates under the general supervision of the Salvage & Recycling Manager and follows daily operational direction from designated store leadership. Typical work includes inspecting and sorting recyclable items, moving containers, guiding volunteers, and providing customer service. The associate is expected to work safely and efficiently, communicate respectfully, take initiative, and understand how the work supports Habitat for Humanity’s mission. This position is shared between the Portland and Gresham ReStores, with time typically divided evenly between them. Occasional temporary support at Tigard or Beaverton ReStores may be needed for training or operational support. The role is full-time, hourly, and non-exempt. It is funded through a partnership with Circular Action Alliance through December 31, 2027. The work takes place in an open warehouse and retail environment and involves active handling of recyclables, frequent movement, and lifting or loading items over 50 pounds with mechanical or co-worker assistance. The schedule is 40 hours per week and may include Saturdays and Sundays as required by the People Leader. Starting compensation is generally $17.34–$20.61 per hour, with a full range of $17.34–$24.28 per hour. Benefits include employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage, paid time off, retirement matching, life insurance, and other benefits.

Requirements

One year of customer service experience.
Attention to detail and a passion for reuse and recycling.
Ability to work as part of a team of staff and volunteers while following leadership direction.
Attentiveness and ability and desire to maintain a clean, organized work environment.
Time-management skills, including managing material-flow urgency, arriving on time for shifts, and meeting pickup deadlines.
Knowledge of, or ability to learn, safe and correct use of tools and equipment such as a forklift, pallet jack, and dolly.
A safety-first mindset and willingness to model safe practices and encourage peers to follow safety policies and procedures.
Proficiency with, or ability to learn, communication tools such as telephone, email, and two-way radio.
Ability to adapt to a changing work environment and learn new operational skills as the program develops.
Ability to commute to the Portland and Gresham ReStores and, occasionally, other Portland-metro ReStore locations.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, climbing, and handling items over 50 pounds with mechanical or co-worker assistance.
Any combination of formal education, paid work experience, unpaid or volunteer experience, and life experience will be considered; education and experience minimums beyond the stated customer-service experience are not required.

Nice To Haves

Volunteer experience.
Master Recycler certification.
Bilingual in Spanish.
A qualifying combination of education, certification, and experience demonstrating the ability to perform the duties.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in ReStore recycling and sustainability initiatives, particularly the RecycleOn Center.
Greet the public, accept and inspect recycling materials that meet RecycleOn program criteria, and decline materials that do not.
Partner with the Store Volunteer Coordinator to guide volunteers supporting daily recycling tasks.
Process and inspect recycling materials and reduce contamination in recycling streams.
Help keep facilities clean and organized, including receiving areas, break rooms, and outdoor common areas.
Support donation processing by guiding the correct sorting of waste and recyclable materials and maintaining collection bins.
Assist with loading, unloading, and sorting recycling materials received at the store or prepared for transport.
Engage customers, donors, and community members in Habitat’s mission by sharing information about events, Habitat builds, volunteer opportunities, and recycling initiatives.
Support recycling program tasks at other ReStore locations as needed or assigned.
Perform tasks safely and efficiently and communicate respectfully with co-workers, volunteers, donors, and customers.

Benefits

Employer-paid medical, vision, alternative care, and prescription insurance premiums for employees; 50% paid for dependents.
Employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
Employer-paid dental insurance for employees; 50% paid for dependents.
Employer-paid disability insurance.
Paid time off, starting with three weeks of vacation and two weeks of sick time.
11 paid holidays.
Paid birthday off.
3% matching 403(b) retirement savings plan.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
Life insurance.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).