Zero Waste Program Manager

Evergreen Goodwill•Seattle, WA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Zero Waste Program Manager leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of Evergreen Goodwill’s Zero Waste program. The role translates organizational sustainability goals into coordinated, measurable initiatives that reduce landfill dependency, improve material recovery, strengthen circular systems, and support mission and financial outcomes. In partnership with the Business Development role, the manager oversees the program lifecycle—from baseline assessment and opportunity prioritization through pilot design, implementation, performance measurement, and scale-up. The position works across retail, donations, outlet, salvage, transportation, facilities, finance, data, and external partners to establish the structure, accountability, and operating practices needed to deliver the Zero Waste project portfolio. The role operationalizes the program roadmap, prioritizes material streams and operational opportunities, coordinates practical and safe implementation with operational teams, and maintains a playbook for consistent assessment and replication. It designs, launches, and evaluates pilots involving reuse, recycling, source separation, donation acceptance, process redesign, and other diversion opportunities; develops supporting plans and documentation; applies continuous-improvement practices; and leads cross-functional governance and working teams. The manager also identifies qualified partners, monitors relevant market, policy, infrastructure, and technology developments, and represents Evergreen Goodwill in external engagements. The position establishes a data-driven baseline for landfill-bound materials, defines success measures and reporting cadence, tracks program and operational KPIs, and prepares dashboards and updates for leadership and stakeholders. It manages and audits backhaul disposal costs, evaluates disposal and diversion opportunities, and recommends changes that improve both Zero Waste outcomes and cost effectiveness. The manager ensures compliance with applicable safety, environmental, legal, and organizational requirements, escalates hazards and risks, and promotes safe work practices. A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience is required, along with 3–5+ years of relevant program or project management experience. Reliable transportation is required for travel between work sites and partner locations. The position is based in Seattle Administration; site visits may include walking on uneven surfaces and exposure to warehouse or industrial environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability, Environmental Studies, Business, Operations, Supply Chain, Project Management, Public Administration, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
3–5+ years of experience managing cross-functional programs or projects in sustainability, waste reduction, recycling, circular economy, operations, supply chain, continuous improvement, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience moving initiatives from concept through implementation, measurement, and continuous improvement.
Experience developing work-back plans, managing dependencies and risks, facilitating teams, and communicating progress to varied stakeholders.
Experience using data to establish baselines, evaluate performance, and make recommendations.
Strong program and project management skills, including planning, prioritization, facilitation, risk management, documentation, and follow-through.
Ability to translate sustainability goals into practical operating plans, phased pilots, and measurable results.
Ability to interpret operational and material-flow data, evaluate tradeoffs, and develop clear recommendations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to build trust and influence across operational, technical, and executive stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively in ambiguity, create structure, and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Working knowledge of waste prevention, reuse, recycling, material recovery, circular economy, and related environmental concepts.
Business and financial acumen sufficient to evaluate costs, avoided disposal expenses, resource requirements, and implementation feasibility.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Teams, and ability to learn internal systems quickly.
Commitment to Evergreen Goodwill’s mission, values, and culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Analytical, problem-solving, organizing, categorizing, and data-analysis skills; strong attention to detail, prioritization, time management, and multitasking skills.
Ability to foster initiative, communication, accountability, and excellence.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel locally for site visits and partner meetings as needed.
Reliable transportation to travel between work sites and/or perform job duties as scheduled.
Ability to sit at a desk and work on a computer for extended periods; occasionally lift and carry files or materials weighing up to 10 pounds.
Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and in writing, and to visit operational sites and partner locations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with waste audits, material recovery, recycling markets, reuse systems, retail operations, logistics, or nonprofit operations.
Project management, Lean, Six Sigma, TRUE Zero Waste, or related certification.

Responsibilities

Operationalize the Zero Waste program roadmap, including priorities, milestones, dependencies, risks, resource needs, and implementation plans.
Identify and prioritize material streams and operational opportunities based on environmental impact, feasibility, cost, scale, market conditions, and mission alignment.
Coordinate with operational teams to ensure solutions are practical, safe, documented, and incorporated into day-to-day workflows.
Build and maintain a Zero Waste playbook supporting consistent assessment, implementation, measurement, and replication across locations.
Design, launch, and evaluate pilots focused on reuse, recycling, source separation, donation acceptance, process redesign, and other diversion opportunities.
Develop pilot charters, business cases, budgets, schedules, standard work, training plans, communications, and transition plans.
Apply continuous-improvement practices to identify barriers, capture lessons learned, improve processes, and determine whether pilots should be scaled, modified, or discontinued.
Lead cross-functional governance and working teams, establishing roles, decision-making responsibilities, commitments, and next steps.
Partner with the Business Development Manager and stakeholders to identify qualified recycling, reuse, technology, municipal, nonprofit, and industry partners.
Monitor market, policy, infrastructure, and technology developments and translate them into program risks, opportunities, and recommendations.
Represent Evergreen Goodwill professionally during site visits, working groups, community forums, and external partner engagements.
Establish and maintain a data-driven baseline for landfill-bound materials using waste audits, material characterization, operational data, and recurring measurement.
Define program success measures and reporting cadence; track diversion, disposal costs, material volumes, contamination, operational performance, and other approved KPIs.
Prepare dashboards, recommendations, program updates, and presentations for leadership and key stakeholders.
Provide data and outcomes to support grants, incentives, and partnership opportunities.
Manage, audit, and monitor organizational backhaul disposal costs and identify opportunities to reduce them.
Evaluate disposal and diversion opportunities based on cost, volume, operational feasibility, and environmental impact.
Use operational and financial data to recommend changes that improve Zero Waste outcomes and cost effectiveness.
Ensure compliance with applicable safety, environmental, legal, and organizational requirements; escalate hazards, compliance concerns, and material program risks appropriately.
Promote safe work practices through awareness, training, and identification and reporting of potential hazards.
Perform other duties and projects as assigned; meet timelines, maintain required certifications and training, and contribute to department objectives and workplace safety.