Waste Reduction Policy Advisor

About the role

This full-time permanent position offers an impactful professional opportunity for experienced individuals in the fields of waste reduction, circular economy, materials management, sustainability, public policy, and community engagement. The Waste Reduction Policy Advisor will lead the development, coordination, and implementation of Richmond’s waste reduction strategy, working to reduce landfill dependency, advance circular economy practices, ensure the inclusion of sound financial strategies, and accelerate progress toward Richmond’s 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas goals.

The selected candidate will report to the Deputy Director of the Office of Sustainability and work closely with City departments, governmental organizations, community-based organizations, haulers, materials processors, businesses, schools, and residents to design and implement programs that reduce waste generation, increase diversion rates, and build a culture of sustainable materials management across City government and the broader community.

This position will also serve as a member of the Public Utilities Services Commission and the Clean City Commission as a city representative. This position is funded through the City’s Disposable Plastic Bag Tax revenues and reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to institutionalizing waste reduction as a core function of municipal operations, alongside the City’s 10-year strategic waste management framework.

Responsibilities

• Review City operations across departments and facilities to identify waste generation patterns, gaps in diversion infrastructure, and opportunities for waste reduction.
• Identify, propose, and implement operational efficiencies that reduce waste, materials costs, and disposal costs across City government.
• Develop educational materials and curriculum content for waste reduction programming, including materials for schools, businesses, and community groups.
• Review solid waste and recycling rate analyses, cost-of-service data, and hauler contract terms to inform policy recommendations and support the transition toward more sustainable, cost-effective practices.
• Lead adoption of more sustainable organizational practices across City departments, including procurement standards, internal recycling and composting programs, and reduction of single-use materials.
• Develop policies, procedures, and performance metrics related to waste diversion, disposal reduction, and circular economy initiatives and report on those publicly where appropriate.
• Monitor, create, implement and support enforcement mechanisms of waste-related ordinances, including the Disposable Plastic Bag Tax and the polystyrene (EPS) food service container ban.
• Research best practices from peer local governments regarding municipal waste reduction, extended producer responsibility, and circular economy policy.
• Establish and facilitate cross-departmental coordination among the Office of Sustainability, Department of Public Works, Procurement Services, Parks and Recreation, and other relevant agencies.
• Analyze and maintain waste generation, diversion rates, tonnage data, and program performance metrics to track progress toward citywide waste reduction goals.
• Collect, analyze, and present data designed to ensure operational and cost efficiencies related to solid waste management.
• Develop and prepare reports, policy memos, presentations, and communication materials to disseminate program and policy information, including briefings for City leadership and City Council standing committees.
• Develop annual program targets and implementation benchmarks for waste diversion and reduction.
• Support website content development related to waste reduction programs and public-facing resources.
• Manage public education, communications, and outreach related to waste reduction, recycling, and composting (may include engagement events, workshops, and business outreach).
• Coordinate development of community partnerships with organizations supporting reuse, repair, and materials recovery.
• Identify opportunities to integrate waste reduction and circular economy principles into existing City initiatives, including capital projects and special events.
• Support alignment between waste reduction goals, procurement practices, and broader RVAgreen 2050 climate strategies.
• Develop strategies to leverage and braid funding sources, including waste tax revenue, grants, and state/federal circular economy programs.
• Identify and manage external funding opportunities and report on grant-related deliverables.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in sustainability, environmental science, public administration, urban planning, engineering, materials management, or field directly related to assignment.
• Six years of progressively related experience that includes significant management and supervisory experience.
• Minimum of three years of professional experience in waste reduction, recycling, circular economy, sustainability, or public sector program administration.
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder projects and partnerships.
• Knowledge of solid waste systems, recycling and commodities markets, composting operations, or extended producer responsibility policy.
• Familiarity with municipal rate-setting, hauler contracts, and solid waste cost-of-service analysis.
• Experience working with historically underserved communities and applying equity-centered program design.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

Licensing, Certifications, and Other Special Requirements

• Certified Recycling Professional, SWANA certification, or LEED preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge: Waste reduction and sustainability concepts, including diversion strategies, circular economy principles, composting, recycling systems, and materials management; municipal procurement; solid waste rate structures; hauler contracting; community services.
• Skills: Technical writing and editing; data entry and information tracking (Microsoft Excel); research and analysis; customer service and community relations; maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• Abilities: Communicate clearly and effectively; manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines; exercise sound judgment and problem-solving skills; work both independently and as part of a team; adapt to evolving tasks and responsibilities.

Pay

The actual hiring range for this role is $101,000 – $105,000.

Schedule

The Office of Sustainability operates under a hybrid work model, with interactions occurring both in person and via digital tools such as Microsoft Teams, email, and project management platforms. This position operates in an office environment with regular site visits, facility walkthroughs, and community engagement activities throughout the City of Richmond.