Waste & Recycling Manager

Vanderbilt is a community of talented and diverse staff & faculty!

At Vanderbilt University, our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice through:

• Working and growing together as a community of communities... we are One Vanderbilt.
• Providing a work environment where every staff and faculty member can be their authentic and best self, while providing the resources and opportunities to learn and grow.
• Encouraging development, collaboration, and partnership both internally and externally while fostering the value that every member of the Vanderbilt community can lead and grow regardless of title or position.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Position Summary:

The Waste and Recycling Manager is part of the Facilities department at Vanderbilt University and is a key contributor responsible for the daily and strategic management of the waste and recycling program. Duties include supervision of all staff in the Waste and Recycling program; planning, scheduling, organizing, and directing work; training of personnel; staff evaluation, praising, coaching, and discipline; shop organization; maintaining shop spaces and equipment; managing supplier services; data collection and analysis; planning and implementation of new programs; making recommendations to leadership; and leading a safe and efficient operation. The Waste and Recycling Manager works as a subject matter expert and partners with all university departments, working closely with multiple campus and community stakeholders to maintain, build, and enhance waste reduction, recycling, and surplus reuse. The position reports to the Director of Campus Services.

About the Work Unit:

Facilities provides facilities support for all construction, renovation, and routine maintenance of university space and facilities; housekeeping services for approximately 5.8 million square feet of academic, administrative, residential, and recreational space; grounds care for 330 acres that are a registered arboretum; turf care for athletic fields; and utilities for Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Manages all day-to-day operational and administrative activities of the Waste and Recycling program and the assigned staff; monitors workload, work orders, available resources, and work scheduling to ensure delivery of services.
• Researches, plans, and implements long-range strategic plans and goals for the Waste and Recycling program.
• Identifies and implements opportunities to reduce waste and increase waste diversion.
• Achieves waste reduction and recycling goals which include reduction of landfill waste by 30% and a diversion rate of 90% by 2030.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to design and implement solid waste and recycling services for all campus buildings. Includes surveying, designing, planning, and implementing of containers, equipment, and services for all new, newly renovated, or repurposed buildings and spaces throughout campus.
• Plans services for programs, activities, and events for university, student, or outside groups. Includes collaboration with various departments and groups to design, plan, and execute waste and recycling services for campus events.
• Manages various supplies, equipment, and building operations including university vehicles and assigned program spaces.
• Researches, analyzes, compares, and summarizes waste, recycling and event services management best practices and environmentally low-impact products. 
• Designs, collaborates, and prepares promotional and informational material for programs and events.
• Tracks, compiles, and reports data on the results of all program activities on monthly, quarterly, and annual basis including expenses, rebates, material volumes, labor hours, work order completion, surplused items, inspections, and training. Calculates financial data, recycling volumes, and analyzes recycling data in several ways to support strategic plans and decision making.
• Designs and implements solid waste and recycling management programs to meet organizational goals, minimizing waste and encouraging program participation and compliance. 
• Maintain an understanding of new and current waste management legislation, adapting services to comply with legislation as required with evaluation of cost implications.
• Provide training to recycling technicians and other staff on topics such as safety, waste disposal, composting, waste reduction, recycling, and other topics. Serves as a resource and trainer to less experienced personnel.  Ensures all employees are working in accordance with university safety policies and procedures. 
• Identifies or investigates opportunities for new materials to be collected and recycled.
• Sources products and services that support departments administrative activities, waste reduction, waste management, recycling, surplus management, special projects, events, and sustainability initiatives. 
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with all areas and departments within the university and local community.
• Provides supplier management to ensure positive partnerships, delivery of goods and services within contract terms, maintenance of vendor supplied equipment, timely and effective communication, and the timely receipt of accurate invoices, reports, and rebates.
• Makes decisions and resolves routine issues / problems arising from contracted services, and ensures suppliers comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and policies.
• Serves as a primary point of contact with contracted waste, recycling, and surplus service suppliers. Ensures pricing, quality, availability, and delivery of services and materials.
• Collaborates with Purchasing and Payment Services on RFP development, RFP review and analysis, and participation in bidding process as subject matter expert.
• Checks, validates, and processes supplier invoices to ensure that charges are in accordance with contract terms. 
• Audits supplier waste disposal and recycling facilities to ensure the premises meet safety, quality, and service standards. 
• Raises awareness in aspects of waste reduction, recycling, and reuse at all levels of the University through presentations, goal setting, mentoring, and education to communicate the purpose and importance of recycling and waste reduction to event organizers, facilities departments, administrative departments, student organizations, and academic departments. 
• Promotes the available services and procedures to enable them to reduce, reuse, recycle and dispose of waste in the most appropriate manner.
• Ensures waste and recycling operations are compliant with applicable rules, regulations and policies, such as OSHA, TOSHA, EPA, DOT, USDA, TWRA, Metro Nashville, and others.  
• Other duties as assigned

Leadership

• Ensures a strong and resilient organizational structure through effective management of current staff and operations, evaluation of operations for improvement opportunities, and assisting management with analysis and planning.
• Evaluates, coaches, and develops direct report staff regularly.
• Guide, teach, and lead all team members to ensure organizational effectiveness, professional interpersonal interactions, excellent communication, ownership, commitment, and teamwork.

Supervisory Relationships:

• This position does have supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Director of Campus Services 

Education and Certifications:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is required.
• Additional post-secondary education is preferred

Experience and Skills:

• 3 years of related experience managing waste systems, waste disposal, and waste recycling and diversion is required.
• Demonstrated effective communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills are required.
• Excellent organizational skills, record-keeping abilities, and attention to detail are required.
• Demonstrated skills utilizing Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office applications is required.
• A valid TN driver’s license and ability to satisfy Vanderbilt University MVR requirements is required.
• Experience with work order management systems is preferred.
• Previous facilities maintenance and operation work experience is preferred.
• Previous frontline service staff management is preferred.
• Previous higher education, manufacturing, or commercial waste collection, disposal, and recycling experience is preferred.
• Previous vendor service contract management experience is preferred.
• Previous Higher Education work experience is preferred.

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