How to apply for Waste Reduction Consultant I

About Center for EcoTechnology

The Center for EcoTechnology helps businesses and communities reduce waste, save energy, and adopt sustainable practices. It runs practical programs that turn sustainability goals into operational changes. This role sits at the center of that work, helping businesses start or improve recycling, reuse, food recovery, and composting programs.

About the role

As a Waste Reduction Consultant I, you will assess customer locations, develop customized waste reduction recommendations, and help a portfolio of businesses implement them. The role is remote but field-based, with up to 80% travel across New England, including possible overnight stays. You will use behavior change strategies to help customers follow through on recycling, reuse, food recovery, and composting improvements.

A typical day

A typical day may include traveling to a customer site to assess current waste practices, then developing and presenting customized recommendations. You might also consult with customers by phone or video to help them implement recycling, reuse, food recovery, or composting programs. Some days involve field canvassing, and some weeks include overnight travel across New England.

Who Center for EcoTechnology is looking for

• Has direct experience in waste reduction, recycling, reuse, food recovery, or composting.
• Lives in or near Worcester, Boston, Southern New Hampshire, or within a 45-mile radius of Greater Boston.
• Is willing and able to travel up to four days per week across New England, including possible overnight travel.
• Can conduct virtual and in-person assessments, including field canvassing, and present recommendations persuasively.
• Is comfortable consulting with a portfolio of customers and using behavior change strategies to drive implementation.

Tips for this application

• Confirm you live in the required territory before applying. The posting states that candidates outside the specified area will not be considered.
• State your location clearly on your resume and in your application so the hiring team can quickly verify you meet the residency requirement.
• Use specific examples from past work in waste reduction, recycling, reuse, food recovery, or composting. Name the programs, materials, or systems you worked with.
• Address your ability to travel up to 80% of the time, including up to four days per week and possible overnight stays. Mention any relevant field or canvassing experience.
• Show how you have helped others adopt new practices. Behavior change is listed as a key part of the role, so describe times you persuaded customers or teams to implement recommendations.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your direct experience in waste reduction, recycling, reuse, food recovery, or composting, with concrete examples.', 'Your location and ability to travel up to four days per week across New England, including possible overnight travel.', 'Your experience conducting assessments, developing recommendations, and presenting them to customers.', 'Your approach to behavior change and how you have helped customers or organizations complete implementation of new practices.']

Research before applying

• Review the Center for EcoTechnology website to understand its programs and services related to waste reduction, recycling, reuse, food recovery, and composting.
• Look up the specific waste reduction and food recovery programs CET runs in New England and how they serve businesses.
• Check CET's public reports or case studies to see examples of customer recommendations and implementation results.
• Find out which types of businesses CET typically serves in Worcester, Boston, Southern New Hampshire, and the Greater Boston area.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would conduct a waste assessment at a business site, virtually or in person.
• A time you developed a customized recommendation and presented it persuasively to a customer or stakeholder.
• How you use behavior change strategies to help customers follow through on implementing recommendations.
• Your experience with recycling, reuse, food recovery, or composting programs and what you know about common barriers.
• How you manage a portfolio of customers, travel up to four days per week, and handle possible overnight travel.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without confirming you live in or near the required territory. The posting states that candidates outside the geographic area will not be considered.
• Ignoring the travel requirement. The role requires up to 80% travel, up to four days per week, with possible overnight stays.
• Submitting a generic application that does not mention waste reduction, recycling, reuse, food recovery, or composting experience.
• Focusing only on sustainability knowledge without showing how you have helped customers or teams implement changes.