Working for the Tufts Office of Sustainability in collaboration with Facilities Services – Campus Services, the Recycling & Waste Reduction Co-op student would be responsible for helping Tufts University meet its goal of reducing waste by 3% each year. The co-op student would help manage student interns and respond to waste and recycling related requests from the campus community. During the spring semester, that focus will be on move out. The fall semester would focus on hiring and managing new interns, and move-in. Other potential responsibilities and projects could be:

• Investigate and respond to customer recycling requests for furniture, battery bins, labels, lids, trash & recycling containers, desk side trash or recycling bins, etc.
• Submit work orders as needed
• Support the Office of Sustainability’s University-wide Sustainability initiatives
• Identify new waste streams for diversion (e.g. textiles, Styrofoam, disposable gloves, labware) and develop ways to divert them from the waste stream.
• Identify opportunities to prevent wasteful purchases (e.g. desk top printers) and work to promote alternatives.
• Develop effective and creative ways to change behaviors to reduce, reuse and recycle items no longer needed by the Tufts community members.
• Supervise student labor or volunteers e.g. for zero waste events
• Deliver training seminars to employees and students.
• Tracking volumes and weights of waste streams in coordination with our haulers
• Create monthly and annual waste data reports for all campuses
• Coordinate waste audits

The Co-op will earn $15/hour.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office software
• Ability to navigate stairs and uneven terrain; lift up to 35 pounds; and walk around the 150 acre property.
• Able to work a minimum of 32-40 hours per week
• Willing to work events that may occur on a weekend or weekday evening

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with Asana project management software
• Proficiency with Excel
• Ability to send and receive professional emails, phone calls, and maintain good customer service interactions
• Comfortable working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment as well as finding ways to be proactive and find solutions to problems
• Comfortable reading site plans, and floor plans
• Ability to be a fast learner and maintain an enthusiasm for learning and developing new skills
• Understands how to work in a professional setting and be accountable to others
• Excellent time management skills
• Great organizational skills and ability to pay attention to detail

Additional Notes

Occasionally some travel may be required to the Boston campuses as well as the Grafton campus. The role and responsibilities will primarily be based on the Medford campus.

Depending on the semester, this job could be 50%-70% field work and 30%-50% computer work. This position suits someone who likes: being active and outdoors, the occasional ability to travel, the ability to work independently, is highly motivated, and possesses excellent communication skills with peers, vendors and customers.

How to Apply

Please email or fax cover letter & resume to Tina.Woolston[at]tufts.edu with the subject line “Recycling & Waste Reduction Co-op”

You can also mail your application to the following address:

Tina Woolston
Sustainability Program Director
210 Packard Avenue, Miller Hall rear
Medford, MA 02144