Vice President - Collection & Processing

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Remote, US

$ To $ Annually

This position will lead to oversee the development of recycling system expansion and optimization and will lead the strategy and development of collection and processing initiatives to achieve the recycling targets prescribed in regulations (e.g., increasing material access, supporting the use of new sorting and/or recycling equipment). Key materials targeted, include, but are not limited to flexible plastic packaging, small format plastics, PET thermoforms, and poly-coated containers.

The ideal candidate must combine strong operational background within the recycling industry, stakeholder management skills to ensure a successful relationship with recycling service providers and processing entities, and strong team leadership experience. This position will also oversee material data acquisition, especially through waste composition analysis (i.e. characterization), and would support downstream reporting requirements across multiple states in the U.S.

This role will report to the Chief of Staff at CAA.

• Develop and implement holistic collection and processing strategies (by material) that raise material access and capture for targeted materials in all states where CAA is involved, including multi-year roadmaps and investment plans.
• Collaborate with other Program Planning and Operations teams on regulatory targets, exemptions, source reduction activities, and PCR targets.
• In collaboration with the CAA Chief of Staff, Executive Directors, state operations staff, the role will work with MRFs, secondary processors, and compost facilities to identify primary and secondary sortation best-practices to meet industry targets. Vet and champion new ideas to deliver transformation system changes in recycling to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Identify and implement primary and secondary processing solutions to improve bale quality in support of end market strategies developed by the end markets team. Drive and catalyze third-party investments in additional collection and sortation as required to meet statute targets.
• In partnership with states, support development of program plans for materials for new states outlining detailed strategies.
• Lead the evaluation and development of the alternative collection models for CAA including dedicated curbside collection, drop-off collection, take-back programs, mixed waste collection, and other strategies to complement existing curbside and commercial recycling.
• In support of state EPR programs, the VP will work with Executive Directors and state materials-leads to ensure annual state implementation plans for materials align with national strategies to solve materials challenges.
• Support states in development of coordinated action and operating plans to accomplish state goals and to ensure budgets align with expected industry costs.
• Support states in developing key strategies to work with MRFs to on-ramp materials and provide detailed guidance and analysis to enable investments to proceed at the state level.
• Support third-party large-scale investments that impact multiple states (i.e. secondary sortation) and drive alignment with the states.

• Responsible for engaging with recycling and materials trade associations, service providers, and other key interest holders to support materials collection and processing strategy development and implementation (in partnership with state teams).

• Develop CAA materials intelligence (i.e., how materials flow within recycling systems) in partnership with Data & Analytics.
• Design and oversee the development and implementation of CAA waste characterization protocols for inbound and outbound materials in different states.
• Develop and manage the budget for materials strategy collection and processing initiatives, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and meet key performance indicators.

• In collaboration with the VP of Circularity and Packaging Design, Executive Directors, and states materials leads; work with local interested holders to support collection and processing for reusable and refillable packaging in alignment with source reduction activities and strategies.
• Oversee, manage,…