Senior Manager – Material Characterization

🔥 1 minute ago

🏄 California – Remote

🏄 California – Remote

💵 $150k - $170k / year

⏰ Full Time

🟠 Senior

👔 Manager

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Circular Action Alliance

WebsiteLinkedInAll Job Openings

11 - 50 employees

Founded 2022

🤝 Non-profit

🌍 Social Impact

Non-profit • Social Impact

Circular Action Alliance is an organization working to create a circular economy for paper and packaging. It coordinates producer-funded recycling programs, submits program plans under extended producer responsibility laws (for example SB 54 in California), and invests in recycling access and responsible end markets. The organization provides resources for producers (registration, producer resource center, fee-setting consultation, steering committee) and is active in multiple U. S. states including California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Maine, Maryland and Minnesota.

📋 Description

• Lead CAA’s California material characterization efforts, including implementation of the 2027 California statewide characterization study supporting California’s extended producer responsibility requirements for paper and packaging under SB 54 • Oversee California-specific protocols for material composition audits, inbound and outbound sampling, central audit centers, audit design, and material-category definitions • Ensure data collection, storage, and reporting methodologies meet QA/QC standards and maintain data integrity across sampling locations • Collaborate with CAA National departments and direct California material characterization operations teams overseeing data recording, storage, and vendor management • Propose QA/QC processes and monitor methodological adherence and performance against CAA National standards • Oversee California characterization priorities, resource allocation, regulatory compliance, and operational needs • Integrate characterization results into modeling, reporting, policy frameworks, and program evaluation • Develop statewide sampling locations, operational structures, facility participation strategies, and vendor contract management • Secure and maintain participation across dozens of facilities and manage procurement, evaluation, and award of RFPs involving multiple bidders • Serve as primary contact with internal teams, external researchers, auditors, regulators, facility operators, CalRecycle, and other jurisdictions • Provide guidance and training on characterization methods, QA/QC procedures, and data management practices • Build California’s material characterization management function, including scope, priorities, organizational structure, and operating model • Develop operational processes, execution playbooks, audit center development plans, field workflows, SOPs, documentation frameworks, and reporting structures • Build and manage the California material characterization team, including staffing, recruiting, onboarding, and management of employees, consultants, and contractors • Build and manage external partner networks of auditors, sampling contractors, technical consultants, and facility operators • Lead research and innovation initiatives to improve characterization methods and data utilization • Facilitate benchmarking and comparison of characterization results with the Data & Analytics team • Perform other duties as assigned

🎯 Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required • Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Waste Management, or related field preferred • 7+ years of experience in material characterization, recycling, or related environmental data management fields • Proven track record of leading methodological development, QA/QC, and multi-site data initiatives • Experience aligning regulatory guidance, compliance requirements, or related environmental program standards preferred • Strong leadership experience in cross-functional programs involving operations, data, regulatory, and external stakeholder coordination • Experience negotiating contract terms, pricing, and conditions with vendors, customers, or partners • Experience managing relationships with suppliers, contractors, and service providers • Familiarity with contract dispute resolution, mediation, and enforcement • Understanding of pricing models, cost structures, and payment terms in contracts • Strong expertise in solid waste management, recycling systems, and material characterization • Proven experience in operational process design and implementation, including QA/QC and data management within complex regulatory or operational environments • Robust analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex datasets for operational and policy use • Excellent organizational, leadership, and project management abilities • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for collaboration with internal teams, government agencies, and external partners • Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment supporting California program implementation • Ability to thrive in ambiguity, set priorities, and implement executable plans to achieve program objectives