CHICAGO (Oct. 16, 2024) – The Caucus is hiring a Recycling Education & Outreach Specialist. Please see the position description below and fill out an application by Nov. 20, 2024.

Recycling Education & Outreach Specialist Position Description

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is a nonprofit organization with 275 municipal members that improves the quality of life for residents of the region through collaboration and public policy. In partnership with two solid waste agencies and four counties, the coalition is creating a recycling education and outreach campaign to increase the collection of recyclable materials and decrease contamination of the recycling stream in hundreds of communities in northeastern Illinois.  The new position of Recycling Education & Outreach Specialist will support this Chicago Metro Region Recycling Education and Outreach Campaign (REO Campaign).

The ideal candidate is adaptable, creative, and communicates well. The position requires collaborating with local governments, community partners, and individuals to improve understanding of recycling programs, policies, and operations.

The Chicago Metro Region Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) Campaign is funded by a 3-year grant from the US EPA. The Recycling Education & Outreach Specialist will be housed at the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus’ Chicago office with outreach responsibilities throughout DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties and portions of Cook County.

 Duties and Responsibilities

  • Act as the primary point of contact between the Caucus’ contracted marketing consultant and the REO Partners to coordinate on development and rollout of the regional education and outreach campaign promoting “recycling right” through diverse outlets and media.
  • Assist in the creation of localized outreach engagement materials, including exhibits and activities promoting the campaign’s messaging.
  • Communicate with community leaders in the region to engage them in the REO Campaign and garner support for its goals. Determine community needs, opportunities, and identify effective methods of communication with community officials, staff, and residents, with a focus on environmental justice communities.
  • Coordinate with and support REO Partners on outreach needs throughout the region, including event attendance and material provisions.
  • Lead outreach efforts to educate residents and stakeholders about recycling right by participating in community and special events, giving presentations, demonstrations and leading workshops and activities hosted by coalition members, local governments and community organizations in the region, and by contributing information to existing newsletters and outlets, focusing on communities that lack staff dedicated to waste and recycling issues.
  • Identify and implement new community partnership and engagement pathways for reaching residents, particularly in environmental justice communities.
  • Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with stakeholders in targeted communities including municipal governments, citizen commissions, community and environmental groups, to engage them in achieving REO campaign goals.
  • Tailor outreach and engagement to effectively serve low-income and disadvantaged communities in the region with linguistic and cultural awareness.
  • Track, evaluate, and provide detailed reporting on outreach efforts to document progress on meeting outreach targets and satisfy grant requirements.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • Two or more years of experience, combining any of the following: recycling and solid waste, sustainability, environmental science, local government, environmental education, interpretation, communications, sales, marketing, community engagement, customer service or project management.
  • Proficient in communicating via various means: face-to-face, phone, email, online meetings, and in developing and delivering formal presentations in some settings and informal education in other venues.
  • Ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders, including local government staff, elected officials, community groups, recycling industry professionals, and residents.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate and effectively interact with people across cultures, ranges of ability, genders, ethnicities, races, and ages, with the goal of increasing and improving resident participation in municipal recycling programs.
  • Ability to self-manage in a professional environment and take the initiative to complete tasks, including suggesting new solutions for meeting goals and metrics.
  • Technical computer skills in Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams), Zoom, customer relationship management systems, social networking websites, and ability to adapt to emerging technology.
  • Possess a valid U.S. driver’s license and a personal vehicle to attend meetings and events throughout the Chicago region.
  • Must be able to travel locally up to approximately 50% of the time. Travel will be fully compensated at federal rates.
  • Familiarity with Chicago suburbs is also highly desired.
  • Ability to write and speak in English. Spanish fluency is preferred.
  • Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including daytime (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and some evening and weekend hours for meetings and events.

Pay and Benefits:

  • Full time, salary range $50,000 to $62,000, commensurate with experience
  • Two weeks of paid time off
  • Medical insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life insurance, long- and short-term disability insurance
  • 401k with company contribution
  • Twelve paid holidays

Employment and Working Conditions

This is a hybrid position that will involve local travel throughout the region for in-person meetings and events. Work will be performed at home, at the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus office in Chicago, in communities throughout DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties and portions of Cook County.

The position is full-time through May of 2027. Position renewal is not expected at this time but is contingent upon grant funding. Salary is commensurate with experience.

About the Caucus and the Chicago Metro Region Recycling Education and Outreach Coalition

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (Caucus) is a nonprofit regional council of governments that empowers and supports municipalities to improve the region’s quality of life through sharing of expertise, advancing multi-jurisdictional relationships and building consensus. The Caucus is the grant administrator for the REO coalition.

The Chicago Metro REO coalition brings together the extraordinary expertise of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO), DuPage, Kane, Will, and McHenry Counties to advise a comprehensive strategy to increase collection and reduce recycling contamination in the recycled materials stream.  These partners have been working together since 2018 on the Illinois Task Force on Recycling Contamination Solutions to create unified and clear messaging around the quality of recyclable materials. The Task Force has produced strategic outreach materials that will be fundamental to this campaign.

How to Apply

Please fill out a brief application and submit your resume, cover letter, and optional writing samples through our website by November 20, 2024.