Sustainability Coordinator

Since 1976 we’ve been building a sustainable and equitable food system that supports healthy people, animals and the environment. When you spend your dollars at The Patch, you contribute to a thriving local economy and a kinder, more resilient world.

Summary: 

The Sustainability Coordinator organizes, monitors, and maintains sustainability initiatives to achieve sustainability goals as defined in the co-op’s sustainability plan. A primary focus will be to measure, track, and report on sustainability metrics throughout the Co-op, including data required for annual reporting, regular updates, and specific projects as needed. Data collection includes activities such as: conducting waste audits, conducting sustainability related data assessments (i.e. key indicator analysis). In addition, the SC supports the successful implementation of sustainability initiatives by identifying areas for improvement, performing research, communicating new practices, coordinating with key implementers, and assisting in the planning of projects.

• Sustainability Coordinator - FT 40 hrs. per wk.
• Department:            Administrative       
• Reports To:             General Manager
• FLSA Status:          Hourly
• Salary Level:          $23.00 to $34.50 / hr.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Ensure Ongoing Success of Sustainability Initiatives

• Provide daily hands on support to ensure that BriarPatch’s sustainability initiatives are successfully being implemented throughout the Co-op, especially for the areas of waste management, water conservation, and smart energy use behaviors.
• Monitor all sustainability practices for compliance and collect list of areas that require improvement
• Work with various managers and supervisors to understand any emerging sustainability issues
• Communicate regularly with colleagues regarding sustainability initiatives and efforts through formal trainings and regular workplace interactions
• Work with Support Team members to promote, measure, report, and publish sustainability goals and progress toward them.

Monthly Data Collection and Tracking

• Work with all departments to collect data needed for defined metrics
• Data metrics will include: carbon, energy, water, and waste stream.
• Update key data metrics monthly into sustainability database
• Plan and lead regular waste audits to measure waste stream mix
• Prepare tables, graphs, and other visual reporting tools for monthly and annual reporting

Provide Project Assistance

• Communicate sustainability initiatives and directions to small and large groups of staff
• Provide managers with project support, manage project timelines, provide written status updates, and liaise with vendors and outside service providers as necessary
• Coordinate with supervisors to assist with implementation challenges
• Measure and verify success of current and historical sustainability projects through data analysis

Conduct Sustainability Research

• Conduct initial research on various sustainability topics that impact the Co-op
• Prepare brief summaries of findings to the General Manager
• Track various sustainability info websites for new sustainability opportunities
• Track, report, and chart on all key grant and research funding opportunities

Responsibilities to Safety 

• Serve as department liaison on storewide committees as assigned.
• Protect the safety of self, co-workers, and BriarPatch Co-op patrons at all times.
• Report any potentially harmful equipment or situations to the immediate supervisor without delay.
• Report safety-related accidents and incidents at once to supervisor.
• Follow all company and safety policies and procedures.
• Operate equipment in a safe manner that will not lead to injury of self or others.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Note: Other duties may be assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required,
• Familiarity with natural foods, co-ops, and the cooperative business model is desirable. 

Language Skills:  

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. 
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. 
• Ability to speak effectively with customers or employees.

Mathematical Skills: 

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent.

Reasoning Ability: 

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or electronic form.

Computer Skills: 

• An individual should have knowledge of:
  • Adobe Creative Suite, including preparing images for web and print in Photoshop.
  • Microsoft Office
  • Internet and web based programs
  • Understanding how to utilize technology to reduce paper usage.

Physical Demands:  

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand
• Walk
• Sit
• Use hands and fingers
• Handle or feel
• Reach with hands and arms
• Stoop
• Kneel
• Crouch or crawl
• Talk or hear
• Taste or smell
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds safely.

Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to a moderate to high level of noise and occasional changes in temperature.

Responsibilities to Sustainability:

• Contribute to sustainability efforts at BriarPatch that support a sustainable community through:
• Minimizing waste by reducing and reusing materials and resources when possible.
• Proper recycling and composting.
• Water & energy conservation.
• Seeking methods to make departmental functions more sustainable and taking an active role to implement them.

Responsibilities to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

• Value and support a work environment that includes people of different identities from diverse background .