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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for E-Waste Consultant

💰 $85,000 - $150,000

SustainabilityEnvironmental ConsultingWaste ManagementCompliance

🎯 Role Definition

As an E-Waste Consultant, you will be a subject matter expert and strategic advisor, empowering organizations to transform their electronic waste challenges into opportunities. You will lead projects from conception to completion, conducting in-depth analyses, designing innovative take-back programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving the transition towards a circular economy for electronics. Your expertise will not only mitigate risk but also enhance brand reputation and create tangible value for our clients.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Environmental Analyst
  • Sustainability Coordinator
  • Compliance Specialist

Advancement To:

  • Senior E-Waste Consultant
  • Principal Sustainability Consultant
  • Director of Circular Economy

Lateral Moves:

  • Product Stewardship Manager
  • Supply Chain Sustainability Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop and implement comprehensive e-waste management strategies and forward-thinking circular economy programs for a diverse portfolio of clients.
  • Advise clients on national and international e-waste regulations, including WEEE, RoHS, and the Basel Convention, to ensure full and proactive compliance.
  • Conduct detailed waste stream audits and on-site assessments to accurately identify, quantify, and characterize sources of electronic waste.
  • Design, launch, and manage effective product take-back programs and sophisticated reverse logistics systems for end-of-life electronics.
  • Lead the evaluation and selection of certified e-waste recycling and IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) vendors, negotiating contracts and managing partner relationships.
  • Perform rigorous due diligence and audits on downstream recycling partners to verify ethical, secure, and environmentally sound processing.
  • Consult on secure data destruction methods for electronic devices containing sensitive information, ensuring adherence to data privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA.
  • Provide strategic guidance on navigating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations and help clients optimize their participation in compliance schemes.
  • Conduct Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) for electronic products to evaluate their environmental impact from cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-cradle.
  • Develop compelling business cases and financial models to demonstrate the ROI and long-term value of sustainable e-waste management initiatives.
  • Lead client-facing workshops and strategy sessions with executive leadership to align e-waste management goals with overarching corporate sustainability objectives.
  • Create and present high-impact proposals and presentations to prospective and existing clients to secure new business and expand service offerings.
  • Assess and mitigate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks associated with the electronics supply chain and end-of-life product management.
  • Manage complex project lifecycles, including scope, budgets, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring projects are completed to the highest standard.

Secondary Functions

  • Collaborate with client product design and engineering teams to integrate design-for-recycling and design-for-disassembly principles into new products.
  • Develop and deliver customized training programs for client staff on proper e-waste handling, segregation, and internal collection procedures.
  • Prepare detailed technical reports, annual sustainability reports, and compliance documentation for clients and regulatory bodies.
  • Stay abreast of emerging technologies, policy changes, and market trends in the e-waste, ITAD, and circular economy sectors to provide cutting-edge advice.
  • Support clients in achieving and maintaining key environmental certifications such as R2, e-Stewards, or ISO 14001.
  • Engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, industry associations, and internal business units to foster collaboration.
  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • In-depth knowledge of global and regional e-waste regulations (e.g., WEEE Directive, RoHS, Basel Convention, state-level EPR laws).
  • Proven expertise in circular economy principles and designing business models for repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling of electronics.
  • Strong project management skills (PMP or similar experience) with a track record of leading complex environmental and sustainability projects.
  • Proficiency in sustainability data analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA) software, and corporate sustainability reporting frameworks (e.g., GRI, SASB).
  • Experience conducting waste audits, supply chain analysis, and performing due diligence on third-party vendors (e.g., R2 or e-Stewards standards).
  • Strong understanding of data security standards (NIST 800-88) and secure data destruction methodologies for electronic media.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex topics to diverse audiences from technicians to C-suite executives.
  • Advanced analytical and critical-thinking abilities with a strategic, systems-level approach to problem-solving.
  • Strong business and financial acumen, with experience building robust business cases and financial models.
  • A consultative and influential mindset, with the ability to build trust and advise senior leadership effectively.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree in a relevant field

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Science or Engineering
  • Sustainability Studies or Management
  • Waste Management
  • Circular Economy
  • Business Administration (MBA) with a sustainability focus

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-10 years

Preferred:

  • Direct experience in a consulting capacity focused on e-waste management, EPR, or circular economy strategies for the electronics or technology sector.
  • Professional certifications such as Certified Waste Auditor, Project Management Professional (PMP), or familiarity with R2 and e-Stewards auditing are highly desirable.
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