About Great Forest
Great Forest provides waste-related consulting and brokerage services to regional, national, and multi-national organizations. We enable clients to manage waste sustainably by evaluating client operations, measuring and analyzing waste generation, and developing holistic programs that reduce waste, increase diversion from landfills and incineration, and maximize efficiency. Founded in 1989, we are backed by extensive experience, expertise, and relationships in the waste industry. We pioneered some of the first environmental sustainability programs in corporate America and we continue to innovate. Great Forest clients include many Fortune 500 companies and institutions across a range of industries including commercial real estate, financial services, hospitality, healthcare, education, and manufacturing.

Great Forest Waste Stream Audits
Great Forest is an industry leader in waste auditing. Part science, part art, we have developed and continue to refine an audit process that provides our clients with accurate, high-quality, and actionable results. Waste stream audits serve as the basis of our sustainability services. We assess a representative sample of a facility’s waste stream – waste is weighed and sorted by waste stream to determine overall waste generation, waste diversion rate(s), material contents, contamination rate(s), and/or missed opportunities, as applicable. Great Forest analyzes the results for client-specific reporting purposes and to develop programs that enable our clients to increase efficiency through reduced waste generation, improved diversion from landfill and incineration, and/or decreased waste disposal costs. As a small, capable team, we conducted over 150 waste audits in 2024, and we are on track to exceed that number in 2025.

Position Summary
As more organizations look to understand their material output to advance waste reduction, diversion, and other climate and sustainability goals, the demand for waste auditing and zero waste consulting services has continued to grow. Great Forest is seeking an Audit Lead – Zero Waste Services to execute waste audits primarily in the New York City area, with expected travel based on available projects. This position is a great opportunity for hands-on experience and advancement in the exciting, growing field of materials management, zero waste, and circularity, while working with a tight-knit, entrepreneurial team. This role is a combination of on- site audit and logistics and off-site data analysis, report writing, and programmatic and administrative work. This position collaborates closely with Waste Audit Manager and Sustainability Consultant, Waste Audit and Sustainability Consultant, and Waste Audit Coordinator, and reports to the Director of Sustainability Services.

Position Details:

• Part-time contract position, starting at $40-50/hour, based on experience.
• Potential for growth into a full-time position
• Hybrid position based in the New York metro area.
• Potential travel outside the New York metro area, depending on project/team availability and needs
• Travel rate TBD

Key Responsibilities:
Audit preparation and on-site management

• Help build team of waste auditors within New York region and other audit hubs, depending on available projects
• Coordinate with audit team and/or staffing firm(s) to ensure proper staffing for each audit
• Ensure all necessary equipment, supplies, and workspaces are available for each audit
• Help onboard and train new auditors and/or temp workers, as needed
• Ensure audit team and/or independent contractors understand specific audit needs and are adhering to the Great Forest protocol

Conducting waste stream audits

Lead onsite team to ensure each waste audit is executed at the highest level, including:

• Weighing waste, sorting by designated material types, and recording results with precision and accuracy
• Communicating with the appropriate stakeholders to ensure full scope of audit is fulfilled
• Troubleshooting any on-site issues

Analysis, Report Writing, and Administration

• Research relevant waste-related regulations and understand regional context
• Process/format audit data using templated procedure
• Draft waste audit reports, including zero waste-focused observations and recommendations based on individual findings, local market conditions, and regulatory landscape
• Present audit findings to clients as needed
• Utilizing internal software platforms, systems, and protocols for each step of the audit process

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated passion for materials management, zero waste, and circular systems
• Self-motivated, dependable, organized, and detail-oriented
• Excellent time management and comfort leading and managing a small team
• Analytically minded and able to problem solve in a complex, fast-paced environment
• High level of professionalism, positive attitude, and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with and present to diverse stakeholders
• Flexibility to work evenings, late nights, and travel as needed
• Experience with and ease working across software platforms including Microsoft Office Suite, Google Drive, and Basecamp
• Physically able to lift and sort bags of waste

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current Driver’s License
• Bachelor’s degree
• Environmental/materials science background and/or coursework in Sustainability, Environmental Science, or related discipline
• TRUE Advisor certification
• Spanish language a plus

What we Offer:

• Hands-on industry experience and opportunity for growth with a small, capable team
• Experience working on substantial, meaningful projects for large clients across the U.S. Waste audit projects have also included on-site work in Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
• Meaningful opportunities for advancement based on job performance and available contracts
• Cell phone stipend up to $100/month
• Sponsorship of TRUE Zero Waste Advisor Certification