SPRING /SUMMER/FALL 2024 - Zero Waste & Circularity Fellow

Zero Waste & Circularity Fellow - January 2024-December 2024

Create strategies to embed circularity and reuse best practices into our campus operations, that, at the same time, meet a need faced by disadvantaged students and community members. Work with campus (Facilities, Student Life, Landis Center for Community Engagement, Dyer Center, among others) and community partners (local pantries, shelters, and nonprofits) to develop actionable solutions for items that would otherwise be sent to landfill. Streamline and execute waste and reuse programs by: 

• Planning and managing a team of students to execute a Green Move Out donation drive, community sale in the West Ward and thrift store materials flow
• Supporting implementation of phased waste infrastructure improvements for trash, single stream recycling, and specialty recycling
• Engaging with sustainability procurement policy practices to build models for circular economy across campus

Qualifications

• Experience with excel 
• Creative problem solver 
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with various stakeholders with ease (volunteers, non-profits, pantries, shelters, local thrift stores, community members, campus partners, etc.) 
• Ability to work in physically demanding situations (lifting boxes of goods and transporting items)

To be considered for this position please submit an application AND send a 1 page (or more) writing sample to sustainability@lafayette.edu. 

More Details About the Sustainability Impact Fellows:

Sustainability Impact Fellows

Lafayette College’s Sustainability Impact Fellowship program catalyzes institutional change by providing undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to work on transformative sustainability initiatives. Fellows undertake challenging projects that are designed to create impact, offer an extraordinary learning experience, and advance the college’s embodiment of our sustainability values. They will work with a campus client(s), the Office of Sustainability staff, and occasionally alumni or faculty with additional expertise on the topics.

Fellows focus on campus solutions with justice and equity at their core and aim to catalyze:

• Zero waste and circular value chain innovations within campus operations 
• Biodiversity and regenerative ecosystems through our built and natural environment
• A culture of sustainability that embeds awareness, engagement and action into our everyday experiences
• A just transition to a low carbon future that ensures we foster equitable solutions by fostering diverse voices and experiences into our carbon neutrality progress
• A sustainable food loop that illustrates how closed loop systems drive regenerative of valuable natural resources

This is an 11 month position beginning in January 2024. Fellows work a minimum of 6 hours/ week (maximum allowed of 20 hours/week) during the spring and fall semesters and 36.5 hours/week from May 15th, 2023 - August 14th, 2023. $10/hour. During the summer, campus housing is provided.