Compost Coordinator

George Mason University; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lots of leave

Tuition benefit

Transit benefit

Retirement plan

Discounts

Job summary

George Mason University is seeking a Compost Coordinator to lead the planning, implementation, and assessment of composting activities within Facilities Services and Logistics. This role partners with Mason Dining, the Food Recovery Network, and Patriot Pantry to increase compost diversion toward GMU’s Zero Waste goals.

The position oversees operations, develops SOPs, and coordinates logistics for food waste collection, transport, and disposal, including staff supervision and training of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated success managing composting program operations, recycling operations, or related field.
• Experience translating technical data related to composting, waste management, or recycling to promote program adoption or investment.
• Experience managing staff and volunteers to accomplish programmatic goals.
• Experience with planning, implementing, and evaluating composting or food waste related projects, including budget maintenance and data collection, analysis, and reporting tasks.

Responsibilities

• Oversees institution compost program operations, including food waste collection, transport, and logistics for disposal at partner facility.
• Coordinates with departments, vendors, and partners to improve operational efficiencies for food waste diversion.
• Collaborates with Dining Services to support composting implementation at on-campus buildings and sites.
• Coordinates daily composting processes by monitoring Work Requests and collection services.
• Leads composting-related staff trainings for on-campus vendors and partners.
• Maintains compliance with safety, standards, and guidelines for composting operations.

Skills

Program management

Staff supervision

Data collection

Training staff

Logistics coordination

Waste reduction

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Vehicle operation

SOPs documentation

Job description

Department: Facilities & Campus Operations

Classification: Program Admin Specialist 1

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience(not more than $ 70,000 annually)

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

Important Eligibility Requirement

Employees in this position are required to operate universityvehicles in accordance with George Mason University Vehicle UsePolicy 1411. Applicants must possess and maintain an active, validdriver’s license that satisfies university requirements. Finalcandidates are subject to a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) review, andsuccessful completion of the review is a condition ofemployment.

Minor or major driving violations may affect eligibility foretployment. Applicants with prior driving infractions need toreview the Eligibility & MVR Review Information (English / Spanish) before applying.

About the Department:

George Mason University Facilities and Campus Operations ensures aquality physical environment supporting the mission of theuniversity. We will be the technical and business experts of choicewith the total trust and confidence of our students, faculty, andstaff.

About the Position:

Fantastic new opportunity at George Mason University. If you'reready to start a new career, then we are ready to hire you! You’llbe a State employee of Virginia, work at our beautiful Fairfaxcampus with 677 acres of wooded land, and become part of the GeorgeMason University patriot team.

We’ve got the work. We now need an additional team member to helpin our busy environment. We want someone reliable who takes pridein their work and will make a noticeable contribution to theeducational facilities at George Mason. Your manager can trust thatyou will get the job done.

George Mason’s Facilities & Campus Operations department iscommitted to providing a safe, functional, and clean communityexperience at the university. So, what’s in it for you?

Great benefits for you

• Lots of leave, including paid annual leave, paid holidays, paidsick leave, paid two-week winter break (please note – the breakemployees often receive during the holiday season is not regularlyguaranteed and is subject to annual approval)
• Free tuition, up to 12 credit hours during the academic year,and professional development. Yes, you can earn a college educationwhile earning a salary;
• Commuter Choice Transit Benefit;
• Virginia Retirement System Hybrid Plan; and
• Patriot Perks discounts to restaurants, events, and more!

For you and your family

• Health/dental/vision benefits; and
• Tuition dependent benefit (restrictions apply).

The Compost Coordinator position leads the planning,implementation, and assessment of composting-related activities atGeorge Mason University as part of the Facilities Services andLogistics’ Recycling and Waste team. This position reports to theRecycling and Waste Manager and works with UniversitySustainability to increase compost diversion in support of GeorgeMason's Zero Waste goals. The position is responsible fordeveloping more efficient and effective operational compostingplans and procedures, coordinating the logistics of compostcollections and hauling at the university, and reducing compostcontamination rates through the improvement and expansion ofcomposting infrastructure. This position collaborates closely withinstitutional stakeholders and partners including Mason Dining, theFood Recovery Network, the Student Support and Advocacy Center'sPatriot Pantry, and Facilities and Campus Operations teams tocoordinate systemic improvements. The Compost Coordinator alsoleads George Mason's Food Rescue and Composting Working Group andsupervises relevant part‑time wage positions to coordinate actionwith aligned food waste reduction and food rescue activities. Theposition serves as a subject matter expert with responsibilities instrategic planning and evaluation, composting operations,compliance monitoring and reporting, and leading staff trainingsfor on-campus vendors and partners.

Compost Program Operations Management

• Oversees institutional compost program operations, includingfood waste collection, transport, and logistics for the disposal offood and compostable waste at the university’s partneringindustrial composting facility;
• Coordinates with university departments, vendors, andcomposting partners to improve operational efficiencies for foodwaste diversion;
• Collaborates with F&CO Recycling and Waste and DiningServices staff by carrying out contamination monitoring, training,audits, and inventories to support effective compostingimplementation at on-campus buildings and sites;
• Coordinates daily composting processes by monitoring andreporting the status of Work Requests, food waste collectionservices, procedures, and equipment;
• Implements guidelines and initiatives with Recycling and Wasteteam members and oversees supportive wage staff andvolunteers;
• Maintains compliance with internal and external standards,regulations, and guidelines for compost collections and facilityacceptance;
• Ensures, implements, and follows all safety and trainingprinciples and precautions applicable to operations; and
• As needed, but up to a maximum of 30% of essentialresponsibilities may include operating a university vehicle tosupport food waste collection, transport, and disposal.

Compost Strategy Development

• Oversees development of compost improvement and expansionstrategy, including a critical 1-year period of audits,inventories, stakeholder and community engagement, and operationalassessments to inform implementation;
• Drafts and annually updates process documentation, such asStandard Operating Procedures (SOPs), plans, training documents,etc., to support effective and safe compost operations at theinstitution;
• Drafts a phased Composting Improvement and Expansion Plan basedon initial and ongoing assessment of George Mason’s opportunitiesfor compost expansion and tracking of operational threats andlimitations;
• Develops strategy to mitigate issues based on best practice andexpertise; pilots solutions and performs audits and site checks toevaluate efficacy of pilot solutions in George Mason’s specificcontext;
• Co-leads and coordinates recurring meetings and collaborativeplanning actions for advancing the Composting Program's goalsthrough George Mason’s Food Rescue and Composting WorkingGroup;
• Monitors and reports inbound/outbound food waste tonnage andcompost equipment inventories to supervisor and in response tostakeholder requests;
• Contributes recommendations for optimizing and improving accessto campus compost bins/stations, messaging, and waste processingequipment for both back-of-house and front-of-house operations toinform university leadership, stakeholders, and vendors decisionmaking; and
• Contributes to compost-related subaward/grant related documentupdates/proposals, and drafts Composting Program assessment andreporting content with minimal oversight.

Compostable Product Standards Compliance and QualityControl

• Verifies and reports compliance with compostable productstandards; ensures compostable product standards are followed byconducting on-site checks and reviewing digital purchasinginventories in collaboration with on-campus vendors and partners,such as Mason Dining staff, institutional purchasers, ApprovedCaterers, etc.;
• Collaborates with the University Sustainability office andAuxiliary and Business Services’ Director of Dining Services tosupport Mason Dining staff, on-campus vendors, and other on-campuspartners' compliance with George Mason’s compostable productstandards for third-party certified compostable foodserviceware;
• Identifies non‑compliant compostable product purchasing issuesand works with on-campus partners, such as managers and vendors, toimplement solutions;
• Coordinates waste audits and inventories to improve compostinginfrastructure, waste contamination reduction efforts, and promotefood waste diversion practices within various staff units;
• Assists with staff training and education about compostableproduct standards and purchasing third-party certified products,including training Mason Dining staff, on-campus vendors, and other partners; and
• Assists with staff training and education about appropriatewaste sorting practices to reduce food and compostable materials’trash disposal and compost contamination rates, including trainingMason Dining staff, on-campus vendors, and other partners.

Food Rescue and Composting Working Group

• Develops and fosters partnerships and collaborations to improvecompost diversion, access, and compost contamination rates as amember of the Food Rescue and Composting Working Group;
• Contributes feedback and recommendations to recurring WorkingGroup meetings, following up with members about tasks and planningactions;
• Oversees two student-wage Food Rescue Specialist staffpositions, including their scope of work and hours/wageconsiderations; and
• When needed, assists with administrative tasks, includingserving as an additional staff contact for the Food Rescue andComposting Working Group, monitoring and updating planningdocuments, and maintaining Working Group records.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or the equivalentcombination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated success managing composting program operations,recycling operations, or related field;
• Experience translating technical data related to composting,waste management, or recycling to promote program adoption orinvestment;
• Experience managing staff and volunteers to accomplishprogrammatic goals;
• Experience with planning, implementing, and evaluatingcomposting or food waste-related projects, including budgetmaintenance and data collection, analysis, and reportingtasks;
• Technical knowledge of the materials, equipment, bestpractices, and procedures for food waste collection, transport, andcomposting facility disposal, as well as familiarity with federal,state, and local regulations for composting sites;
• Knowledge of sustainable purchasing concepts and practices,including third-party certification standards for compostableproduct purchasing and supplier Life Cycle Assessmentmethodology;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of budget developmentand management, safety management, and staff training;
• Skill in engaging, educating, or training large groups aboutcomposting best practices and procedures;
• Skill in the logistical management of food waste collection,transport, disposal, and other operational processes;
• Skill in accurately tracking waste diversion, financial, andengagement-related data for program evaluation and reporting;
• Ability to plan, coordinate, schedule, execute, and review foodwaste collection routes, transport, and disposal logistics;
• Ability to train, mentor, and supervise staff and volunteersfor food waste collection routes and events;
• Ability to lead or co-lead composting-related waste audits toassess food waste contamination and compostable product purchasingcompliance;
• Ability to develop policy and procedural recommendations forcomposting program improvement based on food waste diversion,financial, and mission-related analyses;
• Ability to repeatedly lift and carry items weighing up to 50pounds;
• Ability to operate a university vehicle for food wastecollection, transport, and disposal;
• Ability to lift and carry supplies weighing up to 50 pounds,with or without reasonable accommodation;
• Ability to work early mornings and occasional weekends andevenings;
• Ability to maneuver large (65-gallon to 96-gallon) wheeledcarts/bins weighing up to 350 pounds;
• Valid driver's license needed to drive GMU state vehicles;and
• Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motorvehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements foroperating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle UsePolicy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/.The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review thedriver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of allcandidates selected, with employment contingent upon a favorablereview.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience organizing and collaborating with communities toaffect change, especially university staff, faculty, students, andfoodservice vendors;
• Some experience operating trucks ranging from 12-24 ft., haultrailers, and equipment;
• Three or more years of experience in the compost industry,waste industry, higher education facilities management, or relatedfield;
• Knowledge of zero-waste and waste systems-related concepts andpractices, especially as they relate to local food systems and foodwaste reduction, rescue, and diversion;
• Skill in engaging and collaborating with universitystakeholders and local communities to advance food waste reduction,food rescue, and composting within an institution; and
• Skill in operating trucks ranging from 12-24 ft., haultrailers, and equipment.

Posting Open Date: September 2, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 16, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 researchuniversity committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperousworld. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largestand most diverse public research university in Virginia, offeringdegree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,along with certificates and credentials.

George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment forstudents, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. Webelieve in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancingour mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; andwe believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity oforigin, identity, circumstance, and thought.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative actionemployer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in itscommunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration foretployment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability orveteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information

Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/