Solid Waste Planner

HDR, Inc.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Planner to support its Waste sector, leading waste diversion and planning initiatives across the United States. The role involves writing proposals, managing projects, developing staff, and coordinating with multiple offices and partners to advance sustainable waste management strategies.

The candidate will contribute to long-range municipal waste plans, explore alternative technologies, and engage with clients and communities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in recycling, composting, sustainability, and waste management for a municipality or consultant environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with environmental policy processes and current waste management trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead waste sector growth by writing proposals, managing projects, and building staff.
• Develop long-range waste management plans for municipalities, researching and evaluating diversion technologies.
• Support planning and approval processes for waste facilities and prepare project reports and presentations.
• Build client relationships, identify leads, and think strategically about future directions for programs and clients.
• Coordinate projects across the United States with offices and strategic partners.

Skills

Waste planning

Policy & regulation

Stakeholder comms

Team leadership

Research & analysis

Education

Bachelor's in Environmental Science

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story: ' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe waste is more than management; it’s also an opportunity to innovate. As part of our Waste sector, you’ll help shape solid waste infrastructure and environmental stewardship. With a top-tier industry ranking, our team delivers comprehensive solutions that span waste planning, remediation, engineering and implementation. You’ll collaborate closely with clients and communities to design sustainable, cost-effective systems that contribute to cleaner environments and healthier communities. This isn’t just a job; it’s a chance to drive meaningful changes in the waste industry and build a legacy of sustainability.

About You

Our Solid Waste Practice seeks a Planner who can support a wide variety of waste diversion, resource management and planning projects. You will be knowledgeable of, and or have experience with, recycling programs, source separated organics programs, zero waste, circular economy, and sustainability initiatives. Also, this candidate should show interest in other new and innovative diversion programs emphasizing sustainable materials management, along with policy and disposal practices. Your understanding of potential changes and emerging trends in the industry will set you apart from other candidates. You are confident working in a team environment, as well as independently, developing strong relationships and speaking to groups of people.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will help lead the waste sector developing the business through writing proposals, managing projects, and building staff. This candidate will also be involved in the development of long-range waste management strategic plans for municipalities including researching, identifying, assessing, and evaluating alternate diversion and disposal technologies and programs. Additional opportunities will be available to support planning and approval processes for a range of waste management facilities. You will also be expected to help prepare project reports, memorandums, and presentations by knowing the receiving audience perspective. Position encompasses a client focus, networking and establishing client relationships, developing leads, and strategic thinking in future directions for both our clients and programs. Incorporating strategic communications and engagement with multiple stakeholders will be an important part of the job and your projects.

You should expect to be leading and coordinating projects across the United States, collaborating with staff in our various offices or with strategic partners. As part of a much larger Solid Waste team, you can also expect to be provided with opportunities to work on comparable, new, and exciting projects around HDR’s network.

Keywords

Solid Waste, Sustainability, Planning, Environmental, Municipal, Public Policy, Community and Reginal Planning, Collections, Recycling, Environmental Justice, Alternative Technologies

Preferred Qualifications

• Our ideal candidate will possess the following set of achievements and skills:
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the areas of recycling, composting, sustainability, and waste management for a municipality or within a consultant environment
• Familiarity with environmental and municipal policy processes
• Knowledge of current trends in waste management, including zero waste, circular economy and product stewardship, and their implications and connection to sustainable practices
• Demonstrated research, analysis and interpretation skills for problem solving
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of TRUE Advisor and or SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America) Zero Waste
• Knowledge of Circular Economy and Extended Producer Responsibilities
• Knowledge of Environmental Justice
• Knowledge of Alternative Waste Conversion Technologies

#LI-MV3

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or closely related field
• A minimum of 5 years environmental experience
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite
• Strong conceptual, organizational, problem-solving and research abilities
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve. Our Commitment As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day. Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an Affrimative Action and Equal Opportunity Employe r. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.

Industry

Waste

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Job Posting

Oct 16, 2026