Sustainability Coordinator

ABM Industries

Washington, DC

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
SKILLS
Accounts Payable, Analysis Skills, Benchmarking, Communication Skills, Continuous Improvement, Contract Management, Contract Requirements, Custodial Services, Data Quality, Educational Administration, Energy Management, Environmental Impact, Environmental Law, Environmental Sciences, Establish Priorities, Food Services, Funding, Gardening, Green Business, ISO 14001, Incentive Programs, Landscaping, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Materials Management, Metrics, Multitasking, Onboarding, Operational Support, Organizational Skills, People Management, Performance Metrics, Problem Solving Skills, Product Support, Product Testing, Project/Program Management, Purchasing/Procurement, Recycling, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Reporting Dashboards, Reporting Skills, Research Laboratory, Staff Training, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Strategic Planning, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Sustainability, System Operations, Systems Maintenance, Time Management, Training/Teaching, University/School Governance, Vendor/Supplier Management, Vendor/Supplier Relations, Waste Disposal, Waste Management, Waste/Garbage/Recycle Collection
LOCATION
Washington, DC
POSTED
Today
Overview


The Energy and Sustainability Coordinator leads and implements the client’s energy management and sustainability initiatives. This role optimizes energy consumption, reduces environmental impacts, and ensures compliance with sustainability goals. The manager partners with all ABM on-site team members to meet stakeholder expectations and scope.


Compensation: $ 65,000 annual salary (US Dollars)


The pay listed is the salary range for this position. Any specific offer will vary based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, skills, abilities, geographic location, and alignment with market data. You may be eligible to participate in a Company incentive or bonus program


Benefits: ABM offers a comprehensive benefits package. For information about ABM’s benefits, visit


Benefits | Staff & Management (https://media.abm.com/wp-content/uploads/AnnualBenefitFlyers/Recruiting%20Flyer%20-%20Staff%20&%20Mgmt.pdf)


Responsibilities


Lead and coordinate sustainability initiatives at GWU with a primary focus on waste reduction, recycling, composting, reuse, and sustainable materials management. Working within a private university governance structure, this role advances institutional sustainability goals while supporting operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and GWU’s public sustainability commitments.


Waste & Materials Strategy


+ Develop and implement a comprehensive waste and materials sustainability strategy aligned with the university’s mission, values, and strategic plan.


+ Lead efforts to increase waste diversion rates and reduce landfill disposal through recycling, composting, reuse, and source reduction programs.


+ Support waste diversion activities for GWU sustainability events, including but not limited to Green Move Out and ReUse Market.


+ Support dining waste collection programs to reduce landfill disposal and improve waste diversion outcomes.


+ Support event composting programs, as requested by GWU, and collaborate with GWU on the expansion and scaling of composting services across all locations.


Waste Program Management & Operations


+ Oversee daily and long-term operation of campus waste systems, including recycling, composting, surplus property, donation, and specialty recycling programs.


+ Manage vendor relationships and contracts with waste haulers, recycling processors, composting facilities, and reuse partners.


+ Partner with Dining Services, Housing & Residential Life, Events, and Procurement to reduce single-use materials and packaging.


+ Support zero-waste events and campus-wide material reduction initiatives.


Compliance, Data & Reporting


+ Ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal waste-related regulations, including solid and universal waste requirements.


+ Track waste generation, diversion rates, and program outcomes; maintain accurate data systems and dashboards.


+ Prepare reports for senior leadership, trustees, donors, and external frameworks such as AASHE STARS or sustainability disclosures aligned with private institutional benchmarks.


Campus Engagement & Education


+ Design and deliver education and outreach programs for students, faculty, and staff focused on correct sorting, waste reduction, and responsible consumption.


+ Develop clear signage, standards, and communications to ensure consistency across academic, residential, and administrative spaces.


+ Collaborate with student organizations and academic departments to support experiential learning, internships, and research related to waste and materials.


+ Train staff on sustainable landscaping practices at onboarding and regularly thereafter.


+ Collaborate with GWU offices, academic programs, and student organizations on sustainability initiatives, including environmental justice efforts.


+ Support living lab projects, research, and applied sustainability initiatives.


+ Assist with installation of educational signage for sustainable landscape features.


Planning & CrossCampus Collaboration


+ Serve as the university’s subject‑matter expert on waste management, circular economy practices, and sustainable materials.


+ Contribute to institutional policies related to procurement, events, move‑outs, renovations, and campus standards with a focus on waste prevention.


+ Represent the university in external sustainability networks, professional organizations, and peer collaborations.


Green Cleaning Policy & Procurement


+ Support implementation of Green Cleaning Policy aligned with contract requirements.


+ Oversee procurement of cost-effective, high-quality cleaning products that meet GWU sustainability standards.


+ Provide the Office of Sustainability with regular reports on purchased cleaning materials to support product evaluation, pilots, and adoption of sustainable alternatives.


+ Maintain documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for green cleaning practices; provide upon request.


+ Track and maintain staff training records on green cleaning and environmental compliance; provide upon request.


+ Partner with GWU to establish baselines, KPIs, and continuous improvement strategies for green cleaning outcomes.


Water & Irrigation Management


+ Optimize irrigation schedules, avoiding watering during/after rainfall, and reducing evaporation.


+ Monitor irrigation systems, identify deficiencies, and coordinate repairs with GWU stakeholders.


+ Identify opportunities for more efficient irrigation; support planning and implementation.


Landscape Practices & Chemical Use


+ Maintain and annually update tree/plant inventory maps; submit updates to GWU and the Office of Sustainability.


+ Advise on minimizing chemical inputs; prioritize least-toxic, environmentally preferred herbicides and fertilizers.


+ Support utilization of organic treatment methods whenever practicable.


+ Maintain transparent chemical use records; provide to GWU upon request.


+ Clear debris from stormwater infrastructure to support drainage and compliance.


+ Compost green waste (leaves, grass, trimmings) and reuse organic materials (e.g., mulch, chipped wood) on site when feasible.


+ Limit plastic use in landscaping operations and support GWU’s single-use plastic reduction goals.


+ Maintain designated sustainable landscape sites (e.g., Sq80) according to design intent.


+ Research and support transition to electric or low-emission landscaping equipment where feasible.


+ Coordinate waste and litter collection across grounds in alignment with custodial services.


Qualifications


+ Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or related field


+ 3-5 years of proven experience in waste management, facility operations, sustainability, or related fields


+ Demonstrated experience managing vendors, contracts, and multi-departmental programs.


+ Strong analytical skills for sustainability metrics


+ Excellent communication skills to engage internal and external stakeholders


+ Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines


+ Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS


+ Certification in sustainability (e.g., LEED Accredited Professional (AP), ISO 14001)


+ Experience with AASHE STARS, zero-waste certifications, or sustainability reporting for private institutions.


+ Familiarity with sustainable purchasing, reuse systems, and circular economy projects


+ Knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, and standards


Key Responsibilities


REQNUMBER: 158146
ABM is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer qualified applicants without regard race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran or any other protected factor under federal, state, or local law. ABM is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance in completing the employment application, please call 888-328-8606. We will provide you with assistance and make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

About the Company

A

ABM Industries

ABM offers a wide variety of service-related positions, including electricians, HVAC technicians, security officers, parking attendants, and cleaning jobs. ABM cares about your success.

We provide training so that you learn new job skills and take pride in the quality service you're giving to clients. You'll look like the trained professional you are when you wear a ABM uniform.For your health and safety, we use non-toxic cleaning products and up-to-date equipment.

Our internal training program focuses on teaching you the skills and processes that have helped many of our employees starting out as a janitor, cashier, security officer or building engineer grow into various management roles throughout the company. These jobs aren't your everyday at ABM; they are careers.

Thousands of commercial, industrial, government and retail clients look to ABM for consistent quality service that meets their specialized facility service needs including commercial cleaning and maintenance, facility engineering, energy efficiency, parking and security services.

With fiscal 2011 revenues of approximately $4.2 billion and nearly 100,000 employees, our 300+ offices across the U.S. and various international locales enable us to provide custom facility solutions to sites of all sizes — from neighborhood banks and schools to the largest and most complex facilities, such as corporate office parks and major airports.

With more than 300+ offices located throughout the country, we are always accepting applications for janitorial maintenance, landscaping gardeners, security guards, parking attendants, shuttle drivers and building engineers.

ABM IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER (MINORITY/FEMALE/VETERAN/DISABILITY)

COMPANY SIZE
10,000 employees or more
INDUSTRY
Business Services - Other
FOUNDED
1909
WEBSITE
http://www.abm.com/