Reuse Specialist

Job Summary:

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a Reuse Specialist to join its Auxiliary Services group. This is an inaugural position aimed to inspire creativity, conservation, and community engagement through thoughtful reuse programs and activism. 

The Reuse Specialist will recommend process improvements to divert items from landfill, while reducing the need for new purchases for the campus and students. They will actively foster a team setting, with keen attention to the diverse needs of student body, pedagogical practice and the greater providence arts community, as well as oversee student staff. While actively participating in short-, mid- and long-range planning to assure that emerging trends are reflected in services provided, they will communicate with students, faculty, and staff regarding services and acquire feedback to gauge successes and challenges. This position also promotes and educates campus on program offerings, cultivating relationships and collaborations with the RI arts community.

The successful candidate will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

Essential Functions/Duties:

• Responsible for the day to day administrative work associated with operating the 2nd Life Exchange including creating and disseminating both online and print promotions and communications, staffing students and volunteers, and providing input to the development of existing organization policies and procedures, inventory management, financial tracking, and communication. Regularly coordinates with the stores on inventory management and public sales. 

• Leads the Campus furniture and equipment reuse program. Maintains website content used to inform and engage the campus community on reuse programs. Monitors and responds to inquiries regarding reuse of campus items. Approves reuse requests. Collaborates with Facilities and Warehouse teams on the storing and distribution of available items in inventory. Is the primary contact for third party vendors associated with surplus, in support of creative reuse. 

• Proactively engage with and serve as a resource to faculty and staff to integrate reuse and reduce education and practices into studio environment, as appropriate. Promote RISD’s reuse programs, goals, challenges, and accomplishments to a wide range of constituencies through personal contact, the website, discussions with students, faculty, and staff, and others. Liaise with campus partners; Facilities, Environmental Health & Safety, Dining Services, Student Affairs (clubs), Procurement and Center for Community Partnerships.  Maintains and establishes new relationships with like-minded organizations within the Providence community to support programs that support art and design.

• Oversee FLIPS collection promotion, communications and associated sales. Coordinates distribution of nonsale related items and donation programs associated with collection. Leads the FLIPS committee, coordinates volunteers, oversees schedule, marketing and arranging campus partner support needed.  Tracks results of collection, sale and donations. 

• Hires, trains, schedules and manages a team of student staff that support re-use core enterprises. Assigns and follows up on daily work assignments. Facilitates professional development to ensure the team is up to date on all reuse and sustainable best practices. 

• Ensures that Re-use enterprises are responsive to customers’ wants and needs. Communicates with the team and community on a regular basis to ensure readiness to meet the needs of the RISD community.  Actively gathers feedback and data and takes action to improve programs. Aid guests and students with special requests. Provides prompt, efficient, and personalized assistance to address the issues and concerns of customers. Effectively communicates with constituency, both interpersonally or in written, verbal, nonverbal and audible. Uses all available industry resources to stay abreast of the best practices in reuse and recycling. 

• Maintains digital database of reuse movement. Generates and analyzes system reports and data to track outcomes and make operational decisions based on resultant data. Uses data to implement operational efficiency. Prepares yearly operational & budget reports for the Executive Director of Auxiliaries. 

Additional Functions/Duties:

• Assists with tasks related to the operation of the Student Food Pantry. 

• Performs related duties as required by immediate supervisor.

• Safely drive RISD vehicles to transport items throughout and off-campus. 

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience:

• The ideal candidate will have a background in sustainability, working with artists, and customer service.

• Must demonstrate a strong grasp of sustainability terms and concepts.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a high-impact, deadline-oriented environment where a high degree of professionalism, organization, initiative, attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously is required.

• Proven ability to adapt to changing needs of an evolving office and to effectively troubleshoot, delegate and problem-solve with colleagues to address emerging issues.

• Must be able to communicate effectively in oral and written formats with multiple diverse populations including faculty, staff, students, and external constituents.

• Ability to engage across a wide variety of individual differences and identities through meaningful interactions characterized by respect, mutual understanding, and reciprocity.

• A positive attitude and the ability to relate well to diverse populations and to help foster an inclusive community environment.Must be able to work effectively both independently and in a team setting.

• High level of functionality in the use of Microsoft Office and Google Suite. Proficiency in Adobe graphic design software and tools, Apple systems, and a variety of social media platforms preferred. 

• Must possess a valid Rhode Island driver's license. Forklift certification preferred, willingness to train. 

• Associate's degree required, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead, guide, and mentor others. Prior supervisory preferred. 

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

To learn more about us, please visit these links: 

https://www.risd.edu

https://hr.risd.edu/