What are the responsibilities and job description for the Outreach Field Specialist position at wasteconnections?
West Valley Recycles, a Waste Connections company, is looking for a full time Outreach Field Specialist to join our team in San Jose, CA. The Outreach Field Specialist plays a key role in supporting West Valley's commercial and multi-family diversion goals by engaging directly with customers in the field. This individual will focus on customer education, contamination reduction, and site-level service assessments. This is a growth-oriented role ideal for a go-getter who’s eager to learn the industry, contribute to sustainable outcomes, and take on increasing responsibility over time Starting wage $40.50 per hour, with opportunities for growth and advancement within the company. Being out in the field is expected about 90% of the time. The schedule will depend on the season, but will be daytime Monday through Friday. Essential Duties and Responsibilities To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. Conducts in-person visits to commercial and multi-family properties to provide education on proper recycling and organics separation. Identifies and reports contamination, overflow, and improper set-out issues in the field; provides customer guidance or recommends operational changes. Completes data collection and documentation from field visits using company software or mobile devices. Communicates with site contacts to ensure understanding of local and state recycling mandates (e.g., SB 1383, AB 341, AB 1826). Supports outreach campaigns by delivering materials, posting signage, and conducting follow-ups. Works closely with operations, customer service, and education teams to support cohesive customer experience and service optimization. Builds positive relationships with customers and community members through professional, respectful, and solutions-oriented interactions. Attends and assists with community events, site audits, and workshops as needed. Follows all company safety protocols and maintains field readiness, including proper use of PPE. Other duties as assigned. Physical Demands / Work Environment Frequently required to walk, stand, and carry outreach materials outdoors in various weather conditions. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and navigate apartment complexes, parking lots, and business centers. Comfortable working independently in the field for extended periods. Ability to drive daily to customer locations throughout the West Valley service area (mileage reimbursed if using personal vehicle). Preferred Qualifications 1 year experience in customer service, education, environmental outreach, or field work. Bilingual preferred. Strong verbal communication skills with the ability to engage respectfully and effectively with diverse communities. Highly self-motivated and dependable with strong organizational and time-management skills. Comfortable learning and using mobile apps, Microsoft Office Suite, and/or Salesforce platforms. Education / Experience High school diploma or GED required. Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Communication, Public Policy, or related field preferred—but not required if candidate has relevant experience. Why Join Us? This is more than just a job, it’s a steppingstone to a growing, mission-driven industry. As part of the West Valley outreach team, you’ll help shape the future of waste reduction and resource recovery in your community. You’ll have the chance to grow your skills, make an impact, and learn alongside a team that’s passionate about doing good work (and having fun while doing it). We offer excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending account, long term & short term disability, life insurance, 401K retirement and unlimited opportunities to "Connect with Your Future". Waste Connections is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability or protected veteran status. Waste Connections is an integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly exclusive and secondary markets. Our goal is to create an environment where self-directed, empowered employees strive to consistently fulfill our constituent commitments and seek to create positive impacts through interactions with customers, communities, and fellow employees. OUR PEOPLE MEAN EVERYTHING TO US Waste Connections is always working to protect the health of the communities we serve, and we are grateful for the hard work and dedication that you bring to your job every day. Working here means you are a safety-minded individual who is making important contributions on a daily basis that will make a positive impact on those around you. We appreciate that you are a person of integrity who takes pride in the work you do. Our Opportunities BUILD TALENT FROM WITHIN People who want to gain valuable professional experience will find that Waste Connections is a fantastic place to work. You’ll enjoy the opportunity for beneficial training and professional development opportunities that can help enhance your skills and lead the way to a more promising future. LET’S REALIZE YOUR GOALS TOGETHER Bring your passion to succeed and you’ll quickly discover that great opportunities are all around you. At Waste Connections, you’ll thrive if you are friendly, dedicated, and prefer a work hard/play hard culture that is focused on maintaining our reputation as the premier waste services company in the markets we serve. Bring your passion to succeed and you’ll quickly discover that great opportunities and people are all around you. We operate a highly decentralized structure, so we look for energetic individuals who can demonstrate individual initiative and creativity and prefer a work hard/play hard team environment and culture. At Waste Connections, diversity and inclusion are essential to our success. We hire and empower great, capable people from a wide variety of backgrounds and lead with our values. For more than 20 years, we have maintained a culture of safety, integrity and service to build a great place to work. Our culture is built on taking care of each other and the communities we serve.