What does a waste management specialist do?
A waste management specialist designs and manages waste reduction and reclamation projects. They work with government officials to ensure that waste management goes smoothly. They ensure the implementation of waste management and evaluate a waste management program's success. This position requires a university degree or a recognized training certificate.
Waste management specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real waste management specialist resumes:
- Manage the storage and disposal of CERCLA and RCRA hazardous and radioactive waste/materials.
- Conduct research using online federal regulations, review Medicare and Medicaid policy and guidelines to complete an accurate and well-support decision.
- Develop retro-futuristic,``Jetsons"inspire environment concepts in Photoshop.
Waste management specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Waste Management Specialists are proficient in EPA, RCRA, and OSHA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Imagination, Reading skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Waste Management Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- EPA, 9%
Review NRC DOT EPA TCEQ documents for shipments for burial at our 3 facilities.
- RCRA, 9%
Ensured compliance with all provisions of the RCRA Part relating to the operation of the Coors treatment storage and disposal facility.
- OSHA, 7%
Followed all hazardous waste OSHA safety and Health regulations.
- DOE, 7%
Asked by USEPA and DOE to set up a site sampling information database.
- Hazardous Waste Management, 6%
Assist other demilitarization sites with environmental compliance and hazardous waste management for special projects.
- Hazardous Materials, 6%
Conducted investigation of employee complaints and concerns on hazardous materials.
Common skills that a waste management specialist uses to do their job include "epa," "rcra," and "osha." You can find details on the most important waste management specialist responsibilities below.
Imagination. The most essential soft skill for a waste management specialist to carry out their responsibilities is imagination. This skill is important for the role because "environmental engineers sometimes have to design systems that will be part of larger ones." Additionally, a waste management specialist resume shows how their duties depend on imagination: "conducted routine regulatory and inventory audits on bulk containers in the fhr waste management units and implemented corrective actions when necessary. "
Reading skills. Another essential skill to perform waste management specialist duties is reading skills. Waste management specialists responsibilities require that "environmental engineers often work with businesspeople, lawyers, and other professionals outside their field." Waste management specialists also use reading skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "ensured accurate reading and results for proper patient care. "
Interpersonal skills. waste management specialists are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to waste management specialist responsibilities, because "environmental engineers must work with others toward a common goal." A waste management specialist resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "developed lasting client relationships by applying effective communication and interpersonal skills in resolving problems and responding to customer inquiries. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain waste management specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a waste management specialist rely on this skill, as "when designing facilities and processes, environmental engineers strive to solve several issues at once, from workers’ safety to environmental protection." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what waste management specialists do: "generated waste profiles for energy solutions utah for each sec projects. "
Writing skills. A commonly-found skill in waste management specialist job descriptions, "writing skills" is essential to what waste management specialists do. Waste management specialist responsibilities rely on this skill because "environmental engineers must write clearly so that others without their specific training can understand their documents, including plans, proposals, specifications, and findings, among others." You can also see how waste management specialist duties rely on writing skills in this resume example: "assisted with geotechnical proposal and report writing. "
The three companies that hire the most waste management specialists are:
- CDM Smith107 waste management specialists jobs
- Valet Living46 waste management specialists jobs
- Bank of America5 waste management specialists jobs
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Waste management specialist vs. Engineering project coordinator
An engineering project coordinator works with project managers and specialists to ensure that all aspects of the project are carried out and cared for. They make sure that work is done according to schedule, the staff is doing their job per timeframe, the budget is allocated for, and expenditures are accounted for. They must also have good communication skills to report to stakeholders and heads proficiently. They are also involved in project meetings and propose improvements.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, waste management specialist responsibilities require skills like "epa," "rcra," "osha," and "doe." Meanwhile a typical engineering project coordinator has skills in areas such as "project management," "shop drawings," "powerpoint," and "project documentation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Engineering project coordinators tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $100,848. In contrast, waste management specialists make the biggest average salary, $79,835, in the energy industry.The education levels that engineering project coordinators earn slightly differ from waste management specialists. In particular, engineering project coordinators are 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a waste management specialist. Additionally, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Waste management specialist vs. Engineering coordinator
An engineering coordinator organizes and oversees engineering projects. They typically perform administrative support tasks such as conducting extensive research and analysis, arranging schedules with clients, handling calls and correspondence, liaising with internal and external parties, reviewing contracts and other documentation, and managing the flow of documents and information across different teams. They may also participate in the planning, designing, and developing stages of projects. Moreover, as an engineering coordinator, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with different departments while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real waste management specialist resumes. While waste management specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "epa," "rcra," "osha," and "doe," engineering coordinators use skills like "purchase orders," "project management," "continuous improvement," and "digital marketing."
On average, engineering coordinators earn a lower salary than waste management specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, engineering coordinators earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $62,970. Whereas waste management specialists have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $79,835.In general, engineering coordinators achieve similar levels of education than waste management specialists. They're 2.7% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Waste management specialist vs. Environmental engineering internship
An environmental engineering intern is someone who provides environmental compliance. Environmental engineering interns assist environmental program administrators. They conduct surveys or studies for the completion of documents. It is their duty to help in the development and rehabilitation of monitoring wells to ensure productive water samples. They collect and compile data to establish a water-management plan on a state level. Also, they perform evaluations, establish and validate procedures, and improve record keeping.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from waste management specialist resumes include skills like "doe," "hazardous waste management," "waste disposal," and "waste streams," whereas an environmental engineering internship is more likely to list skills in "gis," "powerpoint," "environmental intern," and "data collection. "
Environmental engineering interns make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $45,430. On the other hand, waste management specialists are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $79,835.When it comes to education, environmental engineering interns tend to earn similar degree levels compared to waste management specialists. In fact, they're 2.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Waste management specialist vs. Environmental program manager
An environmental program manager monitors the procedures facilities and organizations perform and advises them on how to minimize their impact on the environment. They are responsible for implementing environmental strategies to decrease damage to the environment. They also check on reports and evaluate them for issues and concerns that might need immediate attention. They monitor every facility's compliance and supervise revocation of permits of facilities that cannot follow environmental safety standards.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between waste management specialists and environmental program managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a waste management specialist might have more use for skills like "hazardous waste management," "waste disposal," "waste streams," and "radioactive waste." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of environmental program managers require skills like "environmental health," "ehs," "project management," and "regulatory agencies. "
Environmental program managers enjoy the best pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $75,286. For comparison, waste management specialists earn the highest salary in the energy industry.The average resume of environmental program managers showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to waste management specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 15.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.5%.Types of waste management specialist
Updated January 8, 2025











