Technical Waste Management Expert – Consultant

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Germany.

📋 Description

• Evaluate and provide guidance on facility layouts, process flows, and equipment specifications for Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and pre-processing sites.

• Suggest enhancements to sorting, baling, and material densification processes to boost material value and minimize transport expenses.

• Offer insights on capacity planning in relation to projected waste volumes and growth in collection.

• Assist with technical due diligence during the establishment of facilities.

• Examine technical documentation, tenders, and equipment specifications submitted by local contractors and suppliers.

• Identify technical risks and recommend measures to mitigate them.

• Aid in the commissioning and initiation of facilities, including workflow design and operational procedures for staff.

• Advise on occupational health and safety standards pertinent to waste sorting and processing operations.

• Resolve operational bottlenecks as facilities increase throughput.

• Share best practices and lessons learned across operations in Indonesia, India, and Tanzania.

• Contribute to internal guidance documents and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as necessary.

• Address technical, operational, and economic inquiries from the project team and local partners on an ongoing basis.

• Provide continuous cross-site technical, operational, and economic support for collection, pre-processing, and recycling activities.

• Assist in the practical implementation and operational ramp-up of MRFs and pre-processing facilities.

⛳️ Requirements

• A degree in environmental engineering, waste management, chemical/process engineering, or a related field.

• Over 10 years of demonstrated, hands-on experience in designing, technically optimizing, and/or operationally ramping up solid waste management infrastructure.

• Experience should ideally encompass Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), plastics sorting and baling, or recycling pre-processing operations.

• Experience working in low- and middle-income country contexts, particularly in South/Southeast Asia and/or East Africa.

• Knowledge of both informal and formal waste collection systems.

• Understanding of occupational health and safety standards in waste operations.

• Experience in advising on or collaborating with development cooperation, grant-funded, or donor-financed projects is advantageous.

• Proficient in written and spoken English.

• Capability to work independently and communicate effectively with remote teams.

• Willingness to travel internationally if necessary.

• A CV that highlights relevant qualifications and at least 2–3 comparable past assignments.

• References with contact details for 1–2 previous clients for similar assignments.

• Verification of language skills and relevant certifications.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible allocation of 25 expert-days throughout the project duration (2026–2028).

• Opportunity for remote work.

• Potential for occasional site visits to Indonesia, India, and/or Tanzania as required.