Circular Economy Specialist

Job Title: Circular Economy Strategist The Senior Advisor is responsible for the success of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste program in-country. This role oversees all stakeholders, including government entities, DFIs, industry partners, and implementing organizations. The Senior Advisor manages AEPW staff, consultants, and contractors to ensure programs are delivered safely, efficiently, and with measurable impact. This position requires a strategic representative of AEPW to external stakeholders and an operational manager ensuring contract compliance, impact reporting, and staff performance. Key Responsibilities include: 1. Program Strategy & Alignment Develop, maintain, and execute a comprehensive country strategy aligned with AEPW's global Strategy 2030. Ensure projects drive system-level transformation with integrated waste infrastructure, EPR alignment, and circular economy enablers. Identify opportunities for replication and scaling across the country and region. Anticipate regulatory, political, and market shifts that may affect the program; adapt strategy proactively. 2. Stakeholder Engagement & Representation Work closely with AEPW Members and facilitate stakeholder engagement relative to the Country Program Implementation. Serve as AEPW's senior representative in-country, maintaining strong relationships with local and national government ministries, regulators, and municipalities, as well as industry stakeholders and civil society groups. Represent AEPW in policy dialogues, conferences, and industry roundtables, ensuring the organization is seen as a co-creator of solutions. 3. Project Development & Execution Oversight Guide development of new projects to ensure alignment with program objectives and system-change principles. Review and approve project proposals prior to submission to the Portfolio Management Committee / Governing Council. Oversee in-country execution teams and implementing partners to ensure adherence to AEPW's global standards. 4. Contract Compliance & Risk Management Ensure all projects adhere to the terms of their contracts, including milestones, disbursement conditions, reporting obligations, and safeguard actions. Maintain a country-level risk register and escalate risks to the Central Risk team. 5. Financial Structuring & Oversight Collaborate with Impact Finance to co-structure deals with DFIs, private investors, and corporate co-funders. Monitor financial performance of all projects, including repayment obligations. 6. Impact Measurement & Reporting Ensure all projects deliver on AEPW's impact metrics, including plastic waste collected, sorted, and valorized, access to waste management, jobs created, safety performance, etc. Facilitate external audits, evaluations, and lessons-learned reviews. 7. People Leadership & Team Development Lead, mentor, and manage all AEPW employees and consultants in-country. Foster a culture of compliance, transparency, and impact delivery. Requirements / Qualifications To be successful in this role, you should have: An advanced degree in business, engineering, public policy, or a related field. Minimum 20+ years' experience in senior leadership roles within infrastructure, development, or circular economy sectors. Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs with government, DFIs, corporates, and NGOs. Strong contract management, compliance, and risk oversight skills. Demonstrated financial acumen in structuring and monitoring large-scale projects. Excellent communication, negotiation, and diplomatic skills. High integrity, resilience under pressure, and ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational management.