Environmental Claims Program Associate

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is a nationally recognized neutral third-party certifier of environmental and food safety claims. Founded in 1984, SCS offers technical expertise in program areas including forestry, fisheries, flower production, sustainable agriculture, pesticide residue free and organic food certification, food safety inspection and certification, environmental claims certification, green building product certification, electric power environmental performance, and more.

The Environmental Claims Certification Program is a scientific program for independently verifying the accuracy of environmental claims on manufactured products, highlighting manufacturers' efforts to improve selected environmental attributes of their products.

Environmental Claims programs include Recycled Content, Biodegradable, Environmentally Preferable, Sustainable Choice, and Indoor Advantagecovering material efficiency, reduction of environmental impacts, improvement of social accountability, enhancement of product performance, and indoor air quality.  

We seek a highly organized professional to join our environmental certification team. This is a full-time hands-on position working with a small dedicated team of certification professionals. You will need to have some technical training as well as be an excellent communicator (written and oral) - both with the team and with our clients around the world.

Position Overview: 

The Environmental Claims Program Associate supports the Environmental Claims programs. The position requires working with clients who manufacture products and want to make environmental claims on these products.

You will be responsible for working with clients in a variety of ways: auditing manufacturing processes and supply chains, writing summary reports of those findings, providing technical assistance on certification standards and programmatic requirements, and offering some administrative support to the certification programs. The position offers a wide range of learning opportunities as well as the opportunity for some travel.

Responsibilities include: 

* Performance of certification audits both on-site and desk reviews, 
* Technical assistance: The successful candidate must be willing to learn the basic technical aspects of environmental certification requirements and be able to communicate them effectively with clients.
* Fundamental project management: Coordination of evaluation audits with clients in North America and other countries around the world. 
* Organization and continued maintenance of data management systems. 
* Support to the Program Manager in communicating with clients and consultants.
* Business and market development assistance. 
* Quality control (e.g., tracking developments of program requirements, and coordination of programmatic changes).
* Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

* Minimum B.S. or B.A. degree in a quantitative field, with a strong preference for Chemistry, Engineering, or Industrial Ecology. Preference will be given to a Masters degree, or significant relevant work experience. 
* Complete fluency in English, and experience that involves professional written communication; 
* Superlative organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize numerous tasks effectively;
* Solid experience with computers, including programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel, FileMaker, and database management;
* An abiding interest in sustainability, green building, materials use, indoor air quality, and related environmental issues;
* Strong customer service and teamwork skills;
* Initiative, good judgment, and ability to work independently under pressure in a changing environment;
* Must be willing to work regular business hours, five days per week in our Emeryville office;
* Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.