Senior Associate, Data Strategy (Advisory Services)

I. Job Summary
 

WM is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Associate of Data Strategy to join our sustainability consultancy team. The ideal candidate will possess a robust understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and relevant standards and frameworks, complemented by advanced data management expertise. This includes designing and implementing processes and controls to ensure data integrity, conducting rigorous quality checks, and performing audits to validate compliance and accuracy. Strong skills in data analysis, visualization, and communication are essential, as well as experience in building scalable systems for monitoring and reporting. 

This role offers an opportunity to drive impactful sustainability strategies through disciplined data governance, actionable insights, and innovative approaches. 

II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
 

• Build on established data quality standards to design and implement processes and controls to ensure data integrity, conducting rigorous quality checks, and performing audits to validate compliance and accuracy.
• Perform data audits to identify inconsistencies, anomalies, and opportunities to improve data applicability. 
• Document data flows, business rules, and technical definitions to ensure data lineage and transparency.
• Create and deliver structured training programs for internal teams on how to manage, interpret, and effectively utilize data and dashboards.
• Stay up-to-date with evolving standards, regulations, and best practices in data management, GHG accounting, sustainability reporting, including the COSO Internal Control over Sustainability Reporting standards.
• Utilize WM data platform to manage GHG emissions data, create dashboards, and train internal users and clients on optimizing platform value.
• Lead and support GHG accounting projects, ensuring alignment with recognized standards such as the GHG Protocol, ISO 14064, and other relevant frameworks.
• Develop, analyze, and interpret large datasets related to environmental impacts and sustainability metrics.
• Create compelling data visualizations and presentations that clearly communicate insights to clients and stakeholders.
• Translate complex GHG inventory data and sustainability impact metrics into clear, actionable insights for customers, ensuring information is presented in frameworks and language that resonate with senior leadership and drive informed decision-making.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to assess organizational structures, benchmark environmental impacts, and integrate data-driven solutions into tangible client sustainability initiatives.
• Adhere to project schedules, maintain multiple concurrent projects, and deliver high-quality outputs on time; analyze data sets and prepare reports and presentations tailored to customer needs.
• Engage with customers to understand their sustainability ambitions and strategic context; advise on targets, improvement levers, and implementation strategies to achieve goals.
• Collaborate with project teams to develop decarbonization plans, impact inventories, training resources, and stakeholder engagement tools.
• Manage materials and environmental impact measurement protocols across projects, ensuring consistent use of tools and emissions management software; verify that data collection and reporting meet WM standards and accepted GHG calculation methodologies.
• Support training of Associates and Analysts on WM project management processes and institutional project knowledge.
• Support project renewal processes and customer engagement for new opportunities; assist with proposal development, including budgets and consulting deliverables.
• Integrate environmental justice priorities into program development and align projects with leading frameworks (e.g., CDP, ISSB, SBTi).
• Monitor external market trends and internal strategies to optimize WM service offerings and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Ensure compliance with client and regulatory requirements during assessments and program implementation; promote a culture of safety across all activities.
• Identify sustainability success stories within assigned project portfolio and share consolidated metrics and case studies with manager.
• This job has no formal people management responsibilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

III. Qualifications

A. Education and Experience

Education: Bachelor's Degree (accredited) in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, Business or related field; High School Diploma or GED (accredited) and four years of relevant experience

Experience: 

• 4 years of relevant work experience in project/business management (in addition to education requirement) and Environmental or services industry experience required.
• Experience working in sports venues and event operations strongly preferred.
• Direct experience covering organizational sustainability strategy development in the sports and entertainment industry, demonstrated by track record of advising on ambitions, targets, and programs strongly preferred.
• Experience managing sustainability project with on site logistics support preferred.
• Experience managing material minimization and diversion programs, supply chain analyses, and sustainable material management planning preferred.

WM (WM.com) is North America's leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, medical and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them pursue their sustainability goals. WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet in North America, is the largest recycler of post‑consumer materials and is a leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gas‑to‑electricity plants in North America. WM’s fleet includes more than 12,000 natural gas trucks – the largest heavy‑duty natural gas truck fleet in the industry in North America. Healthcare Solutions provides collection and disposal services of regulated medical waste, as well as secure information destruction services, in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. To learn more about WM and the company’s sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.

Equal Employment Opportunity

For United States:  WM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

For Canada:  WM is committed to the principle of equal employment for all applicants and employees, without discrimination on the basis of all grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please notify us if you require accommodation.

Real ID

In order to travel by air or access federal property, federal law requires individuals have a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative. This position may require the successful candidate to travel by air for business reasons or service federal property. Accordingly, successful candidates must have, or be willing to obtain, a REAL ID or TSA‑approved alternative.