Join Our Team for UM Zero Waste Week 2025!

Thank you for your interest in joining the UM Zero Waste Week Team! In order to be eligible to join the Zero Waste Project team, you must first apply and receive an acceptance to our partner organization, ECO-UM.

What is ECO-UM? 

The Environmental Consulting Organization (ECO) is a sustainability focused consulting group at the University of Michigan. They conduct both business and political consulting for a variety of organizations, including zero-waste nonprofits, local restaurants, start-ups, solutions-groups, and several others. As part of ECO-UM you will gain hands-on experience, professional development, networking opportunities, and have the opportunity to work with passionate, sustainability-minded people with diverse backgrounds! 

Recruitment Process and Applications

Meet ECO-UM team member and ask them any questions you have about the organization and the application process at any of the following recruitment events:  

• Festifall: TODAY 2:30-5:30pm – Table D16
• Mass Meeting 1 [VIRTUAL] : Friday, September 6, 5-6pm
• Mass Meeting 2: Sunday, September 8, 2-3pm in NQ 2255
• Speed Dating: Tuesday, September 10, 6:00 – 7:45pm; Location TBA
• CYOA: Thursday, September 12 6:00 – 8:00 pm;  Location TBA 

Applications to ECO-UM will open in early September and are due on September 15th. Interviews will begin on September 18th. In the meantime please fill out the ECO-UM interest form, and they’ll notify you when the application opens.

Project Description:

Zero Waste Week (ZWW) is a large-scale zero-waste education program for educational institutions and municipalities — a way to introduce people to a zero-waste lifestyle – organized by Sam and Lydia, the co-founders of ZeroWaste.Org. The challenge is designed to help people become waste conscious and think about specific actions to mitigate waste production. The goal for this event is to help people realize that living zero waste—while initially challenging—is manageably difficult. The challenge has been run numerous times already at UMich and other universities. The ZWW program has been specifically designed to help expand the idea of a zero-waste lifestyle and give people the resources they need to take it forward beyond just a week. During ZWW students and faculty will be going zero waste and support businesses that take part in a circular economy (rent, reuse, repair). Additionally, there will be daily emails – which give participants more in-depth resources and information about the theme of the day –  and events that provide insight on different (and fun) ways to engage with zero waste.

Essentially, as a member of this team you will be planning the 2024 – 2025 Zero Waste Week (ZWW) challenge, analyzing the current ZWW challenge outline to improve aspects of the challenge based on past years, conduct research to improve marketing strategies and engagement, network with on-campus & community partners, manage finances and coordinate a budget, connect with businesses for sponsorships and prizes, apply for grants to fund the project, and much more! This is a great opportunity to collaborate with other sustainability groups on campus, learn more about zero waste and educational initiatives, and work with a non-profit.

Project Deliverables: 

Analyze the past challenges to improve the project, conduct a market analysis to optimize the marketing outreach, increase participation at the events and challenge, coordinate 3-5 events, reach the target participant (3% of student body), work with the client to determine SMART goals, and more!

Roles:

Project Manager

As a student leader, you have a crucial role in hosting and organizing this event at your university. We rely on your dedication, passion, and organizational skills to drive the success of the zero-waste event. We expect you to be committed to the values of sustainability and environmental responsibility, actively engage with the organizing team, and serve as an ambassador for the event on your campus. Your enthusiasm and leadership will inspire others to participate and contribute to our collective goal of fostering a sustainable future.

Required skills for Recruitment of Position: As the leader and organizer of the ZW Challenge, several skills – communication, organization, ability to delegate, and development of team culture – will be vital to the success of the project. In addition to this, the candidate should be enthusiastic and foster a greater team spirit that will aid in the momentum of the challenge. 

Outreach and Marketing Coordinator(s): 

This role has two chairs that largely focus on engaging with external stakeholders (businesses, organizations, and community members) to promote an event or initiative. The Outreach Coordinators are responsible for developing and implementing outreach strategies, building partnerships, coordinating outreach activities, and representing the organization or event in a positive and professional manner. The role will be separated into two positions, the first focusing on partnerships, and the second focusing on promotional and marketing outreach. Required skills for this position include familiarity with campus organizations, stakeholder mapping, proactive networking, and conducting market research to create a strong marketing campaign. 

Business Partnerships: 

The position will be primarily responsible for reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships (prizes) and event partnerships, and will be working with marketing to conduct stakeholder mapping and create a business spotlight for each partner (to be featured on Instagram). Likewise, conducting off-campus outreach to local businesses and potential speakers is vital to secure their collaboration and support for the event challenges. Thus, the Business Partnerships member will identify local businesses that align with the event’s objectives, such as those focused on sustainability, circular economy, or environmental initiatives. For this role, it is recommended that an individual has prior experience in networking, is familiar with the local business community, is organized, has consistent attention to emails, and is able to meet with clients as needed. 

Financial Advisor

This role focuses specifically on researching and applying for grants to support event funding as well as creating a model budget for the challenge. The Financial Advisor (FA) is responsible for identifying potential grant opportunities that align with the event’s objectives and requirements. They conduct thorough research to understand eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and funding priorities of various grant programs. The FA then prepares grant proposals, ensuring they are well-written, compelling, and aligned with the grant requirements. The FA will collaborate with each team member to gather necessary information on events, compile supporting documents, and create a persuasive case for funding. Upon securing funding, the financial advisor will monitor spending on events and work with the PM, as well as each team member, to stay on budget. Likewise, the FA will also follow through with completing payments and reimbursing costs. Individuals responsible for each event will consult the FA to ensure that there is adequate funding and resources for the event. Skills required for this role include (formal) writing, managing excel spreadsheets, conducting research, and a (basic) background in finance.

Social Media Coordinator:

The Social Media Coordinator is responsible for managing social media accounts, developing and implementing social media strategies, creating engaging content, monitoring analytics, and interacting with followers. They employ strategies to increase reach and engagement and collaborate with other team members to align social media efforts with the overall event goals. Additionally, they plan the email contents to be sent during the challenge week. The Social Media Coordinator plays a crucial role in building brand awareness, fostering online discussions, and driving participation in the event through various social media channels. This individual has experience in graphic design, running social media platforms (especially Instagram), and loves creative marketing!

Technology and Data Officer: 

This role focuses on leveraging technology to enhance the event’s digital presence and communication channels. The Technology Officer works closely with each team member to ensure seamless integration between the event logistics and the digital aspects. Specific tasks for this role include designing and creating the event website, ensuring an intuitive user experience, visually appealing design, and efficient functionality. They collaborate with team members to gather relevant information and content to be included on the website, such as event details, registration forms, schedules, speaker bios, and prizes. Additionally, they manage the email lists, implement email marketing campaigns with the marketing coordinator/social chair, and coordinate with each team member’s event to craft engaging and informative email communications to participants, stakeholders, and potential attendees. Additionally, they will also be responsible for designing a streamlined RSVP process for each event. Their role is pivotal in creating a professional and user-friendly digital experience for event attendees while supporting the overall event management process. We are looking for someone with expertise in data analysis, interest in marketing software & customer relationship management, communication skills, and design creativity.