Program Manager / Senior Program Manager , The Closed Loop Partners Center for the Circular Economy

Job Description

Job Description

At the crossroads of strategy consulting, packaging circularity, material science, and program delivery, this role leads dynamic projects for major corporate clients and technical partners. Ideal candidates bring management consulting or professional services experience, a technical understanding of the packaging and/or recycling sectors and a demonstrated ability to structure, deliver, and implement tangible outputs that drive real-world impact.

Location: In-office, New York City, NY

Salary Range: Compensation is commensurate with experience and finalized title.

Program Manager: $105,000 - $115,000

Senior Program Manager: $120,000 - $140,000

Target Start Date: Summer 2026

APPLY BY May 1st, 2026 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis)

About Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is dedicated to building the circular economy. The firm is comprised of three key businesses that create a platform for systems change: an innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; an investment group, Closed Loop Capital Management; and an operating group, Closed Loop Builders.

The Center for the Circular Economy

The Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy unites competitors and partners to tackle complex material challenges and implement systemic change to advance circularity.

Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp. For more information, please visit closedlooppartners.com.

About the Role

The Closed Loop Center seeks a Program Manager or Senior Program Manager to support initiatives dedicated to advancing the circular economy. Projects and initiatives vary and include managing multi-stakeholder initiatives to accelerate circularity solutions for QSR, CPG, industrial and retail clients.

This is a full-time position. Applicants will be required to start this position by July or August 2026. Outstanding candidates who require a later start date will be considered.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter. Due to the volume of applications only qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. Please do not contact Closed Loop Partners staff to request information or a pre-application meeting, or to follow up on your submitted application.

Responsibilities Include: Program Management and Strategy Execution

• Oversee and project‑manage high‑profile, multi‑stakeholder initiatives across diverse sectors, including packaging, recycling, material science, and broader circularity efforts.
• Transform goals into clear, actionable plans through critical thinking, iterative problem‑solving, and structured research planning.
• Draft multi-year initiative timelines and budgets; manage daily deadlines and tasks to ensure deliverables are on time, to the highest quality and within budget.
• Develop and execute program roadmaps and targets, including planning, resourcing, execution and stakeholder coordination.
• Prioritize and coordinate tasks across multiple workstreams, managing complex stakeholder relationships and adapting to evolving needs.
• Identify internal and external expertise needed for technically complex projects, leveraging in-house capacity and outsourced support effectively.
• Contribute to other Center special projects as needed.

Stakeholder and Relationship Management

• Serve as liaison with key stakeholders including brand owners, industry partners, subject matter experts, policy makers, and consultants, among others.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings and engagements, including setting objectives, managing deliverables, assigning responsibilities and ensuring strong coordination.
• Create project communication plans and lead stakeholder presentations and updates.
• Plan and facilitate multi-stakeholder workshops and roundtables to advance priorities and foster cross-sector collaboration.

Field Implementation, Technical Projects & Operations

• Lead the identification, scoping, and execution of in‑field and technical projects, including packaging and recycling pilots, end‑to‑end technical studies, and material validation testing.
• Coordinate cross‑functional stakeholders and vendor partners to ensure smooth, on‑time, and high‑quality delivery.
• Manage in‑market recycling and packaging circularity programs from design through implementation, including vendor oversight, data collection and analysis, troubleshooting, and reporting to internal and external stakeholders.

Research, Analysis & Thought Leadership

• Design and execute data collection strategies and technical research programs, developing analysis plans that leverage both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Conduct research with strong quality assurance, synthesize complex findings, and translate insights into actionable recommendations, implementation roadmaps, and compelling visual storytelling.
• Contribute to thought leadership initiatives that advance program priorities and share insights with internal teams, partners, and external audiences.

Policy & Regulatory Engagement

• Assess compliance requirements and identify regulatory risks that may affect program design, execution, or long-term viability, recommending mitigation strategies as needed.
• Leverage insights from in‑field implementations and research projects to evaluate emerging legislation and policy proposals.
• Partner with internal and external policy leads to translate regulatory developments (e.g., EPR laws) into clear program actions.

Additional Requirements

• Occasional travel as required.

Because our projects are dynamic and often span multiple disciplines, this role may involve a selection of the responsibilities listed above. We welcome candidates whose experience covers only part of these areas.

Required Qualifications

• Relevant experience within the following fields: Top-tier management consulting, waste management and recycling or packaging. Experience with material sciences, environmental policy, CPG, QSR or retail a plus.
  • Program Manager: 3-5 years relevant experience
  • Senior Program Manager: 4-7 years of relevant experience
• Bachelors Degree or higher
• Experience in leading high-profile client services projects
• Excellent storytelling and communication skills
• Ability to learn new subject matter areas quickly across a broad portfolio, including highly technical material topics
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills and ability to evaluate complex, multi-stakeholder challenges
• Comfort in ambiguity and creating structure in "white space"
• Strong writing and editing skills and experience in drafting concise and effective internal- and external-facing presentations (e.g., Word, PPT, XLS)
• Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail
• Experience in budget management
• Passion for sustainability and the circular economy
• A dynamic, enthusiastic professional who can take both initiative and direction
• A mission-driven team player who enjoys collaboration

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of recycling facility operations and material flows
• Familiarity with commodity and end‑market dynamics
• Understanding of material sciences as they relate to packaging and recyclability
• Awareness of downstream processing and end‑use considerations of different packaging types and recycling systems
• Understanding of evolving regulatory landscape (e.g., EPR, PCR mandates)
• Experience in managing in-field projects
• Experience in the retail, QSR, CPG, commodity, or recycling industry
• Experience in behavioral insights, consumer research, operations and/or supply chain logistics

The Closed Loop Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, or sex.

You must have US Work Authorization in order to be considered for any open Closed Loop Partners position.