Director - EPR Compliance

Role Overview

 The Director - EPR Compliance will be part of the National Program Operations Team and report to the VP of EPR Regulatory Compliance. This position will provide regulatory and technical guidance on the development and implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. The Director will play a key role in developing policies and proposals, preparing producer guidance, and maintaining reporting category definitions for covered materials under CAA’s approved program plan in each state where it is the approved PRO.

This role will oversee the development and maintenance of reporting and fee categories across multiple states and provide technical support to departments such as Producer Services, Data and Analytics, and Materials Management. The Director will also lead regulatory analysis efforts and support national harmonization initiatives to minimize administrative burdens on reporting producers.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and maintenance of material reporting categories, including definitions, examples and reporting guidance across states.
• Maintain state-specific reporting categories and ensure alignment with the national reporting framework.
• Support the development of reporting categories for new states where CAA becomes the approved PRO.
• Develop and maintain producer guidance materials and interpretive memorandums related to covered materials.
• Establish and document case histories for material definitions and track changes in interpretive guidance over time.
• Conduct regulatory analyses of covered materials, including product exemptions, exclusions, and alternative compliance pathways.
• Assist in developing tools for producer compliance reviews:
  • Conduct producer reporting reviews to ensure reporting accuracy.
  • Develop tools to assess product exemptions and compliance risks.
  • Identify under- or over-reporting trends in producer submissions.
• Provide recommendations to internal teams on best practices for end-of-life material management and recycling design.
• Participate in industry forums and regulatory discussions to enhance understanding of sustainable packaging design and materials management.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including:
  • Producer Services: Provide guidance on material reporting and regulatory interpretations.
  • Materials Services: Support material definition development and compositional analysis.
  • Data and Analytics: Contribute to the fee-setting process and eco-modulation criteria development.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to accuracy and compliance.
• Ability to lead and collaborate within cross-functional teams, including remote employees.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, adapting to CAA’s startup nature.

Qualifications

• Required Bachelor’s degree (ideally in public policy, sustainability, environmental science, materials science, or a related discipline). Master’s degree in related field is preferred.
• Required at least 10+ years of regulatory compliance, government relations, policy analysis, or operational experience in EPR program implementation or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of the packaging regulatory landscape, including labeling, transportation, and trade regulations.
• Experience with statutory and regulatory interpretation and compliance analysis.
• Minimum of 5 years of management experience.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.

Compensation & Other Information

• Location: Initially Fully Remote with potential for in-person
• Compensation: Competitive based on experience and skills, in accordance with applicable law. 
• Reports To: VP of EPR Regulatory Compliance

Circular Action Alliance is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you require accommodation as part of the application process, please contact careers@circularaction.org listed below.