Senior Analyst - National Characterization

Role Overview

The National Senior Characterization Analyst provides leadership for the acquisition, stewardship, analysis, and reporting of material characterization data across CAA states. This role establishes and maintains national standards for data quality, consistency, and comparability, ensuring characterization datasets support organizational reporting, strategic planning, and program evaluation. As the primary authority on characterization data governance, the position oversees the integrity and long-term usability of data generated through CAA characterization studies. The Senior Analyst will be on the Collection & Processing team within the Material Services department of Program Planning and Operations (PPO), which also includes Data & Analytics, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs, and Emerging States.

This position leads the development and maintenance of sort category frameworks across states, including the alignment of study-specific sort categories with state reporting requirements. The role evaluates waste characterization studies conducted by states and local jurisdictions to assess methodological alignment and opportunities for integration into CAA programs. The National Senior Characterization Analyst provides strategic oversight and guidance to CAA state teams to address data quality concerns, promote standardized practices, and ensure consistency with both national objectives and state-specific requirements.

In partnership with the CAA Data & Analytics team, this role oversees the integration of characterization data into enterprise data structures and analytical frameworks, ensuring data assets effectively support organizational reporting and decision-making needs. The position is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and continuously improving standard operating procedures related to data intake, quality assurance and quality control, data management, and long-term data governance, reinforcing accountability, consistency, and data integrity across characterization programs.

Key Responsibilities

Data Intake & Management

- Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of processes governing the intake and integration of waste characterization datasets, including new studies, legacy datasets, third-party data, and state-generated studies.

- Oversee data quality assurance activities, including the standardization, validation, and preparation of characterization data for incorporation into CAA systems and analytical platforms.

- Establish and maintain standards for metadata management, documentation, dataset assumptions, and version control to ensure transparency, consistency, and long-term data integrity.

Category Definitions & Study Alignment

- Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of national sort category frameworks, ensuring consistent application across CAA programs, state initiatives, and pilot studies.

- Provide oversight of category mapping methodologies, addressing state-specific reporting requirements, category discrepancies, and study-level variations to maintain data comparability and analytical consistency.

- Evaluate state and local waste characterization studies to assess methodological alignment, data suitability, and opportunities for integration into CAA characterization programs and reporting efforts.

Analysis, Metrics, and Reporting

- Provide leadership for the development and application of analytical methodologies used to calculate key CAA performance metrics, including contamination, capture, and recycling rates, leveraging validated characterization datasets.

- Direct comparative and trend analyses to identify emerging patterns, support cross-state benchmarking, and inform programmatic decision-making.

- Oversee the development of analytical summaries, data visualizations, and reporting deliverables that support internal stakeholders, strategic initiatives, and external reporting requirements.

QA/QC, Systems Coordinati