Sector Expert – Circular Economy & Waste Infrastructure
Plastics Circularity Business (PCB) Programme
Location: Mumbai (preferred); open to Delhi-NCR |
Experience: 12+ years
Reporting to: Partner/Associate Partner, PCB
About Xynteo
Xynteo partners with businesses, governments and institutions to accelerate sustainable impact and value creation. Our Plastics Circularity Business (PCB) programme works with corporate and institutional partners – including Hindustan Unilever, NITI Aayog and the Aditya Birla Group – to build circular economy infrastructure and business models across India. This includes setting up and scaling Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), designing new circular business models, and strengthening engagement with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and the broader recycling ecosystem.
About the Role
We are looking for a Sector Expert to join the core PCB team as the programme's in-house circularity and waste-infrastructure specialist. This is a hands-on, senior advisory role: you will work directly with Xynteo's leadership team and with Implementation Partners (IPs) running MRF and waste-infrastructure projects on the ground (currently Trashonomy in Jaipur, Saahas in Gurugram, and Dalmia in Nashik), while also helping build the pipeline of new infrastructure projects and shaping how the programme engages with ULBs and the recycling ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
- Support Implementation Partners in strengthening the financial viability and operational stability of ongoing MRF and waste-infrastructure projects (Trashonomy Jaipur, Saahas Gurugram, Dalmia Nashik).
- Build and strengthen the pipeline of new infrastructure projects; provide technical due diligence inputs to inform investment decisions, including viability gap funding (VGF) and CAPEX asks.
- Drive successful go-live of Year 2 infrastructure projects by providing Implementation Partners with hands-on operational and strategic support.
- Support the design and implementation of the programme's annual Urban Local Body (ULB) engagement plan.
- Provide inputs into the design of new decentralised circular economy business models, and support the development of new strategic and funding partnerships as needed.
- Work closely with the Manager, Senior Consultant and Consultant on project design, coordination and reporting across existing and new infrastructure projects.
What We're Looking For
- 12+ years of experience in waste management, recycling or the circular economy, with hands-on experience in the design, set-up and day-to-day operations of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs).
- Direct experience owning and managing MRF P&Ls – comfortable with unit economics, cost structures, revenue models and the operational levers that drive financial viability of dry-waste processing facilities.
- Recognised domain expertise in circularity – plastics reverse supply chains, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), decentralised waste processing and recycling value chains.
- A strong, well-established network across the circularity and recycling ecosystem – recyclers, aggregators, waste-management social enterprises, EPR/PRO organisations, ULBs and State Pollution Control Boards.
- Experience partnering with corporates, ULBs and government bodies on circular economy programmes; prior exposure to organisations such as Saahas Zero Waste, The Circulate Initiative, Banyan Nation, Nepra or similar is highly valued.
- A track record of scaling operations, structuring partnerships and driving business development within the sector.
- Strong educational and professional pedigree – an engineering background (mechanical, environmental or related) with an advanced degree (MBA/MSc) preferred.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to operate independently within a small, senior, cross-functional advisory team.
- Willingness to travel extensively across project sites (Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Mumbai and other locations as the pipeline grows).
Location
This role is based in Mumbai. Candidates based in Delhi-NCR will also be considered. Regular travel to project sites across India is expected.
What We Offer
- A high-impact platform role at the forefront of India's sustainability and circular economy agenda
- Direct exposure to C-suite stakeholders across Xynteo's member and partner network
- An intellectually stimulating, collaborative team environment with significant autonomy
- Competitive contractor remuneration commensurate with experience
Skills Required
- 12+ years in waste management, recycling or circular economy with hands-on experience in designing, setting up and operating Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs).
- Direct experience owning and managing MRF P&Ls, understanding unit economics, cost structures, revenue models and operational levers for financial viability.
- Recognised domain expertise in circularity: plastics reverse supply chains, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), decentralised waste processing and recycling value chains.
- Strong, well-established network across recyclers, aggregators, waste-management social enterprises, EPR/PRO organisations, Urban Local Bodies and State Pollution Control Boards.
- Experience partnering with corporates, ULBs and government bodies on circular economy programmes and working with implementation partners on MRF projects.
- Track record of scaling operations, structuring partnerships and driving business development within the waste/circular economy sector.
- Experience providing technical due diligence inputs for investment decisions, including advising on viability gap funding (VGF) and CAPEX requirements.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills; ability to operate independently within a small, senior, cross-functional advisory team.
- Willingness to travel extensively across project sites in India (Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Mumbai and others).
- Engineering background (mechanical, environmental or related) and strong professional pedigree; advanced degree (MBA/MSc) preferred.
- Prior exposure to organisations such as Saahas Zero Waste, The Circulate Initiative, Banyan Nation, Nepra or similar stakeholder networks.
What We Do
Xynteo is a global, purpose-driven boutique advisory firm that helps organizations and investors accelerate sustainable impact and value creation. It focuses on helping businesses reinvent growth through sustainability and navigate complex challenges to achieve long-term sustainable impact and value.
