Food Waste Reduction Coordinator

Career Guide

A Food Waste Reduction Coordinator helps an organization prevent, measure, and reduce food waste across purchasing, storage, production, service, and donation or disposal. The role blends program coordination, data tracking, training, and partner management to cut costs and support sustainability goals.

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Key Responsibilities

Track food waste volumes and causes across sites and teams
Run waste audits and identify top sources of waste
Create and maintain food waste reduction plans and targets
Coordinate donation programs with food rescue partners
Improve inventory practices to prevent spoilage
Support menu planning and production planning to reduce overproduction
Train staff on storage, labeling, portioning, and handling practices
Develop simple reporting dashboards and weekly performance updates
Align waste reduction work with safety and quality standards
Support composting and organics collection where applicable
Work with vendors to reduce packaging waste and improve ordering accuracy
Lead site campaigns and engagement activities to build participation

Top Skills for Success

Project Coordination

Stakeholder Management

Training Delivery

Data Collection

Data Reporting

Process Improvement

Vendor Management

Food Safety Basics

Inventory Management

Donation Compliance

Waste Audit Methods

Waste Tracking Systems

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Sustainability Coordinator

Foodservice Operations Supervisor

Facilities Coordinator Quality Assurance Coordinator Supply Chain Coordinator

Transition Opportunities

Sustainability Manager

Environmental Program Manager

Food Waste Program Manager

Operations Manager Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Baseline MeasurementRoot Cause AnalysisChange ManagementCost Savings EstimationDonation Program SetupPolicy AwarenessDashboard Building

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple baseline using a two week waste audit, then set targets by waste type. Practice presenting results in one page updates. Partner with operations leaders to pilot one improvement at a time and document savings, participation, and lessons learned.

Market Intelligence Report

Food Waste Reduction Coordinator is part of the Business Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUS 40,000 to 55,000

Mid LevelUS 55,000 to 75,000

Senior LevelUS 75,000 to 100,000

Growth Trend

Growing steadily as more cities and states expand organics requirements and as employers prioritize cost control, sustainability reporting, and operational efficiency.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

AramarkCompass GroupSodexoSyscoUS FoodsWalmartTargetWhole Foods MarketIKEAHiltonMarriott InternationalKroger

Industry Sectors

Foodservice and CateringGrocery and RetailHospitalityHealthcareHigher EducationFood ManufacturingLocal GovernmentNonprofit Food Rescue

Recommended Next Steps

Create a repeatable waste audit checklist and run a pilot at one site

Set up weekly tracking for prepared food waste, spoilage, and plate waste

Draft a staff training plan focused on storage, labeling, and portioning

Identify local food rescue partners and map donation pickup requirements

Build a quarterly report template with trends, actions, and outcomes

Propose two quick wins such as tighter ordering cadence and improved labeling

Collect before and after results to support a promotion or role expansion