Consultant to Public Agencies on Environmental Matters

 

Why Consider HF&H Consultants?

HF&H has a mission-driven, collaborative, tightly knit, small company culture that values work-life balance. We provide recycling and solid waste, water, and wastewater consulting services exclusively to public agencies. It is an exciting time to work in this industry. As California continues to lead the nation in environmental protection, it is our job to ensure local jurisdictions have the analytical and management support they need to fulfill their community’s vision of a sustainable future. We also strive to protect ratepayers (e.g., you and me) from unfounded increases in municipal utility rates.

Our services include planning, performance reviews, competitive procurements, negotiations, contract management, financial and compliance auditing, rate and fee studies, and litigation support. The success of our firm has been built on providing excellent client service and leadership to clients in particularly challenging situations.

For more details about our firm, please visit our website www.hfh-consultants.com.

About This Role

The Associate Analyst will support our recycling and solid waste practice from our Walnut Creek, California office.

This position will have a minimum of two days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) in our Walnut Creek office. This may be modified at any time, at HF&H’s discretion. Some local travel may be required, with additional limited overnight travel (within California).

Initially, the “clients” served by this position will be HF&H’s Partners, Project Managers, and senior staff. The work with these internal clients allows Associates to develop the client service and project management skills necessary to be a successful consultant. Over time, this position offers significant advancement opportunity for a high-performing professional to grow into a senior consultant with direct external client relationships and increasingly independent assignments and responsibilities.

What You Will Do:

The successful candidate will work under the direction of Partners and Project Managers, in a team atmosphere, successfully completing engagements for our municipal clients related to their management of environmental programs.

The successful Associate Analyst will perform tasks like:

• Reviewing 3rd party financial information reported by waste management and recycling companies
• Reviewing contract language to understand contractor performance requirements
• Preparing variance analyses identifying areas requiring further investigation
• Summarizing the results of the tasks performed in a clear succinct manner (spreadsheets, tables, narrative, etc.)
• Reviewing rate adjustment requests submitted by the recycling and waste hauling companies to public agencies
• Drafting and quality assurance of Request for Proposals and Franchise Agreements for Recycling and Solid Waste Services
• Communicating issues and conclusions to partners and project managers effectively
• Assisting in the drafting and preparation of written reports and client presentations
• Performing quality control reviews on reports and written work products
• Surveying local governments and service providers about industry trends

What You Will Gain

HF&H places a high value on investing in our team. One of our core values is that “we relate to each other positively, supporting our professional development and providing opportunity for personal rewards.” This position will benefit from:

• Exceptional training and frequent coaching from a “mentor” assigned to you from your first day
• On-project training from HF&H’s Partners and a deep pool of senior consultants
• Annual development of a “personal development plan” and formal continuing education and project assignments geared towards developing your depth and breadth of expertise
• Rewarding and challenging work assignments that improve the efficiency, affordability, and effectiveness of public services
• Development of new technical skills for managing processes, projects, and resources
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous assignments with competing schedules
• Build a solid foundation of best practice skills to thrive in your consulting career

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, Economics, Math, or related field (may substitute with experience on a case-by-case basis). The key is for the candidate to have developed skills to work with numbers and quantitative concepts in an analytical manner
• At least 2-5 years of experience in a professional office environment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to organize thoughts logically and communicate them concisely
• Strong logic skills, especially related to the development of spreadsheet models (e.g., rate models, report tables)
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and competing schedules
• Proficiency with the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), with superior skills in Excel
• Valid California Driver’s License and ability to work in the United States

Bonus Points (highly desirable)

• Prior experience in the recycling and solid waste industry in California

What We Offer

HF&H offers a competitive total compensation package while emphasizing work/life balance for our employees (in 2023, Associates averaged less than 43 hours per week). This is a full-time, exempt position. Some highlights include:

• Salary range for Associate Analyst: $72,000 – $93,330
• Discretionary Annual Bonus: up to 20% of Annual Salary, performance based
• Profit Sharing: Minimum 3% contribution to a 401(k) profit-sharing plan (2023 contribution was 5%)
• 15 Vacation days per year (increases with tenure, maximum of 25 days per year)
• 10 Holidays per year (including one “floating” Holiday to be used at employee’s discretion)
• 5 Sick days per year
• Health Insurance:
  • HF&H contributes 95% of employee’s premium (and 67.5% of dependent’s premium) towards the premium of our Kaiser health insurance plan.
  • HF&H contributes up to $2,500 per employee or up to $4,000 per family towards a Health Savings Account
• Dental/Group Term Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

Are You Ready? Apply Today!

Submit your cover letter and resume to HF&H at hr@hfh-consultants.com today! Please provide a valid email address and telephone number on your resume and/or cover letter. Application materials will be screened on a continuous basis.

The Fine Print

This is an at-will position and, as such, can be released at any time without notice and for any reason. Prior to hire, candidates will be required to successfully complete performance assessments, reference checks, verification of academic performance, and any other due diligence HF&H deems appropriate prior to making an unconditional offer for employment. Candidates with a disability who may require special assistance in any phase of the application or assessment process should advise the hiring manager upon submittal of an application. Documentation of the need for accommodation must accompany the request. HF&H is an equal opportunity employer.