Sustainability Stakeholder Director

Lululemon Athletica; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 157,000 - 207,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative performance apparel company seeks a Sustainability Stakeholder Management Director to lead engagement with external stakeholders. This pivotal role involves developing strategies for stakeholder engagement, managing crisis responses, and ensuring alignment with sustainability goals. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in media relations and a deep understanding of sustainability issues. Join a forward-thinking firm committed to creating positive change and fostering an inclusive environment. This position offers the opportunity to influence the company's impact strategy while working collaboratively across diverse teams.

Benefits

Extended health and dental benefits

Paid time off

Savings and retirement plan matching

Parenthood top-up

Development course offerings

Mentorship programs

Leadership series

Qualifications

• 12+ years in stakeholder engagement and crisis communications.
• Strong background in sustainability topics and corporate reputation management.

Responsibilities

• Develop stakeholder mapping and engagement strategies.
• Manage issues and crisis response to protect brand reputation.
• Oversee ESG regulatory management and compliance.

Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Crisis Management

Media Relations

Sustainability Knowledge

Cross-functional Leadership

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism or English

Advanced Degree (preferred)

Job description

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.

a day in the life

The Sustainability Stakeholder Management Director will report to the SVP, Sustainability and will be responsible for leading lululemon’s strategy to engage with external social and environmental stakeholders, oversee issues management resolution, and deliver on brand/communications partnership. This individual will play a key role in shaping lululemon’s business and impact strategy by developing and executing stakeholder management plans, managing crisis response, and supporting public affairs initiatives. They will be instrumental in identifying key risks and opportunities, assessing their potential impact on the business, and driving cross-functional alignment to implement effective solutions. They will be responsible for guiding our strategic partnerships and engagement with stakeholders to ensure a high level of alignment and collaboration.

In this role, a collaborative mindset and a vision for the pathway to transformation of people, businesses, and climate is essential. Success in the role will depend on the ability to work with diverse teams, cultivate relationships, and translate complexity in an easy-to-understand way. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the industry is a must.

Responsibilities:

1. Strategy Development and Engagement
   • Develop and deliver a stakeholder mapping with definitions, prioritization, and proactive/reactive engagement strategy.
   • Develop and maintain a robust stakeholder engagement plan, prioritizing and guiding strategy of engaging with each stakeholder, including proactive and reactive opportunities.
   • Initiate and drive the development of strategic relationships and partnerships with civil society organizations, NGOs, experts from industry and academia on issues including sustainable materials, climate change, renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, circularity, social compliance, health and safety, human rights, and worker wellbeing programs in collaboration with the implementation teams.
   • Lead, analyze and manage key external stakeholder relationships to maintain relationships and identify opportunities to enhance partnerships and close potential gaps.
   • Communicate with external parties when a specific topic or incident is brought to lululemon’s attention, working across teams to understand the facts on the ground within the supply chain.
   • Work with the reporting team to provide information to improve scores on key benchmarks.
   • Directly engage with priority stakeholders independently and when appropriate with SVP, including partnership building, activist engagement, ESG investor engagement, among others.
2. Issues Management and Crisis Response:
   • Work with Communications/Public affairs/Government affairs functions and cross-functional organizations and leaders to monitor, prepare, and respond to emerging issues and external campaigns to protect the business and mitigate brand risk.
   • Provide strategic counsel to teams throughout the enterprise around emerging issues and crises management, along with a suggested communications approach.
   • Work with external partners to understand emerging trends and topics and properly prepare and advise the business to mitigate reputational risk.
   • Identify and create human rights and environmental policy positioning opportunities.
3. ESG Regulatory Affairs
   • Oversee ESG Regulatory management, pertaining to topics such as reporting, climate, EPR, human rights, among others.
   • Integrate overarching regulatory management system within lululemon, and participate in Government Affairs Opco.
   • Support interpretation and responses to regulatory requirements, including advocacy and industry engagement.
4. Cross-functional Alignment:
   • Given the diverse and cross-cutting nature of this work and issue areas, this person is a critical resource to global and regional corporate communications, public affairs, brand and other functions for external messaging, issues management, and positioning with stakeholders.
   • Advise teams on stakeholder engagement plans and actions.

qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree (Communications, Journalism, or English preferred); advanced degree strongly preferred
• Years of Related Professional Experience: 12+ years
• Previous experience in media relations, issues management/crisis communications, corporate reputation management, and stakeholder engagement
• Proven track record of establishing and implementing stakeholder engagement strategy
• Experience working with senior leadership preparing for media interviews and speaking engagement
• Experience with stakeholder engagement with key groups including but not limited to the United Nations and International Labor Organization, NGOs, civil society, government officials and other individuals/entities of influence
• Understand and background in key sustainability topics and emerging issues, including climate change, regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, sustainable materials, freedom of association, human rights, gender based violence, living wage, health and safety
• Strong background building external strategic relationship skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams; ability to influence without direct authority
• Experience in the apparel, fashion or retail industry is preferred, but not required
• Strong business acumen and creative thinker
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Possess a positive, can-do attitude and ability to provide excellent client service.
• Strong knowledge of social responsibility trends, initiatives, and current events

must haves

• Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility for your life.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
• Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same.
• Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
• Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
• Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take yourself too seriously.

Additional Notes

Authorization to work in Canada is required for this role.

Compensation and Benefits Package

lululemon’s compensation offerings are grounded in a pay-for-performance philosophy that recognizes exceptional individual and teamperformance. Thetypical hiring range for this positionis from$157,400 - $206,600annually; the base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. As part of our total rewards offering, permanent employees in this position may be eligible for our competitive annual bonus program and equity offerings, subject to program eligibility requirements.

At lululemon, investing in our people is a top priority. We believe that when life works, work works. We strive to be the place where inclusive leaders come to develop and enable all to be well. Recognizing our teams for their performance and dedication, other components of our total rewards offerings include support of career development, wellbeing, and personal growth:

• Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans
• Paid time off
• Savings and retirement plan matching
• Parenthood top-up
• Extensive catalog of development course offerings
• People networks, mentorship programs, and leadership series (to name a few)

Note: The incentive programs, benefits, and perks have certain eligibility requirements. The Company reserves the right to alter these incentive programs, benefits, and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

workplace arrangement

This role is classified as In-Person under our SSC Workplace Policy:

In-person collaboration and connection is important to our culture. Work is performed onsite, minimum 4 days per week.

lululemon is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you would like someone from our team to contact you for individualized support, email us at [e-mail]. In your email, please include the position title, the location of the position and the nature of your request.