Product Sustainability & Accreditation Specialist

Unilever Brazil; Bebington; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consumer goods company seeks a Product Sustainability & Accreditation Specialist to lead certification activities, focusing on sustainability in product development. Candidates should have a degree in a science field and experience in R&D, as well as demonstrate strong stakeholder management skills and a passion for sustainability. The role is based at Port Sunlight R&D in the UK and promotes a family-friendly workplace.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Family-friendly workplace policies

Qualifications

• Education to degree level in a Science or Engineering discipline.
• Work experience in R&D.
• Knowledge and passion for sustainability issues relevant to consumer goods.

Responsibilities

• Lead certification and accreditation activities for Home Care in Europe.
• Obtain and maintain Certifications for European HC projects.
• Collect data for Eco-certifications submissions.

Skills

Sustainability issues knowledge

Stakeholder management

Excellent communication

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Science or Engineering (Chemistry/Environmental Science)

Tools

Digital tools proficiency

Job description

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Product Sustainability & Accreditation Specialist

Location: Port Sunlight R&D

Work-Level: WL1RH3/RH4

Reporting to: Jen Cromie

ABOUT UNILEVER

Home Care is a key strategic area for Unilever globally. Unilever is a highly competitive and innovative company with strong local and global brand positions, with brands such as Persil, Comfort, Surf, Sun, Domestos and Cif. Today, we continue to land our purpose to make sustainable living commonplace.

The Home Care “Clean Future” strategy guides the way that we are designing our products and packaging and we are transforming our portfolio to utilize materials from renewable sources, leverage the power of bioscience and synthetic biology to achieve superior performance, reduce our virgin plastic footprint , on our path to net zero.

Certifications and accreditations such as the EU Ecolabel are key elements of the HC Europe portfolio that reinforce not only our Clean Future program but support our strong product positions.

JOB PURPOSE

The successful candidate will lead certification and accreditation activities as well as co-ordinate status & tracking of the sustainability roadmaps. For Home Care in Europe.

The main purpose is to be an Accreditation and Sustainability champion for HC Europe : technical deployment of Ecolabels and other accreditations/certifications for the HC Europe portfolio (e.g; AISE ASP, Air Label Score, ECARF) ; ensuring reporting & information of our overall sustainability commitments.

They will bring their expertise in the area of sustainability to projects including product development, external and internal advocacy teams, informing leadership for strategic decision making, and the intersection between sustainability and regulatory affairs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Obtaining and maintaining Certifications for all European HC projects, on time and in full, with the support of R&D, marketing, procurement, and supply chain partners.
• Collect data and ensure the submission of Eco-certifications dossiers at relevant competent bodies.
• Follow closely criteria changes for relevant certifications and spport Unilever Regulatory & Advocacy teams with information/data to shape advocacy plans
• Maintain good partnerships with assessment authorities to ensure delivery of certifications, and facilitate accelerated processes. The job owner must communicate regularly with assessment authorities, responding quickly to their requests. This is to prepare dossiers effectively, maintain good working partnerships, and to follow criteria changes in certifications and keep R&D community updated.
• Be the first point of contact for the R&D Regional/Global community to define the Eco-certification process, timings, constraints to deliver projects.
• Assure timely payment of fees related to certification activities through regular contact with budget holders.
• With wider sustainability team, follow advances in ecolabelling and accreditations, including LCA or PEF type and help on data requirements for such schemes.
• Work with format experts and the BG sustainability teams to Co-ordinate the plans & tracking of the product and packaging activities in the Europe BU Sustainability funnel so that the right information is available and decisions can be taken towards our sustainability commitments
• Be the BU expert on the Sustainability digital tools used by Home Care to capture & report data

ALL ABOUT YOU

Experiences, Skills & Qualifications

• Education to degree level or higher in a Science or Engineering discipline, ideally Chemistry or Environmental Science.
• Work experience in R&D.
• Knowledge of and passion for sustainability issues relevant to the consumer goods industry
• A Digital first way of working : Profficient use of the digital tools that you will need to perform the role, but also the curiosity & creativity to improve the way we currently engage teams and facilitate progress towards our goals
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and engage in effective business partnering.
• Possess an owners’ mindset with a passion for high performance.
• You should be a team player who collaborates with others across R&D and other teams to deliver and improve outcomes
• Excellent communicator (written and verbal), translating complex data into key messages for stakeholders (R&D, Brand teams, and key opinion formers such as trade and consumers).
• Well organised, diplomatic, problem solver
• A passion for the ambition of Clean Future and a desire to help make a difference

Leadership

• Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors
  • PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Has an owner’s mindset, using data and insight to make decisions.
  • PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.
  • CONSUMER LOVE: Whatever their role, always looks for better ways to serve consumers. Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
  • PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.
  • AGILITY: Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills.

NOTES

Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed and include your Future Fit Plan if possible.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.

Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner Hannah Cottier on [e-mail]

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).

Relocation to the UK

Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the UK, if successful, your application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer. This means any relocation costs must be self-funded with the potential to reclaim some specific pre-approved expenses up to £5,000. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you have any questions.