Director, Global Sustainability

A hybrid working model of remote and on-site work is required. The position can be based at or near any of OHCP’s operating countries in Europe, USA or Asia.

The Global Sustainability Director is responsible for the development and implementation of a long-term sustainability strategy for Oliver Healthcare Packaging (“OHCP”). The position will play a key role in positioning Oliver as a leader in sustainability in the healthcare industry through a combination of stakeholder engagement, strategy building, target setting, and the execution of initiatives across commercial, technical and operational functions and across the greater value chain.

This position requires an experienced, strategic & technical hands-on person who can be effective in both individual and team settings, manage projects and programs of varying scale, build strong relationships with both internal and external value-chain stakeholders and effect change at an organizational level.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategy development & target setting:

• Develop & maintain a pragmatic sustainability strategy for OHCP in line with best practice Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and the expectations of the market, customers, regulators, investors, company leadership and key stakeholders.
• Set goals and business-relevant targets for OHCP’s operations, supply chain, products, policies and people to implement this strategy (e.g. carbon reduction, product circularity and social development targets).
• Determine and align with company leadership which targets should be linked to public commitments, industry initiatives & reporting standards (e.g. Science-based targets, Ecovadis, International Sustainability & Carbon Certification).

Strategy implementation & target achievement

• Assess and gap-analyze current activities and determine OHCP’s right needs to implement the strategy.
• Create and manage a sustainability program (in the form of an aligned roadmap and program of initiatives within operations, product, policy and people development) to achieve OHCP’s sustainability goals.
• Ensure the program aligns with OHCP’S wider business & commercial goals.
• Ensure execution of the program through leadership of cross-functional networks of subject-matter experts across the organization.

Industry & stakeholder engagement & advocacy

• Develop OHCP’s sustainability value proposition and ensure its consistent communication to the wider market, in alignment with global Marketing functions.
• Be the “face of sustainability” to OHCP’s customers to ensure our sustainability actions align with their own actions and expectations. Collaborate with sales functions to offer sustainability expertise to customers.
• Represent OHCP and build strong networks and advocacy within key industry associations relevant to sustainability (e.g. Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, Sterile Barrier Association, Bio Process Systems Alliance) and ensure OHCP is represented at the right industry associations in addition to existing memberships.
• Work proactively in the value-chain to find new & innovative areas of collaboration (e.g. Non-Governmental Organizations, startups).
• Work proactively with OHCP’s suppliers (in alignment with procurement functions) to ensure collaboration in the sustainability program as required.

Internal stakeholder engagement

• Collaborate & lead positive, innovative change & alignment among all OHCP’s functions related to Sustainability including but not limited to Sales, R&D, Technical, Marketing, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing and Procurement functions.
• Educate & train the organization on best-practices in Sustainability and on OHCP’s sustainability value proposition and program.

Develop & lead processes, measurement and reporting practices

• Ensure OHCP complies with emerging and accepted industry regulation for sustainability (e.g. Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and maintain updated knowledge or regulatory requirements within OHCP’s operating environment.
• Determine and ensure implementation of the right standards & certifications for OHCP’s sustainability program to flourish (e.g. ISO 14001, 37001, 45001, 50001, ISCC+).
• Ensure the right measurement & reporting standards, systems & tools are in place to show the baseline and progress against sustainability goals (e.g., Figbytes, Sedex, Carbon Disclosure Project, Life-cycle Assessment tools).
• Develop the right cadence of internal and external reporting.

Develop & lead an effective global Sustainability team

• Lead & coordinate cross-functional subject matter experts and teams through influence in a matrix organization.
• Determine and align with company leadership the right dedicated resourcing to ensure success of the sustainability program and build an effective global sustainability team.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Education:

• University degree in Sustainability/Environmental Sciences or related field. Graduate degree preferred.

Experience:

• 10+ years professional experience in closely related function. 15+ years preferred.
• 5+ years experience in corporate sustainability or similar role preferred.

Knowledge & skills:

• Knowledge of packaging materials, technologies and processes.
• Deep understanding of the sustainability landscape, globally and regionally. Direct knowledge of the commercial and regulatory landscape, industry associations and lobby groups relevant to the packaging and healthcare industries preferred.
• Deep understanding (experience preferred) of circular economy concepts and their implementation for packaging and healthcare.
• Understanding of and experience in recycling & waste management for the packaging, healthcare and related industries preferred.

Other:

• Skilled change-management leader & builder of relationships across functions and regions.
• Skilled in project management and program management.
• Ability to focus on the changing needs of our internal and external stakeholders.
• Self-starter who can work independently with limited direction.
• Skilled communicator with strong presentation and technical writing skills.
• Proficiency in the use of modern collaboration tools in the M365 suite and similar software.

Languages:

• Full proficiency in English. Additional proficiency in a major European language preferred.

Working conditions

• A hybrid working model of remote and on-site work is required. The position can be based at or near any of OHCP’s operating countries in Europe, USA or Asia.
• Extensive domestic, international and intercontinental travel is expected (min. 25% of working time) and evening and weekend work would be expected to a small degree as necessary (2-5% of time).
• This position operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and teleconferencing.