Director of Sustainability

Risus Talent Partners LLC; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Risus Talent Partners LLC seeks a strategic Director of Sustainability to lead the development and execution of a sustainability strategy across a growing, multi-location organization. This role focuses on decarbonization, energy and waste management, and sustainable packaging to help customers meet goals.

The Director will partner with executive leadership, manufacturing, operations, finance, procurement, and sales to embed sustainability into business strategy and day-to-day

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or related field; master’s preferred.
• Proven experience leading sustainability initiatives and delivering measurable results.
• Strong knowledge of decarbonization strategies, GHG accounting, and sustainability reporting.
• Experience driving cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders across locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of sustainability and decarbonization strategy with SBti-aligned targets.
• Establish carbon footprint baselines, track performance, and manage progress toward objectives.
• Identify high-impact initiatives and investments to reduce emissions and waste while enabling growth.
• Collaborate with finance, procurement, manufacturing, and operations on energy efficiency and waste reduction.
• Research emerging sustainability trends, regulations, and best practices to inform strategy.
• Advance sustainable packaging solutions in collaboration with suppliers and customers.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Sustainability expertise

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or related field

Job description

We’re seeking a strategic, results-driven Director of Sustainability to lead the development and execution of our sustainability strategy across a growing, multi-location organization.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by advancing decarbonization initiatives, improving energy and waste management, and expanding sustainable packaging solutions that help customers achieve their own sustainability goals.

The Director of Sustainability will partner closely with executive leadership, manufacturing, operations, finance, procurement, and sales to embed sustainability into business strategy and day-to-day operations-balancing environmental impact with operational efficiency and profitable growth.

A key priority will be advancing near-term emissions reduction targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), while driving progress toward broader zero-waste and carbon-reduction goals.

What You’ll Do

Sustainability Strategy & Decarbonization

• Lead the development and execution of the organization’s sustainability and decarbonization strategy, including progress toward SBTi-aligned emissions reduction targets.
• Establish and maintain carbon footprint baselines, track performance, and manage progress toward annual and long-term sustainability objectives.
• Identify and prioritize high-impact initiatives and strategic investments that advance emissions reduction, zero-waste goals, and operational sustainability.
• Partner with finance, procurement, manufacturing, and operations to advance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and waste-reduction initiatives.
• Research emerging sustainability trends, regulations, standards, and best practices to inform business strategy and operating plans.

Sustainable Packaging & Customer Solutions

• Advance sustainable packaging solutions that help customers improve the environmental impact of their supply chains.
• Evaluate sustainable materials, product options, and waste streams in partnership with suppliers and other supply chain stakeholders.
• Equip the sales organization with the information, resources, and training needed to communicate sustainability programs, certifications, and solutions to customers.
• Support customer retention and new business development by communicating the value and impact of sustainability initiatives.
• Manage relationships with external consultants, agencies, suppliers, and sustainability partners.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with executive leadership to refine the organization’s sustainability vision, priorities, and long-term objectives.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and operations leaders across business units and locations to translate strategy into measurable results.
• Build alignment and accountability across teams to drive progress toward sustainability goals.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on program performance, key initiatives, investment opportunities, and progress toward established targets.
• Partner with senior leaders to develop and execute internal and external sustainability communications.
• Develop and improve the data, tools, and systems needed to measure, monitor, and report sustainability performance.
• Establish effective tracking processes and performance metrics to support data-driven decision-making.
• Identify gaps in resources, processes, and technology and recommend improvements to senior leadership.
• Develop external partnerships with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, material recovery facilities (MRFs), and other relevant stakeholders.
• Lead the ongoing evaluation and improvement of sustainability programs to maximize environmental and business outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or a related field; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading sustainability initiatives and delivering measurable results.
• Strong understanding of decarbonization strategies, greenhouse gas emissions accounting, science-based targets, and sustainability reporting.
• Familiarity with sustainability-related regulations, standards, certifications, and industry best practices.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders across multiple business functions or locations.
• Strong project management, analytical, and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex sustainability concepts into actionable business priorities.
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

What Success Looks Like

• Meaningful progress toward emissions reduction and broader decarbonization goals.
• Improved energy efficiency, waste management, and sustainability performance across operations.
• Increased adoption of sustainable packaging solutions and stronger customer engagement around sustainability.
• Reliable sustainability data, reporting, and accountability across business units.
• A sustainability strategy that delivers measurable environmental impact while supporting long-term business growth.

Our Values

We believe sustainable growth starts with how we work together. Our culture is grounded in:

• People First: Building trust, fostering respect, supporting employee development, and communicating openly.
• Customer-Focused Solutions: Understanding customer needs and delivering innovative, tailored solutions.
• Passion to Serve: Acting with integrity, empathy, accountability, and a commitment to making a positive impact.
• Agility: Embracing change, creativity, flexibility, and continuous improvement.
• Growth Focus: Pursuing measurable results, profitable growth, and opportunities to improve.