Manager Sustainability Program and Stakeholder Engagement

Sysco; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Manager for Sustainability Program and Stakeholder Engagement. This hybrid role is pivotal in driving the company's sustainability initiatives, coordinating cross-functional programs, and engaging stakeholders at all levels. The ideal candidate will excel in project management, possess strong communication skills, and be adept at fostering collaboration across diverse teams. Join this forward-thinking organization to make a meaningful impact on sustainability efforts, ensuring that strategic goals translate into actionable outcomes. Your expertise will help shape the future of sustainability in the food and beverage industry.

Qualifications

• 4–6+ years in project management, transformation, strategy, or sustainability.
• Ability to work with senior executives and manage complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate sustainability workstreams and manage project planning.
• Act as a central point for sustainability engagement across the enterprise.

Skills

Project Management

Sustainability

Communication Skills

Strategic Program Management

Cross-Functional Influence

Change Management

Executive Communication

Systems Thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Degree in Sustainability

Tools

Microsoft Teams

PowerPoint

Excel

Smartsheet

Asana

Job description

Manager Sustainability Program and Stakeholder Engagement

Join to apply for the Manager Sustainability Program and Stakeholder Engagement role at Sysco.

Our Global Support Center/Corporate Office is located in the Energy Corridor, off I-10 and N Eldridge.

Address: 1390 Enclave Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077

Hybrid Role: In-office Monday through Wednesday. Work from home on Thursday and Friday.

Job Summary

Sysco is driving a company-wide transformation to embed sustainability into our core business strategy and operations. The Manager, Sustainability Program and Stakeholder Engagement, plays a critical role in advancing this transformation by managing cross-functional programs, enabling delivery through structured project planning, and coordinating stakeholder engagement across the enterprise.

This role is central to Sysco’s sustainability team, working across business units, functions, and external stakeholders to translate strategy into action. The ideal candidate is an expert at driving complex initiatives, connecting dots, fostering clarity, tracking progress, and delivering high-quality materials for internal and external audiences — from the boardroom to the business unit.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Management & Delivery

• Coordinate sustainability workstreams, managing project planning, timelines, milestones, roles, and interdependencies across teams.
• Drive project delivery through structured weekly check-ins with workstream leads, surfacing risks, removing barriers, and escalating issues as needed.
• Maintain visibility of program progress and ensure stakeholder alignment on objectives and priorities.

Cross-Functional Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a central point for sustainability engagement across the enterprise, building relationships across functions such as Merchandising, Supply Chain, Legal, Communications, and Finance.
• Foster collaboration, navigate interdependencies, and shape joint ownership of sustainability outcomes within the team.
• Manage key meetings and engagement points, including:
• Board and ELT sustainability updates
• CEO and senior leader communications
• Monthly sustainability team meetings
• Strategic sessions with cross-functional partners
• Develop compelling presentations that synthesize complex content into executive-ready materials — proficiency in PowerPoint is essential.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Teams, managing shared channels, files, Planner/To Do, Loop, and more.
• Implement scalable work processes by introducing effective project tracking tools and templates.

Communications, Greenwashing Risk & Collateral

• Manage the sustainability communications and collateral calendar, aligning timing, audiences, and narratives internally and externally.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Corporate Communications to ensure consistency and rigor in messaging.
• Serve as the team’s expert on greenwashing, understanding risks and communicating with confidence and integrity.

Education and Experience:

Required: Bachelor’s Degree; 4–6+ years in project management, transformation, strategy, communications, or sustainability; experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders; ability to work with senior executives; strong writing and presentation skills; tech-savvy with Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, and project tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Planner, Asana); team-oriented with a proactive attitude.

Preferred: Degree in Sustainability.

Technical Skills and Abilities:

• Strategic Program Management
• Cross-Functional Influence
• Executive Communication & Storytelling
• Change Management & Transformation
• PowerPoint Mastery
• Systems Thinking & Interdependency Mapping
• Judgment & Rigor on Sustainability Claims

Additional Details:

Physical Demands: Reasonable accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities.

Travel Requirements: Occasional travel may be required.

Additional Information:

Seniority Level: Mid-Senior level

Employment Type: Full-time

Job Function: Other

Industry: Food and Beverage Services