Sustainability & Product Responsibility Lead (6 Month Temporary Assignment)

PPAI - Promotional Products Association International; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

A national association for promotional products is looking for a Sustainability & Product Responsibility Lead for a 6-month temporary assignment. The ideal candidate will have 5–10 years of experience in product compliance and sustainability within consumer goods. They will lead regulatory monitoring, develop educational resources, and support compliance inquiries. This role requires strong attention to detail, project management abilities, and a member-focused approach. Opportunities for continued engagement may arise as initiatives evolve.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years experience in product compliance or regulatory affairs.
• Experience in sustainability within consumer goods or supply chains.
• Strong soft skills with a member-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead regulatory monitoring and translate regulatory changes into guidance.
• Develop educational content and best practices for sustainability.
• Build member-facing tools to enhance compliance infrastructure.
• Support member inquiries regarding sustainability and compliance.

Skills

Product compliance or regulatory affairs

Sustainability in consumer goods or supply chains

Ability to interpret regulations

Strong structured writing skills

Project management

Strong attention to detail

Job description

Sustainability & Product Responsibility Lead (6 Month Temporary Assignment)

We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented professional to support the execution of key Sustainability and Product Responsibility initiatives aligned with a long-term industry strategy. This role is structured around a focused project with defined goals and milestones, with the opportunity for continued engagement as the work evolves.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-moving environment, enjoys connecting people with the right solutions, and takes pride in turning complex regulatory or sustainability information into clear, practical guidance.

The right person will be a self-starter with strong attention to detail, a “can-do” mindset, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with urgency and independence. You will serve as a go-to resource for members and stakeholders while helping build tools, resources, and processes that support the broader industry.

What You’ll Do

Lead Regulatory Monitoring & EPR Guidance (25–30%)

• Monitor evolving regulatory developments related to packaging and textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and broader product compliance requirements
• Translate complex regulatory changes into clear, practical guidance for members
• Maintain and update EPR-related white papers, briefs, and compliance resources
• Serve as a liaison with external experts (e.g., CAA) to ensure guidance remains accurate and actionable

Develop Educational Content & Practical Guidance (20–25%)

• Draft first versions of policies, case studies, webinars, workshops, and guidance materials aligned with strategic priorities
• Create best-practice resources that help members operationalize sustainability and compliance in real-world settings
• Support development of educational programming and materials that strengthen member readiness and confidence
• Identify recurring industry challenges and translate them into clear, scalable resources

Build Member-Facing Tools & Compliance Infrastructure (20–25%)

• Supporting development of compliance and risk prioritization tools in collaboration with industry experts
• Update and improve the Product Tracking Labels resource
• Enhance usability, navigation, and accessibility of compliance and sustainability content across the organization’s website
• Contributes to building systems that enable members to more easily navigate and apply complex requirements

Structure Member Resources & Onboarding Pathways (10–15%)

• Convert existing sustainability and product responsibility materials into structured, role-based onboarding pathways and playbooks
• Organize resources into clear “start here / next steps” journeys for members at different stages of maturity
• Identify gaps in current resources and help prioritize development of new materials

Support Member & Internal Compliance Inquiries (5–10%)

• Serve as a central point of coordination for sustainability, product responsibility, and compliance-related questions
• Ensure timely, consistent, and well-documented responses for members and internal teamsTrack inquiry trends to inform future resource development and identify emerging needs

Support Carbon Data & Internal Tracking (5–10%)

• Gather, organize, and maintain activity data required for carbon footprint measurement and reporting readiness
• Support development of internal tracking processes and data organization systems

What We’re Looking For

Experience (5–10 years preferred) in one or more of the following

• Product compliance or regulatory affairs
• Sustainability in consumer goods or supply chains
• Industry association programs focused on responsibility or policy
• Ability to interpret regulations and translate them into practical guidance
• Strong structured writing skills (white papers, policy documents, educational resources)
• Comfortably operating independently with minimal oversight
• Strong soft skills and a collaborative, member-focused approach
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with urgency and precision
• High attention to detail and strong follow-through

Helpful but not required

• Experience in promotional products, apparel, or consumer goods
• Exposure to EPR, product safety, or carbon accounting
• Experience working within an association or member-driven organization