Sustainability Lead

The Opportunity

As our Sustainability lead you will manage the regional advancement of Glanbia’s sustainability ambitions and regulatory packaging waste compliancy requirements. This includes sustainable packaging solution development, packaging waste regulatory compliancy, and commercial environmental sustainability support as well as looking holistically at corporate opportunities in sustainability. This role will help guide Glanbia Performance Nutrition sustainability strategy to meet our customers’ needs while setting the pace for our competition.

Key elements include leading end-to-end process and stakeholder engagement, establishing a packaging waste regulatory compliancy program, and delivery of GPN’s packaging sustainability roadmap.

Job Responsibilities

• Sustainable Packaging Development
  • Work closely with the Commercial, Innovation, R&D, Packaging, and Supply Chain teams to provide sustainable packaging solutions that conform to market and operational capabilities.
  • Adapt solutions and strategy development to strategic customer ambitions.
  • Stay apprised of industry developments and trends while utilizing this knowledge to educate and guide the business. Participation and collaboration with strategic NGOs in the consumer packaging space are imperative.
  • Ensure recommended packaging solutions are accompanied with strong business cases that include consumer/brand risks and opportunities, financial impacts, operational capabilities, and regulatory compliancy.
• Sustainability Data & Documentation
  • Develop and maintain a program for packaging sustainability data that includes packaging attributes, recyclability assessments, supporting documentation, and country specific compliancy. The program shall harmonize with Glanbia’s existing quality systems and processes.
  • Develop and maintain a “Product Passports” system for all new NPD projects and existing finished products.
  • Update Product Passports with new or revised information (e.g. recyclability changes, disposal instructions, Product Carbon Footprints).
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Track Recyclability Labelling Compliance across brands and finished goods.
  • Collaborate with the Packaging Engineering team to ensure finished good artwork reflects correct disposal instructions for each market of planned distribution.
  • Prepare and track market specific waste reporting disclosures (i.e. EPR, DRS) by compiling relevant sales and packaging attribute data.
  • Develop clear tracking tools to monitor upcoming compliancy requirements and deadlines while utilizing insights to guide Glanbia consumer packaging ambitions.
  • Serve as a point of contact for Packaging-related Tax queries and liabilities with our central Tax team.
  • Monitor regional policies and advise internal teams of needed action for advanced planning.
• General Sustainability Support
  • Support sustainability forums and technical teams with documentation, cost analysis, and design rule compliance.
  • Address and complete customer sustainability questionnaires.
  • Advise strategic teams of needed packaging changes for regulatory compliance to coincide with sustainable packaging transitions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • This role involves extensive cross-functional collaboration with colleagues in Product Supply Center of Excellence, the Global Sustainability team based in Chicago and Ireland, and the European Commercial team. By working closely with these teams, the assurance will be provided that our products are not only compliant and sustainable but also positioned to win in the market. This strategic collaboration enhances product protection, drives innovation, sharing of best practices and supports Glanbia Performance Nutrition’s mission to deliver high-quality, performance-driven nutrition solutions globally.

Environment

Your role is primarily based at GPN Middlesbrough, although you may be required to travel to other areas of the business from time to time. We operate a hybrid work approach blending office based and home working.

Qualification & Experience Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in Packaging/ Packaging technology, or compliance roles in the FMCG space.
• Working knowledge of commercializing a consumer packaged item in the FMCG space.
• Consumer Packaging development from inception to commercialization.
• Expertise in European environmental legislation and reporting (e.g. CSRD, EPR, DRS, SUP).
• Expertise in NGO practices and procedures; specifically OPRL and RecyClass.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and SharePoint.
• Familiarity with digital sustainability tools (e.g Watershed) and databases.
• Interest in continuous improvement and sustainable practices.

Competencies

• Strong organizational and document management skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• The ability to convey recommendations to various levels within the organization.
• The ability to work in ambiguous situations where the best solutions are not always obvious.
• Understanding of packaging structures, materials and recyclability assessment methodologies.
• Ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements across markets.

Where and How You Will Work

The opportunity will be based in Middlesbrough with hybrid working arrangements available, which allows you greater choice in how you work and live, giving you a better work-life balance.

What We Would Like to Offer You

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, generous family leave policy, health plan, pension and competitive salary.