Impact & Sustainability Lead (12 month maternity cover)

The Role

At Notpla, we’re at the forefront of sustainable innovation, creating natural alternatives to single-use plastic packaging that are carefully engineered to help build a healthier planet. Founded on the belief that nature knows best, we’re an innovative, action-oriented scale-up developing and manufacturing uncompromisingly natural packaging solutions from seaweed and plants. We’re looking for an Impact & Sustainability Lead to join us on a 12 month maternity cover contract. In this role you will have to tread the line between technical, policy, and commercial workstreams. Managing all of our Impact and Sustainability workload with the support of the rest of our multi-functional business.

This is an exciting time to join Notpla - we’re on the brink of a record-breaking year for revenue and on track for major growth in the next 18–24 months. To support this, we have secured a £20 million Series A+ fundraise, enabling us to scale our growth and environmental impact faster than ever. Beyond offering meaningful roles and a vibrant working environment, Notpla provides competitive compensation, including a zero-carbon pension scheme, discounts with local businesses, and subsidised social activities. Our office-first hybrid working policy lets you work in the way that maximises your productivity while maintaining a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere. We’re a social business with regular clubs and events, and we’re proud of how our diverse, mission-driven community works together to make plastic disappear. Led by strong values, all Notpla employees are encouraged to take ownership of their domain, enjoying a high degree of autonomy. Our aim is to build an inspiring culture reflected in our working policies, environment, and people.

As the Impact and Sustainability Lead you will work closely with both key internal and external stakeholders to ensure that Notpla’s values and needs are communicated and actioned. This is a rare chance to join a fast-scaling, award winning, mission-led company and play a key role in defining its creative identity. We are looking for someone with a sustainability background — if you have experience in any one of the following, we'd love to hear from you:

• A sustainability role within packaging or food services, with exposure to supply chain, certifications, or impact reporting
• A start-up or innovation environment in a relevant field (e.g. material science, bio-based materials)
• Policy — working directly on packaging or circular economy policy in the UK or EU (EPR, plastic packaging tax, PPWR, SUP Directive)

Key Responsibilities

• Evidence & impact measurement — Build and maintain a full picture of Notpla's environmental impact across our product range through LCA portfolio management, GHG/carbon accounting, hotspot analysis, and end-of-life projects; own the annual Impact Report and set the roadmap for what comes next.
• Policy & advocacy — Lead Notpla's engagement in the Natural Polymers Group and direct participation in consultations and roundtables (Defra, EU Commission and others); monitor and respond to key developments across EPR, PPWR, SUP Directive, and plastic packaging tax to protect and position the business.
• Knowledge & communications — Translate complex impact work into clear, accessible messaging for internal teams, clients, suppliers, and industry; support marketing with content and visuals that communicate our sustainability credentials credibly and compellingly.
• Commercial support — Support Sales, BD, and product teams to provide impact evidence, respond to client sustainability queries, and support R&D decisions with ad hoc material assessments.
• Stakeholder engagement — Represent Notpla externally with government bodies, regulatory stakeholders, and industry groups; build and maintain relationships that enable Notpla to shape — not just respond to — the policy landscape.

Salary £43,000 - £60,000