Introduction & Job Detail:   

Danoners are helping us deliver our Impact Journey to bring health through nutrition, preserve and regenerate nature and support thriving people and communities. As a certified B-Corp, we want to use our business as a force for good. This will only be possible with each and every one of our leaders. Do you want to be one of them? 

Role Purpose:  

The mission of this role is to provide the strategic leadership and technical expertise to help Danone UK & Ireland deliver its sustainability priorities as part of the Danone Impact Journey. The role will have a particular focus on delivery of Danone’s science-based carbon reduction targets and working towards low-carbon, circular packaging. It will deliver business value by ensuring Danone UK & Ireland can meet the expectations of its customers on sustainability and mitigate the risk of packaging legislation and taxation to the business. 

Packaging 

• Develop clear packaging sustainability roadmaps to deliver Danone’s Impact Journey KPIs, mitigate tax and meet customer requirements 

• Provide clear forecasting on progress against Danone’s packaging KPIs 

• Ensure the business has clarity on the impact of packaging taxation and opportunities to reduce 

• Manage delivery of packaging compliance reporting (managed by Data and Reporting Manager) to meet regulatory requirements  

• Influence externally to shape the development of a circular packaging system and mitigate the impact of packaging tax to the business e.g. Extended Producer Responsibility, PRN, Plastic Packaging Tax, DRS 

• Influence internally at a local/regional/global level to build the business case for and secure delivery of key packaging sustainability projects 

Carbon 

• Ensure the business has clarity on Danone UK & Ireland’s carbon emissions footprint and forecast, and identify risks and opportunities to delivery of carbon reduction targets 

• Work with procurement and logistics team to develop and deliver a clear logistics decarbonisation roadmap for Danone UK & Ireland 

• Engage internally to shape category roadmaps for lower carbon growth and embed carbon in Danone’s innovation process 

• Work with the Data and Reporting Manager to provide carbon analysis and strategic recommendations on key projects  

• Manage delivery of internal carbon reporting to enable Danone to track progress against its global carbon reduction targets and external reporting to meet regulatory and customer requirements  

Other 

• Line manage Sustainability Data and Reporting Manager and Sustainability Data Analyst to meet internal and external reporting requirements, develop Danone UK & Ireland’s sustainability data capabilities and provide strategic insights and analysis for the business 

• Provide horizon scanning on future customer and regulatory sustainability requirements and ensure the business is prepared to meet these  

• Explore longer-term innovation opportunities to support Danone’s sustainability ambitions and enable sustainable growth – building the business case for action  

• Engage in key internal decision-making forums to make the business case for sustainability and provide strategic advice on risks and opportunities  

• Manage relationships with external sustainability advisors and stakeholders to ensure that Danone has access to insights, can influence the external landscape and collaborate with the wider sector to support the development of a lower-carbon, circular food system. 

About You:   

We would like you to demonstrate your following key skills:  

Essential 

• 10 years work experience with at least 5 years experience in sustainability  

• Experience in leading sustainable packaging strategies/projects 

• Experience in leading GHG emissions reduction strategies 

• Understanding of the regulatory environment for sustainability, including UK packaging reforms such as Extended Producer Responsibility and sustainability reporting requirements 

• Proven track record in building the business case for sustainability  

• Stakeholder engagement & management 

• Strong communication skills, including ability to simplify complex information 

• Ability to persuade / influence  

• Cross functional collaboration skills 

• Analytical skills and ability to use data to make strategic recommendations 

Desirable 

• Experience working in multi-national or FMCG company 

• Team management, coaching and development 

Please note that the salary on offer for this role is between £70,000 - £90,000 + bonus & benefits