Senior Global Sustainability Manager – Plastic

Manpower are currently seeking an interim Senior Global Sustainability Manager – Plastic, to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, to become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment. The position is based at Blackfriars on London’s Victoria Embankment, just a short walk from Blackfriars tube. This is a full-time temporary role for 12 months, requiring 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £88,000 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.This role focuses on driving forward holistic action on our flexible packaging transition, creating a reuse and refill strategy and managing our stakeholder engagement.The team is focused on:Setting and driving Unilever’s plastics sustainability strategy.Ensuring good governance and performance management of Unilever’s plastic goals.Reporting progress in our ARA and through key partners like Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Consumer Goods Forum.Driving policy change to incentivise sustainable packaging.Shaping the industry to mobilise around our priorities and perspectives, such as EPR and packaging regulations, flexibles and reuse/refill.Protecting Unilever’s licence to operate through stakeholder engagement and proactive issues management, ensuring our voice is trusted and respected.The team strives for high performance, being always focused on delivering results on strategic priorities and seek a team culture is collaborative, fun and energising, empowering all team members to take responsibility for their priorities.Key ResponsibilitiesSupport Unilever’s flexible packaging transition by creating a coherent strategy – beyond packaging innovation. This includes industry convergence behind Unilever’s strategy, risk mitigation (deforestation, water), IP sharing to unlock innovation, policy development and external disclosure to build trust.Alongside R&D, develop and lead Unilever’s strategy to innovate away from plastic sachets, engaging with external partners and peers to drive industry convergence behind Unilever’s strategy, as well as supporting Business Groups and functions to implement strategy. Develop Unilever’s strategy on reuse and refill business models ensuring Unilever is competitively positioned for this future transition within the packaging sector. Create a clear framework for ‘what works where’ to guide the business, based on insights from Unilever’s previous pilots, marketing, current multi-brand/retailer city-wide projects.Develop a clear strategy and programme to manage our teams core stakeholders, ensuring they are respect and trust Unilever, and support our priorities.Lead Unilever’s engagement in the UN Plastics Treaty. Review and refresh our approach to reflect Unilever’s focus on the short term and the geopolitical context.Monitor Unilever’s waste picker strategy and partnerships, ensuring the continued engagement of the Corporate Centre Livelihoods team and representing Unilever on the Fair Circularity Initiative Steering Group. Manage and develop the Global Sustainability – Assistant Manager to support the delivery of the team’s objectives.Key RequirementsStrong knowledge of, interest in, and understanding of plastics and packaging, and packaging sustainability issues. A strategic and holistic thinker that can drive coherent x-functional action on one of Unilever’s biggest challenges – flexible plastic – to support and accelerate deployment of innovations.Good understanding of commercial drivers and ability to engage and influence commercial discussions.Passion, confidence and initiative. A self-starter who can work independently and part of cross-functional teams in a matrix organisation. Exceptional stakeholder management and interpersonal skills, with experience convening a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to drive action towards collective objectives.Exceptional project management stills and writing skills. Proven ability to build relationships and influence senior stakeholders critical. Calm under pressure, especially when juggling multiple deliverables.Experience of operating in, and managing team members within, a fast-paced work environment. Additional Information Blackfriars working environment:Iconic location on the Victoria embankment, modern working environment Short walk from Blackfriars stationStaff shop discounted productsFree tea & coffee facilities Onsite Deli and a restaurant open for breakfast and lunchGym is available for use subscription required.