At present, the business views ESG as a key value driver complementing the company’s overall growth strategy. Their long-term success will be determined by the way they anticipate change as a business, the way they drive new solutions with and for their customers and how they meet the changing needs and requirements of their stakeholders and wider society. As the bridge between leading global A-brands, Retailers and the total supply chain, they have a unique position and can be instrumental in finding sustainable and innovative ways to make a positive impact. This is a real opportunity to have a lasting impact on the business' future success.
Key Responsibilities:
- Champion ESG within the UK business – be the figurehead for all things ESG. Take ownership for understanding how the business is performing in each key area; Environmental, Social and Governance.
- Assess the business' performance across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions for Carbon Disclosure Assessments to understand key areas to focus on across the business.
- Work closely with UK Purchasing, Commercial, Manufacturing and with HR/Communications colleagues to bring together what the business are already doing and to focus existing resources optimally.
- Create, build and shape a single, coherent ESG strategy (including the transition to net zero), that is right for the UK business and aligned with Group ESG strategy. It must have clear deliverables and milestones (time bound), that delivers against the industry’s, the customers’ and business' own, objectives.
- Confidently translate the identified key drivers that influence consumer perception of ESG credentials, into action as a part of this strategy; focusing on high impact areas for the business of climate change, water, manufacturing waste, packaging and creating a safe and great place to work.
- Understand the overall industry priorities and the business’ performance against these drivers, in order to successfully develop and optimise the strategy developed.
- Maintain understanding of all ESG legislative requirements (now and in the future) for the UK business and ensure compliance. Stay on top of modifications and developments made both at a national level, and a global one.
- Liaise with Group colleagues to glean latest intelligence and adopt best practice where practical and relevant.
- Prioritise areas for opportunity in the industry where performance is low; including respecting and protecting natural resources, reducing emissions and climate change, and taking care of supplier welfare. Leverage and position the strategy to deliver clear competitive advantage.
- Maintain awareness of all the UK business' key customer's ESG strategies and share this knowledge with key internal stakeholders.
- Ensure that the newly created ESG Agenda is communicated clearly both internally and externally, and represent the UK business at relevant industry ESG platforms and working groups.
- Provide regular reporting to the Senior Leadership Team on the decided initiatives; including progress against objectives, budget, employee engagement, and environmental/community impact etc.
- Update and involve consumers on the ESG information and journey-to-date for the business; by maximising use of News and Media coverage, product packaging, advertising and social media etc. This includes producing a formal annual report as well as content for an ESG Agenda section on the website.
- Become highly visible within the UK business and within the wider Group as an advocate and subject matter expert.
Personal Profile:
- Passionate and deeply inspired to do good. Act as an agent for change for the business and the industry as a whole. As a results driven individual, this person must be eager to build, grow and shape the ESG Agenda as their own.
- Considered to be a subject matter expert; the successful candidate will no doubt have a demonstrable history of successfully applying ESG principles in a practical and commercial setting.
- Able to demonstrate an entrepreneurial mind-set with a ‘sleeves-rolled-up’ mentality. The successful individual must be bright, articulate and an effective communicator.
- Gravitas and credibility to influence and challenge key stakeholders. Comfortable selling the credentials to external parties e.g., customers, brand owners and other business units.
- As a pragmatic self-starter, the new Head of ESG must be able to demonstrate experience of working on multiple projects; managing team members and timelines effectively to deliver high quality work to tight deadlines.