Director, Circular Economy & Product Stewardship

Role Purpose & Context

Role Summary

The Director, Circular Economy & Product Stewardship, is here to set the strategic direction and drive the integration of circular economy principles across a major business unit. You'll be the architect of our environmental compliance and sustainability programmes, making sure we're not just meeting regulations, but actively designing products and processes that minimise impact and maximise resource value. This means you'll spend your days influencing R&D, supply chain, and manufacturing to embed circularity into their core operations. This role sits right at the heart of our operational and strategic decision-making. You're translating global environmental policies and market demands into actionable business strategies. When you do this well, we see significant reductions in waste, new revenue streams from circular models, and a stronger brand reputation. If it's not done effectively, we risk hefty fines, market access issues, and serious damage to our standing with customers and investors. The challenge? Getting everyone on board, especially when it means changing long-established, often profitable, linear ways of working. You'll need to balance ambitious environmental goals with commercial realities, and sometimes, that's a tough tightrope walk. The reward, though, is seeing your vision for a more sustainable business unit actually come to life, knowing you've made a tangible difference to our environmental footprint and long-term viability.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: VP, Global EHS & Circularity
• Direct reports: Roughly 25-100+ people, including managers and individual contributors across various teams.
• Matrix relationships: VP, Sustainable Operations (Europe), Head of Circularity & Environmental Compliance, Director, Global Product Sustainability,

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

• Business Unit President/MD
• Heads of R&D and Engineering
• Supply Chain & Procurement Directors
• Manufacturing Operations Directors
• Legal & Regulatory Affairs
• Marketing & Communications Leaders
• Finance Directors

External:

• Key Regulators (e.g., ECHA, national environmental agencies)
• Industry Associations & Consortia
• Strategic Recycling & Waste Management Partners
• ESG Rating Agencies & Investors
• Key Customers (especially those with strong sustainability demands)
• Certification Bodies (e.g., for ISO standards)

Organisational Impact

Scope: This role directly impacts the business unit's P&L through cost savings from resource efficiency, potential new revenue from circular products/services, and significant risk mitigation from compliance failures. It also shapes our market perception, customer loyalty, and ability to attract investment, especially from ESG-focused funds. Essentially, you're helping future-proof a major part of the company.

Performance Metrics

Quantitative Metrics

1. Metric: Waste Diversion Rate
2. Desc: The percentage of waste from our business unit's operations that is recycled, reused, or recovered, rather than sent to landfill.
3. Target: Increase from 75% to 90% across the business unit within 3 years.
4. Freq: Quarterly, reported to BU leadership and the Board.
5. Example: If our BU generated 10,000 tonnes of waste last year, and 7,500 tonnes were diverted, we need to get that diversion number up to 9,000 tonnes by year three. That's a huge operational lift.
6. Metric: Circular Revenue/Cost Savings
7. Desc: New revenue generated from circular business models (e.g., product-as-a-service, remanufactured goods) or direct cost savings from resource efficiency and waste valorisation.
8. Target: Generate £2M-£10M+ in new value within 3-5 years.
9. Freq: Annually, as part of the BU's financial reporting.
10. Example: Launching a new take-back programme that allows us to refurbish 1,000 units, selling them at a 50% margin, contributing £500K in new revenue. Or, optimising manufacturing to reduce material scrap by 15%, saving £1M in raw material costs.
11. Metric: Virgin Material Reduction
12. Desc: The absolute or proportional reduction in the use of virgin (newly extracted) raw materials in our products and packaging.
13. Target: Achieve a 20% reduction in virgin plastic use and 10% in virgin metals across the BU's product portfolio within 5 years.
14. Freq: Annually, tracked through product lifecycle management (PLM) and procurement data.
15. Example: Switching a key product component from virgin ABS plastic to 30% recycled content, or redesigning packaging to use 15% less material overall, directly contributing to this target.
16. Metric: ESG Rating Improvement
17. Desc: Our business unit's contribution to the company's overall score in major Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings.
18. Target: Improve the company's score in key ESG ratings (e.g., DJSI, MSCI) by 10 points within 2 years, with your BU's performance being a major driver.
19. Freq: Annually, based on published ESG reports.
20. Example: Your initiatives leading to a significant improvement in our 'Resource Management' or 'Product Governance' scores, directly impacting our overall ESG performance and investor confidence.

Qualitative Metrics

1. Metric: Strategic Influence & Integration
2. Desc: How effectively you embed circular economy thinking into the core strategy and decision-making processes of R&D, Supply Chain, and Product Development.
3. Evidence: You're regularly invited to strategic planning meetings for new product development. R&D teams proactively consult you on material selection and design for disassembly. Supply Chain includes circularity metrics in supplier performance reviews. Your recommendations are consistently adopted by BU leadership, not just acknowledged.
4. Metric: Regulatory Foresight & Risk Mitigation
5. Desc: Your ability to anticipate upcoming environmental regulations and proactively adjust our business unit's strategy to ensure compliance and competitive advantage.
6. Evidence: We haven't been caught off guard by any new major regulations in your domain. You've successfully implemented programmes that put us ahead of compliance curves. Legal and BU leadership trust your assessments of future regulatory risks and opportunities.
7. Metric: Team Leadership & Development
8. Desc: How well you build, mentor, and empower your team to deliver on ambitious circular economy and product stewardship goals.
9. Evidence: Your direct reports are consistently meeting their targets and showing clear career progression. You've successfully recruited and retained top talent in a competitive market. Your team is seen as a high-performing, collaborative unit that others want to join.
10. Metric: External Reputation & Advocacy
11. Desc: Your role in enhancing our company's reputation as a leader in circular economy and product stewardship within the industry and with external stakeholders.
12. Evidence: You're asked to speak at industry conferences or participate in key working groups. Our company is cited as a best practice example by industry bodies or NGOs. You've built strong, credible relationships with regulators and partners, opening doors for collaborative initiatives.

Primary Traits

• Trait: Strategic Systems Thinker
• Manifestation: You don't just see the tree; you see the entire forest and the ecosystem it supports. When a new product is proposed, you're immediately thinking about its entire lifecycle: where the materials come from, how it's manufactured, how customers use it, and what happens to it after they're done. You can articulate how a change in one part of our global supply chain will ripple through our compliance obligations, our carbon footprint, and ultimately, our brand value. You're constantly connecting the dots between seemingly disparate functions like R&D, Procurement, Legal, and Marketing.
• Benefit: At this level, you're not just solving problems; you're building resilient, future-proof systems. A circular economy is inherently complex, and if you can't grasp and influence these intricate interdependencies across a large business unit, you'll end up with fragmented initiatives that don't deliver real impact. We need someone who can design the 'big picture' and then break it down into actionable programmes for their team.
• Trait: Executive-Level Pragmatic Influencer
• Manifestation: You can walk into a room with the BU President, the Head of R&D, and the Finance Director, and not only hold your own but genuinely shift their perspective. You don't just present environmental ideals; you translate them into compelling business cases that speak to their priorities: market share, cost efficiency, risk reduction, and brand loyalty. You know when to push hard and when to compromise, always with the long-term strategic goal in mind. You're a master at building consensus among strong-willed leaders, using data, industry trends, and a deep understanding of their challenges.
• Benefit: Frankly, you'll have very little direct authority over the budgets and teams that actually *do* the work of circularity (like engineering or procurement). Your entire success hinges on your ability to persuade and influence senior leaders to make significant investments and changes. If you can't get them on board, your brilliant strategies will just sit on a shelf. This role is about driving change through influence, not command.
• Trait: Forensic Detail-Orientation (at scale)
• Manifestation: You're the person who reviews a complex board-level sustainability report and spots the single data point that's inconsistent, or the subtle phrasing that could expose us to greenwashing claims. You ensure your team maintains impeccable, auditable records for all regulatory submissions and internal programmes, knowing that one misstep could lead to a multi-million-pound fine or a product recall. You don't just trust the numbers; you understand the underlying data sources and can challenge them when something feels off.
• Benefit: In Compliance, Quality, Health, and Safety, the stakes are incredibly high. At a Director level, your oversight on detail prevents systemic failures that could impact an entire business unit, its P&L, and its reputation. You're responsible for ensuring that all public claims and regulatory submissions are watertight. Small errors, when multiplied across a large organisation, become massive liabilities. This isn't just about catching typos; it's about ensuring the integrity of our entire environmental compliance posture.

Supporting Traits

• Trait: Executive Resilience
• Desc: You'll face significant resistance to change, budget constraints, and competing priorities from other departments. You need to be able to absorb setbacks, re-strategise, and keep pushing forward without losing momentum or morale. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and sometimes it feels like running uphill.
• Trait: Inherent Curiosity for Innovation
• Desc: You're always scanning the horizon for the next big thing in sustainable materials, recycling technologies, or circular business models. You proactively research new policy developments, not just reacting to them. This curiosity drives innovation and keeps our business unit ahead of the curve.
• Trait: Masterful Structured Communicator
• Desc: You can distil incredibly complex topics—like the nuances of chemical recycling mass balance or the financial implications of a new EPR scheme—into clear, concise, and compelling messages for diverse audiences, from engineers to the Board. You know how to tailor your message and get straight to the point.

Primary Motivators

1. Motivator: Driving Large-Scale, Tangible Impact
2. Daily: You're energised by seeing your strategic plans translate into real-world reductions in waste, new sustainable products hitting the market, or significant improvements in our environmental footprint. You love the feeling of knowing your work is making a difference at a business unit level.
3. Motivator: Shaping Future Business Strategy
4. Daily: You thrive on being at the table for critical business decisions, influencing the long-term direction of a major business unit, and positioning it for future success in a circular economy. You enjoy thinking several years ahead and building the roadmap to get there.
5. Motivator: Building High-Performing Teams & Capabilities
6. Daily: You get a real buzz from mentoring and developing your team, seeing them grow into strong leaders and specialists. You enjoy building new capabilities within the organisation, knowing that a strong team is crucial for delivering on ambitious goals.

Potential Demotivators

Honestly, this role isn't for everyone. You'll spend a lot of time advocating for long-term investments that might not show immediate quarterly returns, which can be frustrating when you're dealing with short-term financial pressures. You'll also encounter significant inertia and resistance to change from established departments who are comfortable with the status quo. The reality is, not every brilliant circular economy idea will make it to production—some will be deprioritised due to cost, complexity, or simply a lack of organisational appetite. If you need every project you champion to be fully implemented and celebrated, you might struggle with the political realities here.

Common Frustrations

1. Trying to balance ambitious environmental targets with the BU's quarterly financial performance goals—it's a constant tension.
2. Dealing with the 'black box' of our global supply chain; getting accurate, auditable material declarations from Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers is a never-ending battle, even at this level.
3. The slow pace of organisational change. You'll propose a brilliant, transformative initiative, and it might take 18 months of meetings and approvals to even get off the ground.
4. Being seen as the 'compliance police' or a 'cost centre' by some parts of the business, rather than a strategic partner who can unlock new value and mitigate future risks.
5. Navigating the ever-changing and often contradictory patchwork of international environmental regulations, especially for a global product portfolio.
6. The sheer volume of data required for robust reporting, often spread across legacy systems that don't talk to each other, making strategic insights harder to get.

What Role Doesn't Offer

1. A purely technical, individual contributor role where you're just focused on deep analysis—you'll be leading and influencing constantly.
2. A 'greenfield' opportunity with unlimited budget to implement every circular economy idea without commercial constraints.
3. A static, predictable environment; the regulatory landscape, market demands, and internal priorities are always shifting.
4. Direct authority over all operational functions—you'll need to earn influence through expertise and collaboration.

ADHD Positives

1. The strategic, high-level nature of this role, with its constant need to connect disparate ideas and see the 'big picture' across a business unit, can be a great fit for ADHD strengths. You'll be driving multiple, complex initiatives simultaneously.
2. The need for innovative problem-solving and thinking 'outside the box' to overcome systemic barriers to circularity can be very engaging.
3. The fast-paced, high-stakes environment of executive leadership and regulatory changes can provide the necessary stimulation.

ADHD Challenges and Accommodations

1. While strategic, there's still a significant need for meticulous oversight of compliance details and reporting, which might require strong support from detail-oriented team members or robust AI-driven tools for tracking.
2. Managing a large team and multiple programmes requires excellent organisational skills; using project management software and delegating effectively will be key.
3. Accommodations might include flexible meeting schedules, dedicated focus time blocks, and leveraging executive assistants for administrative tasks.

Dyslexia Positives

1. The strategic thinking, pattern recognition, and ability to grasp complex systems and interdependencies are often strengths for individuals with dyslexia, which are crucial for this Director-level role.
2. Excellent verbal communication and persuasive skills, often found in individuals with dyslexia, are vital for influencing senior stakeholders and advocating for circular initiatives.
3. The ability to think creatively about new business models and solutions to complex environmental challenges can be a significant asset.

Dyslexia Challenges and Accommodations

1. Producing extensive written reports for the Board and regulators is a core part of the role. Leveraging AI drafting tools, having strong editorial support, and using dictation software can be very helpful.
2. Ensuring accuracy in detailed compliance documentation will require robust proofreading processes and potentially dedicated support staff.
3. Accommodations could include using screen readers, text-to-speech software, and ensuring all written communications are clear, concise, and well-structured.

Autism Positives

1. The deep analytical rigour required for understanding complex regulatory frameworks, LCA data, and material flows can be a strong fit for autistic individuals who excel in detailed, logical analysis.
2. The ability to focus intensely on specific areas of expertise (e.g., a particular regulatory domain or a circular technology) can lead to unparalleled insights and strategic recommendations.
3. A direct, honest communication style, when adapted for executive settings, can be highly effective in cutting through corporate jargon and driving clear decision-making.

Autism Challenges and Accommodations

1. This role involves extensive political navigation, influencing without direct authority, and managing diverse personalities at a senior level. Developing strong coaching and mentoring support for these 'soft' leadership aspects is important.
2. Frequent, often unstructured, social interactions and networking with external partners and internal executives are essential. Clear agendas for meetings and opportunities for preparation can help.
3. Sensory considerations: Our office environment is typically modern, open-plan in some areas, but Directors usually have private offices or access to quiet zones. We can discuss specific needs for lighting, noise, and workstation setup.

Key Responsibilities

Experience Levels Responsibilities

1. Level: Director, Circular Economy & Product Stewardship (Level 6)
2. Responsibilities: Define and articulate the business unit's multi-year circular economy and product stewardship strategy, making sure it aligns with corporate goals and global regulatory trends. This isn't just a document; it's the roadmap for how we'll operate.
3. Lead and manage a diverse team of circular economy specialists and managers (25-100+ people), providing strategic direction, fostering their development, and holding them accountable for delivering on ambitious targets. You're building a high-performing engine here.
4. Drive the integration of circular economy principles into core business functions like R&D, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing. This means influencing their KPIs, budget allocations, and decision-making processes, often through sheer force of logic and data.
5. Oversee the business unit's compliance with all relevant international environmental regulations (e.g., REACH, RoHS, WEEE, EPR schemes, plastic taxes). Ensure robust systems and processes are in place to mitigate regulatory risks and maintain market access.
6. Represent the business unit's circular economy agenda to C-suite executives, the Board, key investors, and major external partners. You'll be presenting, negotiating, and advocating for significant investments and strategic shifts.
7. Identify and champion new circular business models (e.g., Product-as-a-Service, remanufacturing, waste valorisation) that can generate new revenue streams or significant cost savings for the business unit. This means spotting opportunities and building the business case.
8. Manage a significant budget (typically £2M-£10M+) for circular economy programmes, technology investments, and team resources. You'll be making tough calls on where to allocate funds for maximum impact.
9. Supervision: You're largely autonomous on execution, reporting to the VP, Global EHS & Circularity on a monthly or quarterly basis for strategic alignment and major programme updates. You're expected to anticipate and prevent issues, rather than just report them.
10. Decision: You have full authority over strategic decisions within your domain, including budget allocation up to £5M, hiring and firing for your team, and selecting major technology platforms and external partners (up to £1M). Decisions impacting the overall business unit strategy or requiring significant capital expenditure (above £5M) will require alignment with the BU President and VP, Global EHS & Circularity. You'll also be involved in M&A due diligence for environmental risks and opportunities.
11. Success: Success looks like your business unit consistently exceeding its circularity and compliance targets, being recognised as an industry leader, and seeing tangible financial benefits from your initiatives. Your team will be thriving, and you'll be a trusted advisor to senior leadership.

Decision-Making Authority

• Type: Strategic Direction for Circular Economy
• Entry: No authority. Executes tasks based on defined strategy.
• Mid: Proposes improvements to existing strategies for specific projects.
• Senior: Designs and recommends strategic initiatives for a workstream; consults Director for approval.
• Type: Budget Allocation (Programmes/Tech)
• Entry: No budget authority. Purchases approved items.
• Mid: Manages project expenses up to £5K.
• Senior: Recommends budget for specific projects up to £50K; requires Director approval.
• Type: Team Hiring & Structure
• Entry: No hiring authority.
• Mid: Participates in interview panels.
• Senior: Conducts interviews and provides hiring recommendations for junior roles.
• Type: Regulatory Compliance Posture
• Entry: Ensures data accuracy for submissions.
• Mid: Ensures routine submissions are compliant.
• Senior: Interprets complex regulations and advises on compliance for specific products.

Competency Requirements

Foundation Skills (Transferable)

At this Director level, we're looking for someone who doesn't just possess these skills, but can model them, coach them, and apply them strategically across a large business unit. You're setting the standard.

• Category: Strategic Leadership & Vision
• Skills: Defining and communicating a compelling multi-year vision for circularity and product stewardship across a business unit.
• Translating global trends (regulatory, market, technological) into actionable business strategies.
• Building and empowering high-performing teams, including managers, to deliver on complex objectives.
• Driving organisational change and overcoming resistance through effective influence and negotiation.
• Category: Executive Communication & Influence
• Skills: Presenting complex data and strategic recommendations clearly and persuasively to C-suite, Board members, and external stakeholders.
• Negotiating effectively with internal and external partners to secure resources, approvals, and collaboration.
• Building strong, credible relationships with senior leaders across diverse functions (R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance).
• Representing the company externally in industry forums, regulatory discussions, and with key customers.
• Category: Complex Problem-Solving & Decision Making
• Skills: Analysing ambiguous, multi-faceted problems (e.g., balancing regulatory compliance with commercial viability) and developing pragmatic, scalable solutions.
• Making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information, understanding the trade-offs and managing associated risks.
• Developing robust risk mitigation strategies for environmental compliance and product stewardship.
• Applying systems thinking to understand and optimise complex material flows and value chains across the business unit.
• Category: Financial Acumen & Business Case Development
• Skills: Developing compelling business cases for circular economy investments, demonstrating clear ROI, cost savings, or new revenue streams.
• Managing significant budgets (£2M-£10M+) effectively, ensuring optimal allocation of resources.
• Understanding the financial implications of environmental regulations and circular strategies on the business unit's P&L.
• Translating environmental impact into financial terms that resonate with executive leadership.

Functional Skills (Role-Specific Technical)

You'll need deep, practical expertise in these areas, not just theoretical knowledge. You're expected to be the ultimate authority for your business unit.

Technical Competencies

• Skill: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) & Strategic Hotspot Analysis
• Desc: Deep expertise in ISO 14040/14044 standards. You'll set the strategy for how LCAs are conducted across the BU, interpret complex results at a strategic level, and use them to drive product design and material selection decisions. You're not just running models; you're using them to influence major investments.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Enterprise Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
• Desc: The ability to design and oversee MFA across the entire business unit's operations and supply chain. You'll use MFA to identify systemic inefficiencies, major waste streams, and opportunities for industrial symbiosis or closed-loop systems at scale.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Circular Business Model Strategy & Implementation
• Desc: Expertise in designing, piloting, and scaling circular business models (e.g., Product-as-a-Service, remanufacturing, refurbishment, recycling programmes) that are commercially viable and environmentally impactful for a large product portfolio. This includes understanding the operational, financial, and legal implications.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: International Environmental Regulation & Policy Leadership
• Desc: In-depth, up-to-the-minute understanding of global regulatory frameworks like EU REACH, RoHS, WEEE, the EU Green Deal, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, plastic taxes, and emerging legislation. You'll be setting the BU's proactive response strategy and representing us in discussions.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: ISO 14001/50001 System Governance & Optimisation
• Desc: Practical experience in overseeing the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Environmental and Energy Management Systems across multiple sites or a large business unit. You're ensuring these systems are robust, auditable, and drive genuine performance improvement.
• Level: Advanced
• Skill: Advanced Product Stewardship & End-of-Life (EoL) Management
• Desc: Designing and managing comprehensive, enterprise-wide programmes for product take-back, advanced recycling, and responsible disposal, ensuring compliance with all EoL regulations globally. This includes strategic partnerships and infrastructure development.
• Level: Expert

Digital Tools

• Tool: SimaPro / GaBi (LCA Software)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Setting the overall LCA strategy for the business unit, evaluating and selecting software tools, and interpreting high-level results for executive decision-making. You won't be building models day-to-day, but you'll be guiding those who do.
• Tool: SAP S/4HANA for Product Compliance / Sphera Product Stewardship
• Level: Architect
• Usage: Designing the enterprise-wide processes for substance compliance and product stewardship within these platforms. You'll oversee implementation, ensure data integrity, and use the outputs for strategic risk management and reporting.
• Tool: Enablon / Cority / Intelex (EHS & GRC Platforms)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Leading the module selection, configuration, and integration of circular economy reporting within the enterprise GRC/EHS platform. You'll ensure data flows smoothly for board-level reporting and strategic KPI tracking.
• Tool: Microsoft Power BI / Tableau (Data Analysis & Visualisation)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Defining the data architecture for sustainability reporting and circularity KPIs. You'll be presenting insights from these dashboards to executive leadership, using them to drive strategic decisions and track progress against BU goals.
• Tool: Microsoft SharePoint / MS Teams / Confluence (Collaboration & Doc Control)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Setting the governance policy and strategic use of these platforms for all EHS & Sustainability documentation within the business unit, ensuring auditability and efficient cross-functional collaboration.
• Tool: Diligent Boards / Workday Adaptive Planning (Executive & Board Reporting)
• Level: Architect
• Usage: Preparing and packaging critical sustainability and circularity performance data for board books using tools like Diligent. You'll use planning tools like Adaptive to model the financial impacts and ROI of major circular initiatives for board-level presentations.

Industry Knowledge

• Area: Circular Economy Principles & Frameworks
• Desc: Deep understanding of the core principles (e.g., design out waste, keep products/materials in use, regenerate natural systems) and major frameworks (e.g., Ellen MacArthur Foundation circular economy framework, cradle-to-cradle design). You'll be applying these at a strategic business unit level.
• Area: Sustainable Materials Science & Innovation
• Desc: Broad knowledge of sustainable materials (e.g., bioplastics, recycled content, renewable resources) and emerging material technologies. You'll need to understand their performance characteristics, supply chain implications, and regulatory challenges to guide R&D and procurement.
• Area: Waste Management & Recycling Infrastructure
• Desc: Comprehensive understanding of global waste management practices, recycling technologies (mechanical, chemical), and the challenges and opportunities in developing robust circular infrastructure. This is critical for designing effective EoL programmes.
• Area: ESG Reporting Standards & Investor Expectations
• Desc: Expertise in major ESG reporting frameworks (e.g., GRI, SASB, TCFD) and a clear understanding of what investors and rating agencies expect regarding circular economy performance. You'll be shaping our disclosures.

Regulatory Compliance Regulations

• Reg: EU Green Deal & Circular Economy Action Plan
• Usage: You'll be leading the strategic response and implementation of initiatives to comply with and leverage opportunities from the EU Green Deal, including new regulations on sustainable products, packaging, and digital product passports.
• Reg: REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)
• Usage: Overseeing the business unit's strategy for chemical compliance, including managing SVHCs, ensuring robust material declarations, and mitigating risks related to substance restrictions across the product portfolio.
• Reg: WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) & Battery Directives
• Usage: Leading the BU's compliance strategy for EoL management of electronics and batteries, including EPR schemes, collection targets, and recycling obligations across all relevant markets.
• Reg: Global Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Schemes
• Usage: Developing and managing the business unit's strategy for compliance with diverse EPR schemes for packaging, electronics, and other products across multiple international markets, optimising fee structures and reporting.
• Reg: National Plastic Taxes & Packaging Regulations
• Usage: Leading the BU's strategy to comply with and minimise the financial impact of national plastic taxes and evolving packaging regulations (e.g., recycled content mandates, reusability targets) globally.

Essential Prerequisites

• Proven track record of leading and managing large, diverse teams (20+ people, including managers) in a complex, global organisation.
• Extensive experience (10+ years) in a senior leadership role within Compliance, Quality, Health, Safety, or Sustainability, specifically with a focus on circular economy or product stewardship.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and persuade C-suite executives and Board members on strategic environmental initiatives.
• Significant experience managing budgets (£1M+) and making strategic investment decisions for programmes or technology.
• Deep, practical understanding of international environmental regulations and their business implications.
• Experience designing and implementing large-scale change management programmes across multiple functions.

Career Pathway Context

Typically, candidates for this role would have progressed from a Manager-level position (L5) in a similar function, or held a Head of Sustainability/EHS role in a smaller, but equally complex, organisation. The key is demonstrating leadership, strategic impact, and the ability to operate at a business unit level.

Qualifications & Credentials

Emerging Foundation Skills

• Skill: Circular Economy Finance & Investment
• Why: The shift to a circular economy requires significant capital investment, and traditional finance models often don't account for the long-term value creation or risk mitigation. Understanding how to structure green bonds, impact investments, and new financial instruments will be critical for funding your initiatives.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Green Bonds & Sustainability-Linked Loans', 'description': 'Understanding how to secure financing tied to sustainability performance metrics.'}, {'concept_name': 'Life Cycle Costing (LCC)', 'description': 'Evaluating the total cost of a product over its entire lifespan, not just upfront costs.'}, {'concept_name': 'Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Optimisation', 'description': 'Strategically managing EPR fees and investments to maximise returns and compliance.'}, {'concept_name': 'Valuation of Intangible Assets', 'description': 'Quantifying the financial value of brand reputation, regulatory foresight, and resource resilience.'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Attend a webinar on sustainable finance or green bonds.
• Next 6 months: Partner closely with our Finance Director to understand capital allocation processes and investment criteria for new projects.
• Next 12 months: Work with external consultants or industry bodies to explore innovative financing mechanisms for a pilot circular initiative.
• Ongoing: Read reports from institutions like the World Economic Forum on circular economy investment trends.
• QuickWin: Start framing your business cases for circular initiatives not just on cost savings, but on long-term value creation, risk mitigation, and brand enhancement. Use financial language that resonates with the CFO.
• Skill: Digital Product Passports (DPP) & Supply Chain Traceability
• Why: The EU's Digital Product Passport initiative is a game-changer, requiring unprecedented transparency on product materials, repairability, and end-of-life. Being able to implement and leverage these digital tools for compliance and circularity will be a massive competitive advantage.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'DPP Data Requirements & Standards', 'description': 'Understanding what data needs to be collected and shared, and in what format.'}, {'concept_name': 'Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability', 'description': 'Exploring distributed ledger technologies for immutable material tracking.'}, {'concept_name': 'Interoperability & Data Exchange Protocols', 'description': 'Ensuring our systems can talk to those of our suppliers, customers, and recyclers.'}, {'concept_name': 'Cybersecurity for Sensitive Product Data', 'description': 'Protecting proprietary and compliance-critical information within digital passports.'}]
• Prepare: This month: Read the latest EU proposals and industry whitepapers on Digital Product Passports.
• Next 3 months: Initiate a cross-functional working group with IT, Product Development, and Supply Chain to assess our current data readiness for DPPs.
• Next 6 months: Identify and pilot a suitable technology solution (e.g., blockchain platform, data management system) for enhanced supply chain traceability on a key product line.
• Ongoing: Engage with industry consortia developing DPP standards to shape future policy.
• QuickWin: Map out the current data points we collect on a flagship product's materials and components. Identify the gaps that would need to be filled for a basic Digital Product Passport.

Advancing Technical Skills

• Skill: Advanced AI for Predictive Compliance & Risk Management
• Why: Regulatory landscapes are too vast and complex for manual monitoring. AI will become indispensable for anticipating compliance risks, identifying emerging threats, and optimising our proactive response strategies across the business unit.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Machine Learning for Regulatory Forecasting', 'description': 'Using AI to predict future regulatory changes and their potential impact.'}, {'concept_name': 'Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Policy Analysis', 'description': 'Automating the analysis of legal texts and policy documents to extract key compliance requirements.'}, {'concept_name': 'AI-driven Anomaly Detection in Compliance Data', 'description': 'Using AI to spot unusual patterns in supplier declarations or internal compliance reports that indicate a potential issue.'}, {'concept_name': 'Ethical AI & Bias in Compliance Systems', 'description': "Ensuring AI tools used for compliance are fair, transparent, and don't introduce unintended biases."}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Research leading AI platforms for regulatory intelligence and risk management.
• Next 6 months: Commission a pilot project to test an AI-driven solution for a specific compliance challenge (e.g., substance screening).
• Next 12 months: Develop a roadmap for integrating AI into our core compliance and product stewardship processes across the BU.
• Ongoing: Stay informed on AI ethics and governance best practices, especially concerning data privacy and algorithmic transparency.
• QuickWin: Identify one high-volume, repetitive compliance task within your team that could be partially automated by an existing AI tool. Explore a proof-of-concept.
• Skill: Circular Design & Engineering for Scale
• Why: It's no longer enough to just 'design for recycling.' You'll need to lead the integration of advanced circular design principles (e.g., design for longevity, repairability, remanufacturing, upgradability) into large-scale product development processes, influencing R&D and engineering at a strategic level.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Modular Design & Standardisation', 'description': 'Designing products with interchangeable components for easier repair and upgrade.'}, {'concept_name': 'Material Circularity Indicators (MCI)', 'description': 'Using metrics to quantify the circularity of products and materials.'}, {'concept_name': 'Digital Twins for Product Lifecycle Management', 'description': 'Creating virtual models of products to simulate and optimise their circularity over time.'}, {'concept_name': 'Reverse Logistics Optimisation', 'description': 'Designing efficient systems for product take-back, sorting, and processing for reuse or recycling.'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Review our current Design for X (DfX) guidelines with R&D and identify gaps in circularity.
• Next 6 months: Sponsor a 'circular design sprint' with engineering teams to redesign a key product component for improved repairability or material recovery.
• Next 12 months: Develop and implement new internal standards and KPIs for circular design across all new product development projects.
• Ongoing: Engage with external experts and academic institutions on cutting-edge circular engineering methodologies.
• QuickWin: Identify a product that frequently fails or is hard to repair. Challenge the engineering team to propose a modular design improvement.

Education Requirements

• Level: Minimum
• Req: Master's degree in Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Sustainability Management, or a closely related field.
• Alts: Exceptional candidates with a Bachelor's degree and an additional 5+ years of relevant, demonstrable leadership experience in a complex industrial setting may be considered.
• Level: Preferred
• Req: PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline, or an MBA with a specialisation in sustainability or operations.
• Alts: A strong portfolio of published work, industry leadership positions, or significant contributions to relevant standards bodies could also be highly advantageous.

Experience Requirements

You'll need roughly 16-20 years of progressive experience in environmental compliance, product stewardship, or circular economy roles, with at least 8-10 years spent in senior leadership positions managing large teams and significant programmes. This experience should ideally be within a global manufacturing, electronics, or chemical industry context, where product lifecycle management and regulatory complexity are high. We're looking for someone who has genuinely driven large-scale change and managed multi-million-pound budgets.

Preferred Certifications

• Cert: Certified Circular Economy Professional (CCEP)
• Prod: Various reputable bodies (e.g., Circular Economy Institute)
• Usage: Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of circular economy principles and their practical application at a strategic level.
• Cert: Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Prod: Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Usage: Crucial for managing complex, cross-functional circular economy programmes and ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Cert: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
• Prod: Various accredited organisations
• Usage: Valuable for optimising processes, reducing waste, and driving efficiency in operations, which are core to circularity.
• Cert: Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
• Prod: Institute for Supply Management (ISM)
• Usage: Helpful for understanding and influencing complex global supply chains, which is critical for material circularity and compliance.

Recommended Activities

• Active participation in relevant industry associations (e.g., WEEE Forum, European Chemical Industry Council) or sustainability consortia.
• Regularly attending and speaking at major international conferences on circular economy, product stewardship, or environmental compliance.
• Engaging with academic institutions or research bodies on emerging topics in sustainable materials or recycling technologies.
• Mentoring junior professionals in the EHS or sustainability field, sharing your expertise and building the next generation of leaders.

Career Progression Pathways

Entry Paths to This Role

• Path: From Manager, Circular Economy & Compliance (L5)
• Time: 3-5 years at L5
• Path: From Head of Sustainability/EHS (smaller organisation)
• Time: 5-8 years in a similar leadership role
• Path: From Senior Consultant (Big 4 / Specialist Firm)
• Time: 8-12 years in sustainability/circular economy consulting, with significant client leadership

Career Progression From This Role

• Pathway: VP, Global EHS & Circularity (L7)
• Time: 3-5 years in Director role
• Pathway: Business Unit President / General Manager
• Time: 5-8 years in Director role (often after a stint as VP EHS & Circularity)

Long Term Vision Potential Roles

• Title: Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
• Time: 10-15 years from Director role
• Title: Board Member / Non-Executive Director (NED)
• Time: 15-20 years from Director role
• Title: Industry Thought Leader / Policy Advisor
• Time: 15+ years from Director role

How Zavmo Delivers This Role's Development

DISCOVER Phase: Skills Gap Analysis

Zavmo maps your current competencies against all requirements in this job description through conversational assessment. We evaluate your foundation skills (communication, strategic thinking), functional skills (CRM expertise, negotiation), and readiness for career progression.

Output: Personalised skills gap heat map showing strengths and priorities, estimated time to competency, neurodiversity accommodations.

DISCUSS Phase: Personalised Learning Pathway

Based on your DISCOVER results, Zavmo creates a personalised learning plan prioritised by impact: foundation skills first, then functional skills. We adapt to your learning style, pace, and neurodiversity needs (ADHD, dyslexia, autism).

Output: Week-by-week schedule, each module linked to specific job responsibilities, checkpoints and milestones.

DELIVER Phase: Conversational Learning

Learn through conversation, not boring modules. Zavmo uses 10 conversation types (Socratic dialogue, role-play, coaching, case studies) to build competence. Practice difficult QBR presentations, negotiate tough renewals, and handle churn conversations in a safe AI environment before facing real clients.

Example: "For 'Stakeholder Mapping', Zavmo will guide you through analysing a complex enterprise account, identifying key decision-makers, and building an engagement strategy."

DEMONSTRATE Phase: Competency Assessment

Zavmo automatically builds your evidence portfolio as you learn. Every conversation, practice scenario, and application example is captured and mapped to NOS performance criteria. When ready, your portfolio supports OFQUAL qualification claims and demonstrates competence to employers.

Output: Competency matrix, evidence portfolio (downloadable), qualification readiness, career progression score.