Director of Social Impact and Sustainability, London

Are you an experienced sustainability leader looking to create impact at scale? Are you excited by the prospect of driving environmental and social change at a global level?

Our client, a British heritage brand and one of the world’s foremost beverage distributors, is looking to hire a Director of Sustainability & Social Impact in London to lead the next iteration of its sustainability journey.

This role forms part of the global senior management team and is responsible for galvanising the business behind its social responsibility and environmental strategy, which you will play a key part in creating. You will work collaboratively with different functions and regional leaders to develop and execute programmes which will reinforce the business as a leader and driver of positive, sustainable change in the industry.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Strategic integration and leadership – you’ll develop and deliver comprehensive strategies that integrate sustainability and social impact into core business operations and culture
• Global programme leadership – you’ll innovate and create initiatives that reduce environmental footprint, promote social equity and enhance community engagement across the organisation’s global operations
• Comprehensive stakeholder engagement – you’ll foster collaborative and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including employees, investors, customers, suppliers, community groups and regulatory bodies
• Innovation and continuous improvement – you’ll drive innovation in sustainability practices, seeking out new technologies, methods and partnerships that can enhance the organisation’s impact
• Leadership and culture – you’ll lead an established and high-performing global team that provides mentorship and training to the operational business, ensuring a culture of empowerment and commitment to positive change
• Reporting and disclosures – in partnership with key cross-functional stakeholders, you’ll ensure compliance with relevant environmental and social regulations, frameworks and disclosures, ensuring the organisation is tracking against key performance metrics

To succeed, you’ll need:

• Previous experience as a sustainability leader in either the food and beverage, agriculture, retail or fashion industries
• Subject matter expertise and practical experience of social impact policies, climate change mitigation, carbon reduction, water use and nature/biodiversity programmes
• Exposure to global supply chains, ethical sourcing and human rights initiatives
• Experience leading and developing teams of environmental and social specialists
• Significant experience of creating comprehensive global strategies
• The ability to champion and shift beliefs and behaviours at all levels
• The ability to lead and motivate diverse teams to buy into and support the delivery of organisational goals
• Knowledge of relevant sustainability frameworks, reporting standards and regulatory requirements

This is a rare opportunity to lead the sustainability function for an organisation that has been plying its trade for over 300 years, but that still prides itself on innovation and sustainable change.

If you have the relevant experience and this opportunity sounds interesting to you, please get in touch with our team including a copy of your CV as soon as possible via the form below.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. You can access our Diversity and Inclusion Policy here.

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