Senior Director of Sustainability

Graham Packaging is a people, planet and values-based company and a leader in sustainable packaging manufacturing. From the kitchen to the laundry room, Graham Packaging is part of your everyday life.

For employees at Graham, our Blue Culture is part of their everyday lives, too. In other words, Blue is how we do things here.

At Graham, we are united by a clear vision. We know our part and help those around us know theirs, encouraging one another to continuously improve. We create a safe, challenging environment to innovate by supporting creative ideas and new ways of thinking. We take the initiative to cultivate our individual growth and help others do the same, while keeping ourselves and one another accountable. And we actively promote cooperation, collaboration, integrity and respect across regions and teams to foster an engaged, diverse and connected workforce.

We value our employees, and a Blue Culture allows for the most rewarding employee experience as part of the Graham family. Blue is how we feel about what we do—together—to create a better tomorrow. Working at Graham means you lead constructively with clear goals, use diverse thinking to drive excellence, accountability, innovation, as well as demonstrating collaboration, embracing learning, and taking action for continuous improvement and growth.

As the Senior Director of Sustainability, you will spearhead our sustainability efforts, shaping and executing a strategic vision that aligns with Graham Packaging’s commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Reporting directly to senior leadership, this role is ideal for a proven leader with a strong track record of success in driving sustainability initiatives within a corporate environment. You will lead the development and implementation of comprehensive sustainability strategies, oversee sustainability reporting, and guide cross-functional teams to achieve Graham’s ambitious sustainability goals. This role calls for a smart, articulate, and collaborative leader who can make an immediate and significant impact on our sustainability performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Vision for Sustainability: Support and execute a strategic vision for sustainability within Graham Packaging, ensuring our leadership in sustainable practices within the packaging industry.
• Collaborative Strategy Development: Partner with other division leaders to implement a well-coordinated sustainability strategy that integrates seamlessly across all business units, aligning with Graham’s broader business objectives.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead and inspire cross-functional teams to drive sustainability initiatives, embedding sustainability deeply into all aspects of our operations and culture.
• Sustainability Reporting and Metrics: Oversee the coordination of the collection, analysis, and communication of sustainability data, ensuring adherence to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and other relevant frameworks such as SBTi, CDP, and TCFD.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Implement continuous improvements in sustainability practices, identifying opportunities to enhance environmental performance, reduce costs, and innovate in sustainable product development.
• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management: Monitor and manage sustainability-related legislative developments, ensuring compliance and proactively addressing risks associated with sustainability strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Establish and maintain strong relationships with customers, regulators, NGOs, and other stakeholders to ensure Graham’s sustainability initiatives meet external expectations and drive business value.
• Customer Centricity: Leveraging sustainability to create value for our customers by developing greenhouse gas emissions and PCR roadmaps. Establish yourself as the sustainability SME for our customers, crafting and delivering presentations on sustainability capabilities and trends. Highlight opportunities for collaboration that align with the customer’s goals and needs.

Opportunities in the First 12 Months:

• Establish a Foundation of Trust: Quickly build trust and credibility with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment on sustainability goals.
• Strengthen Sustainability Reporting: Enhance the company’s sustainability reporting capabilities, particularly in relation to GRI, SBTi, CDP, and TCFD frameworks, ensuring comprehensive and transparent reporting.
• Operational Integration: Partner with Operations team as they ensure that sustainability initiatives are fully integrated into the company’s operations, focusing on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and cost-effectiveness.

Longer-Term Strategic Opportunities:

• Sustainability Leadership and Innovation: Position Graham as a leader in sustainability within the packaging industry, leveraging sustainability as a competitive advantage.
• Cultural Change and Engagement: Foster a culture of sustainability within Graham, ensuring that all employees are engaged and motivated to contribute to the company’s sustainability goals.

Background and Skills Required:

• Sustainability Leadership: A visionary leader with a proven track record in sustainability, capable of inspiring teams and driving change across the organization.
• GRI and Sustainability Reporting Expertise: Experience in GRI and other sustainability reporting frameworks, with a deep understanding of how to effectively communicate sustainability performance to various stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate across departments to integrate sustainability into all areas of the business.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong business judgment with the ability to balance sustainability goals with the need to drive profitable growth.
• Change Management: Experience in leading long-term change processes, building commitment to sustainability initiatives, and tracking progress against established goals.
• Ethical Integrity and Cultural Sensitivity: Demonstrates high ethical standards and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams across global operations.
• Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs): Previous experience in the development and analysis of Life Cycle Assessment
• Minimum 7 years of experience in a customer-facing sustainability role with increasing levels of responsibility

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainability, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, or a related field.
• Advanced Degree (e.g., MBA, MS in Sustainability) is highly desirable.

Travel:

• Travel: Approximately 20- 30% depending on location

The expected salary range for the position described in this posting is made in accordance with the legal mandates of certain jurisdictions within the United States. The final agreed-upon compensation is based on individual qualifications and experience.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. Employees are able to enroll in the company’s 401K Employee Saving Plan and may participate in its Employee Wellness Program. Employees will also receive paid time off in accordance with company policy and state law requirements.

Graham Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, religion, creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.