Head of Sustainability - Maternity Cover (12 Months)

Acre is currently working with a fast-growing, multi-format European retailer to identify a Head of Sustainability on an initial 12-month maternity cover contract. Through its group retail banners, they boast a combined +4000 stores in 19 territories across Europe, serving over 50 million shoppers each month.

​

The company's footprint spreads beyond Europe with its vertically integrated sourcing operation having offices located strategically across South and East Asia. They are committed to delivering growth and long-term value for stakeholders whilst also maintaining high standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity, managing the impact on the environment, developing colleagues, and enhancing the communities across their supply chain.

​

The group's Head of Sustainability is responsible for developing and implementing the group's Sustainability Strategy, delivering on both internal and external commitments in line with key stakeholder and regulatory requirements.

​

Key Deliverables:

• Work with ESG, sustainability and other cross-functional colleagues across the group to execute ESG strategy at both group and operating company level

• Responsible for the overall planning, development, and execution of the group's ESG end-of-year reporting

• Providing regular progress updates to senior internal stakeholders, including preparing and participating in quarterly ESG updates to the group's audit committee

• Working with the group's director of investor relations and communications to manage investor ESG information requests and develop an external communication strategy

• Develop the group's strategic approach to ESG reporting in the short and long-term agenda

• Monitoring ESG regulation and reporting requirements and ensuring the group is compliant with existing, upcoming, and horizon regulations (i.e. the EU's green taxonomy and CSRD)

• Working closely with the group's auditors to plan and manage end-of-year requirements with respect to ESG audit review

• Reviewing and developing the group's approach to ESG reporting, data, systems, and processes

• Work closely with operating company colleagues to play a key delivery role in certain ESG strategic initiatives, I.e. group's environmental supplier compliance programme

• In addition to closely monitoring ESG regulation, staying up to date with wider market developments and benchmarking competitor/peer strategy and reporting approach

• Manage relationships with external partners such as external audit providers and advisors

• Maintain budgetary responsibility for the group level of the ESG function

​

To thrive in this role, you already have:

• Educated to degree level, preferably in sustainability, law, accounting or a relevant professional qualification (for example, sustainability, legal, accounting or audit qualification) is preferred

• 10+ years of business experience within an international group or large accounting firm. +3 years experience in an ESG or sustainability-related role

• Understanding of sustainability challenges in retail would be beneficial, as would knowledge of supply chains and scope 1, 2 and 3

• Strong track record of influencing management at all levels and effecting value-added business change

• Structured, strategic, critical thinker who can work independently and self-sufficiently with little hand-holding as well as pragmatic in approach to operationalizing strategy

• Retail experience preferred but not essential

​

If you are motivated by the chance to affect change as part of a global consumer-facing brand, this is the one for you.

​

Apply directly or get in touch with Jesse Harford at jesse.harford@acre.com if you have any questions about this role.