Sustainability Specialist

Job Overview

The Sustainability Specialist is the primary contact for sustainability inquiries from customers. The responsibility will include cross-functional coordination to determine and document product information related to sustainability efforts. This role will analyze emerging trends and provide recommendations to the management team.

Job Responsibilities

• Respond to all customer requests regarding sustainability and social responsibility initiatives.
• Manage technical databases, libraries, portals, and archives in order to accurately respond to questionnaires including, but not limited to CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), EcoVadis, Innovation Center for Dairy, and customer-specific evaluations.
• Support internal gap analysis of sustainability programs in order to identify opportunities for process improvement, including the development of an ISO-based sustainability management system.
• Actively collaborate with functional subject matter experts throughout the company to determine and document recyclability of packaging materials, recycled content, and applicable labelling.  
• Maintain spreadsheets to track all critical sustainability and social responsibility data at the plant and corporate level.
• Administrate the sustainability management system in order to help integrate sustainability and social responsibility into business processes and programs.
• Provide input to the annual Corporate Sustainability Report and presentations.
• Evaluate and document sustainability "aspects and impacts" of both product packaging and manufacturing activities.
• Engage with customers and suppliers to accurately measure and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of the supply chain, with specific emphasis on activities affecting our carbon footprint or recyclability.
• Participate in customer-required social responsibility audits, and help address findings.
• Develop and conduct internal sustainability and social responsibility training to satisfy address customer requirements.
• Research and share ideas for energy reduction projects and waste stream management options.
• Draft executive summaries and/or marketing and outreach data to share results internally and externally.
• Analyze publicly available competitor initiatives and evaluate against internal activities.
• Research emerging sustainability and social responsibility trends, and provide summary on areas of opportunity.
• Attend related training, conferences, workshops, seminars, and meetings.
• Ability to travel 20%, based on Company needs.
• GLC employees are expected to perform any assignment or job task according to company safety policies and procedures.
• GLC employees are responsible to ensure products are produced in a manner that exceeds the food safety, quality and value expectation of our customers / consumers.
• All GLC employees adhere to company Good Manufacturing Practices, Policies and Procedures outlined in our Safe Quality Food Program.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the manager.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor Degree from an accredited institution. 
• Experience with Microsoft Office 
• Must be legally authorized to work for a company in the United States without sponsorship. 

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, Marketing, or Communications.
• Internship or professional experience in a sustainability specialist or similar role.
• Extensive research and analytical skills (ability to read substantial reports and summarize effectively).
• Ability to work with data and interpret trends.
• Ability to self-manage and balance multiple internal projects and external customer inquiries at the same time.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Working Conditions

• Work is mainly performed in an office setting, with some time spent in a manufacturing environment• Hair nets, ear plugs/muffs, hardhats, and/or safety glasses may be required.• Occasional exposure to industrial operations including: temperature extremes from approximately 35ºF to 100ºF; noise levels in excess of 85 dB; moisture and moving machinery.

EEOC & Disclaimer

Great Lakes Cheese is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.