Sustainability Director

Sustainability Director

CEFIC – European Chemical Industry Council

Brussels, Belgium

Today, the European chemical industry is indispensable to modern life, producing the building blocks and high-tech materials on which modern societies are built. Our molecules and materials are used in every industry, from agriculture to construction, food and beverages, energy, health care and medicines, machinery, textiles, hospitals and transportation. We deliver a range of solutions needed to deliver the EU Green Deal, from better batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and smarter, more energy efficient materials. The Chemicals Industry Transition Pathway identifies the actions and conditions needed to achieve the green and digital transition and improve resilience in the chemical industry.

The European Union’s chemical sector employs 1.2 million highly qualified people directly in 28,000 companies. The chemical sector supports around 19 million jobs across all supply chains. It generates more than €540 billion a year in sales and €170 billion in European value added. Our industry has embraced corporate social responsibility, ethical behaviour and the principles of Responsible Care.

Cefic is looking for a (m/f/d) Sustainability Director.

Mission of the role:

Reporting to the Director General, you will develop and lead Cefic’s sustainability strategy in alignment with the vision of the Chemical industry. This includes developing initiatives to accelerate the transition towards a resource-efficient, circular, climate-neutral and free from harm society, addressing gaps and opportunities in Cefic policy making and offering Cefic positioning on strategic, long-term trends.

You will engage with stakeholders to position the chemical industry as an innovation driver and solution provider.

The right candidate will act as an advocate and representative of the industry in official and professional bodies in order to position, communicate and safeguard its interests at all times.

Are you inspired by these responsibilities?

• Guide the sustainability team members and potentially other Cefic colleagues managing expert networks on product and organisational sustainability assessment, reporting and target setting frameworks, sustainability indicators, circular economy, safe and sustainable-by-design;
• Support the Chair, member of the Cefic Executive Committee, in leading the Cefic Sustainability Advisory Forum. The Forum consists out of thirty members with a high-level sustainability responsibility in their organisation;
• Develop, steer and implement initiatives meeting the mission and objectives agreed by the Sustainability Forum and integrate them into the global EU chemical industry strategy. This can include topics like developing a vision on Sustainable Products, a view on Biodiversity Target setting, Water Stewardship, etc.;
• Translate the approved strategies into objectives, plans, resources and budgets;
• Inform and shape Cefic’s sustainable development communications;
• Represent Cefic in official and professional bodies, and act as the broader Sustainability lead ‘outside’; in particular liaise with the WEF, WBCSD.

Can you make the difference?

The successful candidate will be a highly experienced professional who demonstrates the following experience and competencies:

• An industry Sustainability expert or a Brussels-based expert on Sustainability with a sound understanding of the challenges of the European Chemical Industry; Prior experience in the chemical industry will be very useful but is not a must;
• At least 10 years of hands on experience either in industry or in Brussels, with a strong political and business acumen and a strong and wide network in the EU marketplace;
• Strong strategic thinking and planning as well as excellent implementation skills;
• Outstanding interpersonal acumen, communication and negotiation skills;
• A successful track record of building consensus in a complex environment;
• Full professional proficiency in English and at least one other European language; additional languages are a definite asset;
• Prepared to live in Belgium.

Required personal qualities:

• You are a service-oriented listener who engages with all constituencies in a meaningful and respectful way;
• While possessing leadership skills, you are the ultimate team player and diplomat who is skilled in building bridges, aligning different views in a variety of settings;
• You are a person of the highest integrity with exceptional energy and drive. You possess self-confidence, balanced with a healthy amount of humility and a good sense of humour;
• You are collaborative, empathic, trusted, diplomatic, listening, engaging, inspiring, open-minded, culturally astute, committed and results-oriented;
• You are strongly motivated to bring the Cefic activity on Sustainability to a higher level, together with the Director General, the team and the strongly motivated membership;
• You enjoy the challenge of coordinating the large number of issues impacting the chemical industry, the large number of professionals in the Cefic world and the need to move beyond lobbying in becoming a partner of policy makers where possible.

What do we offer?

• Working in a people oriented, international and dynamic culture at the centre of EU affairs;
• Working in a team with a positive attitude towards stress and mindful of work – personal life balance;
• Full time employment contract, competitive salary according to experience and several benefits or the option of a secondment.

Are you interested?

Please send your application with full curriculum vitae and motivation letter, 10 February 2024 to Cefic:

Jessica Bart-Williams,
HR Officer,
Rue Belliard 40, b15,
1040 Brussels
E-mail address: [email protected]

NB: Please note that in the course of the recruitment process, your application may be shared with internal departments and/or Cefic members.