Director, Product Sustainability

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provide influential leadership to a cross-functional team of sustainable product development and commercialization professionals.

• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a high-performance, purpose-driven culture.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Sustainability Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, product-focused sustainability strategy aligned with corporate values and goals.
• Inspire and educate internal teams by sharing emerging trends, regulations, and customer expectations related to sustainability.
• Champion sustainable innovation and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement in eco-design and product sustainability impact.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a Center of Excellence (CoE) in Sustainability, fostering cross-functional collaboration and building organizational capabilities to drive long-term sustainable innovation.

Sustainable Product Development & Innovation

• Lead sustainable product development initiatives, including lifecycle assessments (LCA), eco-design, and circularity strategies to meet technical and economic objectives.
• Drive initiatives that support customers' Scope 3 sustainability goals, including sustainable product design, supply chain transparency, and lifecycle impact reduction.
• Collaborate with R&D, Product Stewardship, Marketing, Sales, and Regulatory teams to integrate sustainability into product innovation and commercialization.
• Identify opportunities for differentiation and competitive advantage through sustainability-driven product innovation.

Metrics, Targets & Reporting

• Manage administrative tasks related to SGI (Sustainable Growth Initiative) targets, tracking, and reporting to ensure alignment with corporate sustainability goals.
• Establish measurable sustainability targets and develop KPs to assess the environmental and social impacts of ingredients, formulations, and product portfolios.
• Monitor, analyze, and report sustainability performance to the executive team, board of directors, and external stakeholders.
• Oversee the preparation and publication of the annual Sustainability Report and other required disclosures, ensuring transparency and alignment with global reporting standards.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as the primary contact for customers, partners, and industry stakeholders on product sustainability matters, including visiting customers to promote our sustainable technologies and solutions.
• Represent the company in technical discussions, industry forums, and sustainability-related events.
• Support the development of sustainability communications, including customer-facing materials, internal updates, and executive briefings.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to ensure consistent messaging and storytelling around sustainability initiatives and achievements.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Deep knowledge of sustainability frameworks (e.g., GRI, CDP, TCFD, SASB) and environmental regulations.
• Proven track record of setting and achieving corporate sustainability goals.
• Strong leadership and team-building capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills across all organizational levels and ability to present at exhibitions and events.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and project management skills.
• Proficiency in sustainability reporting tools and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering - Environmental, Sustainability, Chemical, Material, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in sustainability, ESG strategy, or environmental management, with a strong focus on sustainable product development, lifecycle assessment (LCA), and eco-design within a corporate or manufacturing environment.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

• This position requires on-site presence at an Inolex facility (Philadelphia, PA or Charlotte, NC) at least three days per week to support cross-functional collaboration and engagement with R&D, operations, and product commercialization teams.
• Occasional travel (approximately 20-30%) is required for internal meetings, customer engagements, and industry conferences.
• Work is primarily performed in an office environment, must be able to sit for extended periods and work at a computer.

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Product Sustainability to lead our company’s efforts in sustainable product development, lifecycle analysis, and eco-design. This role is pivotal in shaping and executing a forward-thinking sustainability strategy that aligns with global best practices, regulatory requirements, and our mission to boldly pursue safer, greener, and simply better products.

The Director will work cross-functionally with the R&D, Product Stewardship, Operations, Marketing, and Sales teams to embed sustainability into every stage of product innovation and commercialization. The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record of driving measurable sustainability outcomes, engaging stakeholders, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

This role reports to VP of R&D & Commercialization on the senior leadership team.

This company is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EOE/including disability/vets)