Business Operations Sustainability Manager (Water Stewardship)

Unilever

London, UK 🇬🇧

Rotterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱

Job Title: Business Operation Sustainability Manager – Water Stewardship

Department: Business Operations

Profession: Procurement

Location : UK or Netherlands

Main Job Purpose:

The Business Operation Sustainability Manager for Water Stewardship works with a network of professionals to deliver the Water Stewardship program, to meet Unilever external Compass commitment of Implementing water stewardship programmes in 100 locations in water-stressed areas by 2030” across the 5 Business Groups. 20 sites have done a water-feasibility assessment, 7 projects (in India) are in implementation phase and 4-8 additional sites are expected to start feasibility studies.  Unilever has robust external and internal commitments for protecting people and the planet and the Business Operation Sustainability team is responsible for the Business Groups to progress against the external Compass commitments. 

Key Accountabilities:

  • Program responsibility to meet Compass Commitment
    • Responsible for delivering the 100 Water Stewardship sites by 2030 including shaping the year-on-year roadmap, glidepath and milestones On-time-in-full.
    • Leads the feasibility studies and action plans in partnership with experienced consultant(s)  and required internal and external stakeholder engagement.
    • Works with the SHE Capability Manager – Water to prioritize feasibility studies for Water Stewardship program through strategic risk-based analysis of catchment, site and market priority
    • Drives the outcomes of the feasibility study externally outside of our operations through external advocacy building impactful partnerships, and organizes and mobilizes internal resources as required (External Affairs, Sustainability, SHE, site leadership, Procurement, etc)
    • Establishing governance and accountabilities, to keep track of program implementation progress and providing updates toward key stakeholders in the 5 Business Groups and across the business, enables unlocks where required to progress
    • Responsible to ensure year-on-year financials required to deliver the program, providing the rationale and business case at the appropriate forums (Climate & Nature fund, Business Group Capex, external funds)
    • Proactively engages other parts of the business to seek out co-benefits associated with other compass commitments e.g. Regenerative Agriculture, Net Zero, Nature.
    • Strengthens governance & control of materials i.e. Basis of Preparations where necessary on behalf of the Senior Metric owner
    • Prepares data and verbiage as input for internal and external company reports on Water Stewardship including examples, ensuring accuracy and brand protection, Risk Management Documentation, Quarterly Leadership Reports and others.
    • Continuous improvement / disruptive mindset, seeking innovative approaches for financing, partnering and developing systems for measurement of impact and reporting.  
    • Point of contact and support for Unilever ULE Water Sponsor (senior metric owner) Unilever Subject Matter Expert in Water Stewardship, keeps track of external trends and direction of travel, brings key insights back into the business
    • Key technical vocal point for external alliances with peers and in peer groups on Water Stewardship includes attendance in external forums
    • Supports ongoing strategy around Climate Adaptation

Professional Skills:

ESSENTIAL

  • University degree in International Business Mngt, (Environmental) Engineering, or Sustainable Development, Agricultural Science
  • Business acumen critical, MBA preferred
  • Excellent communication skills, stakeholder management and influencing skills
  • Proven track record of impactful strategic program delivery
  • Ability to influence strategic deliverables in a widely matrixed organization
  • Ability to manage multiple requests and priorities simultaneously
  • Working experience with cross-functional work processes and organizational awareness  to best align with external ways of working.
  • Knowledge in human behaviour and work process associated with unplanned event management. 

Experience Required:

ESSENTIAL

  • Relevant experience in strategic Program delivery
  • Experience in sustainability, external affairs and/or advocacy
  • Experience in external stakeholders engagement and multi-stakeholders coalitions Appropriate functional/technical and project management expertise
  • Existing relationships with external organisations working on water stewardship, water access, water quality improvement and / or nature-based solutions.
  • knowledge and experience in emerging economies (Latam, Turkey, Africa, SEA)
  • readiness to travel up to 40%

PREFERRED

  • Experience implementing Water Stewardship programmes
  • Experience in public-private partnerships and blended financing models
  • Work experience within NGO partner organisation or government institution working on water security
  • Experience working in environmental issues in emerging economies

Travel:

As per job requirements

Contacts:

Internal:

  • SHE Capabilities Lead for Water
  • Advocacy, Partnership, External Affairs & Sustainability
  • Reporting and Finance
  • Senior leaders in Business Groups and Business Units
  • Operational leaders incl factory leaders, SHE, Procurement, Engineering,
  • Insurance and Corporate Riskand others.
  • Brand Teams

External

  • Lead for relationship and commitments through the Alliance for Water Stewardship
  • Technical support to the Sustainability Director (Environment) for engagement with the Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints, 2030 Water Resources Group, CEO Water Mandate & WEF Water Programme.

Reporting Channel:

Reports to the Compass Sustainability Program Director

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click hereopens in a new window Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.


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