Director Extended Producer Responsibility

The Hershey Company•Lower Swatara Township, PA

3d•$166,400 - $208,000

About The Position

The Director, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Compliance leads The Hershey Company’s enterprise-wide approach to packaging EPR compliance and readiness. Reporting to the VP, Global Government Relations, Philanthropy and Corporate Responsibility, the role translates evolving regulatory requirements into coordinated business action, initially focusing on the United States and Canada while monitoring emerging obligations globally. As the company’s primary EPR subject-matter leader, the Director chairs the cross-functional EPR Steering Group and collaborates with Government Relations, Legal, Sustainability, Packaging, Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement, Product Development, Information Technology, and business teams. The role manages compliance risk, strengthens data and reporting capabilities, assesses financial and packaging implications, and supports timely business decisions. It also provides oversight and direction to the EPR Compliance Coordinator and represents Hershey with producer responsibility organizations, industry associations, and other external stakeholders.

Requirements

10+ years of overall experience, including 5+ years of relevant experience in packaging compliance, environmental or product stewardship, sustainability, regulatory affairs, packaging engineering, or a related field.
Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. and Canadian packaging EPR frameworks, including producer registration, reporting, fee structures, eco-modulation, producer responsibility organization engagement, and compliance administration.
Experience leading complex cross-functional programs in a matrixed organization and influencing senior leaders and stakeholders without direct authority.
Experience establishing compliance processes, controls, data governance, documentation standards, and audit-ready records.
Strong knowledge of packaging materials, recyclability considerations, material classification, and the business implications of packaging design and sourcing decisions.
Strong financial and analytical capabilities, including fee modeling, forecasting, scenario planning, budgeting, invoice validation, and business-case development.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex datasets and translate regulatory requirements into system, process, data, and reporting requirements.
Strong executive communication, project management, prioritization, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
Experience managing external stakeholders, advisors, consultants, or vendors.
Ability to travel.
Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, engineering, packaging science, sustainability, public policy, business, supply chain, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or relevant professional certification.
Experience in consumer-packaged goods, food and beverage, retail, or another high-volume product sector.
Experience implementing technology-enabled regulatory reporting or product/packaging data solutions.
Working knowledge of emerging global packaging requirements, including recyclability standards, labeling, recycled content, and packaging reduction.
Knowledge of life-cycle assessment concepts and recycling infrastructure.
People leadership or direct supervisory experience.
Experience with European packaging EPR frameworks.

Responsibilities

Own the enterprise-wide packaging EPR strategy, scenario planning, governance, compliance roadmap, and operating processes as regulatory and producer responsibility organization requirements evolve.
Lead the Hershey EPR Steering Group, establish priorities and accountability, resolve cross-functional issues, and bring forward recommendations for key decisions.
Direct U.S. and Canadian plastics, packaging, and EPR registrations, reporting, submissions, fee obligations, controls, and audit-ready documentation.
Oversee the EPR Compliance Coordinator and coordinate business subject-matter experts to deliver required data, documentation, approvals, and payments.
Serve as the primary contact with producer responsibility organizations and EPR administrators, managing registrations, reporting requirements, data questions, invoices, audits, and issue resolution.
Design scalable EPR data governance and reporting capabilities in partnership with Information Systems and ESG data and technology teams, addressing systems requirements, data integrity, controls, and continuous improvement.
Partner with Finance on fee modeling, forecasting, budgeting, invoice validation, eco-modulation impacts, and business cases.
Develop scenario analyses to inform packaging design, material selection, sourcing, supplier engagement, capital investment, and portfolio decisions.
Translate regulatory requirements into practical guidance and decision frameworks for Packaging, Supply Chain, Procurement, Product Development, and commercial teams.
Partner with Packaging and Sustainability to evaluate packaging choices based on EPR requirements, recyclability, food safety, product protection, greenhouse gas and life-cycle considerations, and operational feasibility.
Work with Government Relations and Legal to monitor U.S., Canadian, and global packaging policy developments and assess business impacts and implementation risks.
Keep executive leadership informed about regulatory developments, compliance status, fee forecasts, business impacts, material risks, and decisions required.
Represent Hershey in industry and technical forums and support external advocacy and communications related to packaging EPR, recyclability, labeling, and recycling infrastructure.
Build EPR capability across Hershey through training, tools, communications, and cross-functional engagement.
Manage program budgets, external advisors, vendors, and other resources as needed.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Wellness programs supporting physical and mental health.
Competitive pay.
Annual incentive opportunities.
401(k) with company match.
Paid time off.
Company holidays.
Flexible ways of working where applicable.
Career development programs.
Learning opportunities.
Internal mobility.
Performance-based incentives.
Comprehensive benefits package supporting physical, mental, and financial well-being.