Managing Consultant, Packaging and Product Sustainability

ERM•Washington, DC

11d•$102,700 - $129,600•Hybrid

About The Position

ERM is seeking a Managing Consultant to join its growing Sustainable Products and Supply Chain team in the United States. Proximity to an ERM office is preferred but not required. This hybrid role combines packaging and product sustainability expertise, consulting leadership, and commercial acumen to help organizations translate sustainability goals and evolving regulatory requirements into practical product, packaging, materials, compliance, and circularity strategies. The Managing Consultant leads high-impact client engagements, shapes emerging service offerings, strengthens client relationships, and collaborates with specialists across industries and geographies. The role connects packaging and product sustainability with compliance, innovation, cost, operations, supply-chain resilience, brand, and business strategy. It balances hands-on technical work with project and client management, team leadership, delegation, and business development. The position involves collaboration across locations and time zones, with occasional domestic and international travel based on client and project needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in packaging science, environmental science, sustainability, engineering, chemistry, materials science, biology, business, supply chain, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
Experience in consulting is required.
4–6 years of relevant experience in sustainable packaging, product sustainability, product stewardship, circular economy, life-cycle assessment, recycling, environmental management, product or packaging development, manufacturing, supply chain, sustainability consulting, or a related field.
Demonstrated success leading complex projects or significant workstreams, including scope, schedule, budget, team coordination, quality, and client deliverables.
Working knowledge of packaging materials, systems, value chains, and relevant sustainability or regulatory considerations.
Ability to interpret complex technical and regulatory information and convert it into practical, business-focused recommendations.
Strong client-facing, relationship-building, problem-solving, facilitation, report-writing, and presentation skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaborate effectively with cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams.
Commitment to high-quality delivery and experience coaching or mentoring colleagues.
This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or relevant professional certification in packaging, sustainability, environmental management, engineering, science, business, life-cycle assessment, or project management.
Experience leading external consulting engagements and multidisciplinary project teams.
Experience in packaging strategy and optimization; reusable packaging and reuse systems; packaging design, testing, or qualification; EPR and packaging regulations; PPWR; materials sustainability; recyclability and recycling systems; life-cycle assessment or product carbon footprints; product environmental standards, certifications, or ecolabels; product stewardship; sustainability data and claims; or supply-chain sustainability.
Experience integrating environmental and regulatory requirements into packaging or product-development processes, management systems, or operating models.
Experience working with packaging manufacturers, suppliers, recyclers, consumer brands, retailers, technology companies, or other participants in product and packaging value chains.
Experience supporting business development, proposal preparation, client presentations, account growth, or new service development.
Experience working with multinational organizations and senior cross-functional stakeholders.
More senior candidates are also considered.

Responsibilities

Lead medium to large, complex, multidisciplinary projects across sustainable packaging, product sustainability, circular economy, and product stewardship.
Help clients translate sustainability commitments and regulatory requirements into actionable packaging, product, materials, compliance, and implementation strategies.
Advise on packaging optimization, reusable packaging systems, sustainable product design, materials selection, recyclability, recycling systems, life-cycle assessment and carbon-footprint approaches, circularity, extended producer responsibility, environmental certifications, and emerging packaging and product regulations.
Evaluate technical, environmental, operational, and regulatory tradeoffs and turn findings into clear, business-focused recommendations.
Manage project scope, budgets, schedules, teams, deliverables, and quality while maintaining strong client relationships and commercial performance.
Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across sustainability, packaging, product development, engineering, supply chain, procurement, operations, regulatory, legal, and corporate affairs.
Identify opportunities, develop proposals, support client presentations, expand existing accounts, and help grow ERM’s Packaging and Product Sustainability services.
Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and collaborate across ERM’s technical communities, industry sectors, and regions to deliver integrated solutions.
Mentor junior and mid-level consultants and contribute to an inclusive, collaborative, high-performing team.
Advance ERM methodologies, intellectual capital, and market offerings related to packaging and product sustainability.
Develop fit-for-purpose strategies, assessments, roadmaps, management systems, and implementation tools.
Facilitate discussions with technical specialists, operational teams, business leaders, and executives.
Produce concise, decision-useful deliverables for technical and non-technical audiences.

Benefits

Paid time off, including vacation, sick, and floating holidays.
Parental leave.
Medical insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Life insurance.
Disability insurance.
AD&D insurance.
401(k).
Other applicable benefits for eligible employees.
The role may be eligible for bonus pay, subject to ERM’s discretion and policies; casual and fixed-term/flex-force employees are not bonus eligible.