Senior Product Sustainability Expert

Assent•New York, NY

4h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Product Sustainability Expert is a recognized thought leader and subject matter expert (SME) responsible for driving Assent’s objective of being a market-leading software and services solution for a wide variety of customers and industries. This role operates as a trusted advisor to manufacturers, helping define how product sustainability requirements are translated into real-world, scalable programs. The position requires a highly knowledgeable and experienced subject matter expert to lead the development of best practices that address both evolving market requirements and the regulatory landscape, such as ESPR, whilst constantly influencing existing solutions and identifying business opportunities for Assent to develop new products in response to the regulatory and sustainability outlook. This role will work closely with internal teams as well as external stakeholders to provide expertise and guidance on highly complex and strategic directives that support Assent’s value proposition and business goals.

Requirements

12+ years of practical experience related to product sustainability, design for sustainability, life cycle assessment, circular economy, product stewardship, or ecodesign
Relevant post-secondary degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, Environmental Law, Design for Environment, or similar relevant field
Competency in PCF/LCA Standards and industry-specific requirements including PCRs
Experience managing strategic product sustainability programs in a multinational organization that produces durable professional goods
Strong research, critical thinking and analytical skills; ability to intake, process, and interpret large quantities of complex information, including legal text, identify relevant business impact, and summarize important information for non-compliance stakeholders
Strong public speaking and presentation skills with the ability to create content and adjust messaging to adapt communication to varied audiences, supporting Sales, Marketing, and Product engagements
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English is essential
Strategic and business-minded - strong business acumen and understanding of Assent goals and value proposition, able to align efforts and priorities to broader team and organizational goals
Superb collaboration and influencing skills - able to establish strong cross-functional relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders both internal and external, inspiring trust and driving alignment
Trusted, reputable and credible subject matter expert and advisor, internally and externally
Highly motivated self-starter with proven ability to manage projects, meet deadlines, and drive results

Nice To Haves

Understanding of manufacturing practices with experience in product design, certification and compliance, procurement, sustainability or other product or supply chain management roles is desirable
Prior background as a consultant or in an advisory capacity that has been responsible for revenue generation is considered beneficial
Strong knowledge of LCA software solutions (e.g. Sphera, One Click LCA, openLCA, SimaPro, etc) is desirable

Responsibilities

Be a trusted and known subject matter expert internally and externally, demonstrating depth and breadth of knowledge in several areas of product sustainability and regulatory compliance
Specific attention to regulatory and industry objectives for product sustainability programs (e.g., Product Carbon Footprint, Life Cycle Assessment, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) including digital product passports, Environmental Product Declarations, sustainable product initiatives, etc.)
Keep abreast of regulatory, sustainability and industry-led developments and identify trends through ongoing monitoring and research of global standards and regulations as well as industry group engagement
Influence regulatory and sustainability industry progress and Assent’s opportunities through proactive and ongoing trade association engagement, participation in working groups, relationship-building, developing/updating standards, and supporting events as a thought leader
Engage with the Product Management team to identify opportunities for Assent to develop impactful new products and software solutions by articulating regulatory compliance and sustainability market, customer and industry perspectives and building the business case in alignment with team and Assent goals
Be a leading voice in the ongoing evolution of Assent’s solution including driving the establishment of market best practices and recommendations for the adoption of best practices that complement and enhance the Assent SaaS Platform, and provide full cycle support from design to delivery
Provide ongoing expertise and guidance to internal and external stakeholders (either direct engagement or through Sales or Customer Success teams) including prospective customers to inform and support compliance efforts and goals related to both regulatory compliance and sustainability, skillfully distilling highly complex information to support meaningful dialogue across diverse audiences
Demonstrate thought leadership and support Assent’s brand recognition as a trusted advisor by collaborating with marketing teams to produce external facing materials such as blog posts, white papers, webinars and sales enablement in addition to events hosted by third parties including conferences and industry group engagements
Support training programs and educational initiatives related to product sustainability including both regulatory compliance and market concerns
Be familiar with corporate security policies and follow the guidance set out by processes and procedures of Assent Inc.