Context and Job Purpose:
- The Sr. Supplier Climate Program (SCP) manager, within the Procurement Sustainability Climate Team, is a critical role in supporting our commitment to reaching -40% CO2 (industrial & energy) emissions and -30% CO2 (forest, land & agriculture emissions) in our Scope 3 value chain by 2030.
- The SCP program is the biggest lever in driving decarbonization for UL. It has established a good foundation with the engagement of TOP300 suppliers, and close to 200 delivering on the program ask to establish a CO2 baseline, set a target, and provide Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data
- The program has now reached a tipping point and will become integrated into procurement and business group priorities and processes (e.g., budget forecasts, contractual clauses, etc.). This will enable more granular engagement with suppliers, further embed climate into the procurement commercial infrastructure, and drive the delivery of concrete CO2-reduction action plans and deployment of decarbonization solutions with suppliers to accelerate impact.
- For 12 priority portfolios, we will evolve towards granular costed portfolio-level decarbonization roadmaps and bring in contracted commitments.
- Distinct enabling internal & external partners with specific capabilities are supporting the program: GHG measurement & accounting, emission factor management, PCF validation, technical (engineering) advisory, climate capability-building, co-financing…
- This role is the strategic lead of the SCP program, setting the direction, targets, infrastructure, capabilities, with team leadership to drive delivery and measure and report progress on implementation.
Key accountabilities
- Set strategic program direction and targets for the Supplier Climate Programme
- Define roadmaps, plans and objectives for delivery
- Monitor and track performance
- Coordinate and engage Net Zero procurement squad (internal procurement stakeholders and enabling functions)
- Select and manage external implementation partners (briefing, performance monitoring, learn & adapt). Manage the budget.
- Provide appropriate technical delivery support (engineering capabilities to support supplier’s decarbonization)
- Measure, track, and report progress at regular intervals
- Represent SCP on external events, and panels when appropriate
- Develop a capability-building approach for the internal buyers community to integrate Climate as a distinct procurement capability and target.
- Establish knowledge transfer solutions to support suppliers (eg. Energy/utilities procurement & green technology)
- Streamline the PCF data collection process with suppliers, verification, and reporting (with external partner) and establish global PCF standard with PACT.
- Structure supplier’s financing needs and establish a process estimate location/supplier-specific costs and provide concrete value propositions that make commercial sense.
- Evaluate the relevance and possibly establish an external PMO to run & track the implementation of decarbonization projects with suppliers.
Professional skills
ESSENTIAL
- Expert knowledge and demonstrated interest in climate change mitigation.
- Excellent apprehension and track record of Scope 3 decarbonization and procurement / supplier engagement.
- Proficiency in program management, strategic analysis and implementation (results-oriented)
- Working knowledge of product carbon footprint (PCF), LCA, and sustainability standards (ex. PACT)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, capacity to convey complex concepts in a simple way to diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams including Procurement, and adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate and reliable deliverables.
- High level of self-leadership, reliability, autonomy, a starter-finisher.
Experience required
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, engineering, sustainability, climate studies, or a related field. Master’s degree is preferred.
- 8-10 years of relevant work experience in supplier engagement or procurement sustainability
- Experience with Scope 3 decarbonization.
- Knowledge of relevant standards and methodologies, such as the GHG Protocol and SBTi standards.
- Familiarity with the FMCG industry and its sustainability challenges is advantageous.