Technical Sustainability Program Manager

Job Description:

Technical Sustainability Program Manager

Location: Chicago (other Mars NA and Canada sites considered)

The Technical Sustainability Program Manager is accountable for leading the design changes and execution of packaging sustainability programs for Food & Nutrition, with focus on North America initiatives.


Reporting into R&D Sustainability, this role combines program management ownership with technical sustainability and packaging expertise, enabling the role holder to actively shape discussions, support technical decisions, and drive execution across the business and key functions, including R&D Packaging, SRA, Commercial, AM, S&F, Corporate Affairs, and Legal.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Packaging, Materials, Food Science, Bio-Technology or a related technical field.
  
• Minimum 10 years of experience in packaging sustainability, regulatory, or R&D packaging related roles.
  
• Proven experience in Program / Project Management within complex, cross functional environments.
  
• Solid understanding of packaging sustainability topics and regulatory frameworks in North America (EPR / SB 54 strongly preferred).
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly in simplifying complex technical concepts across functions and organizational levels.
  
• Experience influencing decisions and driving execution without direct line authority.
  
• Willingness to travel up to 30%.
  

What would your key responsibilities be?

Program Leadership & Cross-Functional Execution

• Lead the planning and execution of packaging sustainability design changes related to EPR programs, reducing risk and ensuring delivery against regulatory timelines and business priorities.
  
• Establish and maintain clear governance, ways of working, RACI, and escalation paths for EPR design changes and packaging sustainability topics.
  
• Develop and manage integrated execution roadmaps, accelerating transitions of mono-material in NA, including milestones, validation steps, and go-live dates by brand, portfolio, or manufacturing network.
  
• Lead and coordinate dedicated F&N NA working groups, ensuring alignment across Core Food, Tbell, and KNF.
  
• Act as the primary point between R&D Packaging, SRA, Commercial, AM, S&F, Corporate Affairs, and Legal.
  

Technical Sustainability & Decision Support

• Maintain a strong technical understanding of U.S. EPR requirements (with emphasis on SB 54), recyclability systems, reduction targets, recycled content mandates, and reporting expectations.
  
• Actively contribute technical and regulatory insight to packaging and design discussions, supporting pragmatic and well-informed decisions.
  
• Partner closely with R&D and Packaging teams to assess technical feasibility, risks, trade-offs, and scenarios related to packaging changes.
  
• Help prevent reactive or siloed design decisions by providing structured technical context and sustainability guidance aligned with business priorities.
  
• Partner closely with cross-segment and market SPOCs to support the EPR and sustainability data validation process, identifying gap and ensuring that technical R&D and packaging data are accurate, complete, and technically robust.
  
• Monitor regulatory changes impacting data requirements and translate implications for R&D data and technical inputs, in partnership with cross-segment leads.
  

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Ensure consistent and clear communication of EPR requirements, decisions, and impacts across all Food & Nutrition Core and KNF NA stakeholders.
  
• Represent Food & Nutrition NA in cross-segment governance forums and relevant technical or sustainability discussions, ensuring aligned input and structured follow-up.
  
• Provide clear progress updates, risk assessments, and recommendations to R&D Sustainability leadership and senior management.
  
• Support key business processes (e.g., IVCP, AEP) by integrating sustainability and regulatory considerations into business narratives and decision materials.
  

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00