Sustainability Director

At Graphic Packaging International, we produce the paper cup that held your coffee this morning, the basket that transported those bottles of craft beer you enjoyed last weekend, and the microwave tray that heated your gourmet meal last night. We’re one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, personal care and pet products. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we are collaborative, diverse, innovative individuals who create inspired packaging while giving back to our communities.

With over 25,000 employees working in more than 130 locations worldwide, we strive to be environmentally responsible in our industry and in the communities where we operate. We are committed to workplace diversity and offer compensation and benefits programs that are among the industry’s best to reward the talented people who make our company successful.

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we’d love to hear from you.

A World of Difference. Made Possible.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director, Enterprise Sustainability (“Director”) is responsible for setting the strategic direction and leading the governance, execution, and continuous evolution of Graphic Packaging International, LLC (“GPI”)’s global sustainability program. Reporting to the EVP, General Counsel & Secretary, the Director will unify and lead a global sustainability organization with accountability across Product Sustainability, Operations Sustainability, and Supply Chain Sustainability. The successful candidate will serve as GPI’s principal sustainability subject matter expert, advising executive leadership and the Board while acting as the Company’s primary external sustainability leader with customers, investors, industry organizations, and other key stakeholders.

In addition to leading GPI’s enterprise sustainability strategy, goals, and roadmap, this role is accountable for sustainability reporting, governance, communications, and enterprise capability building. Success in this role requires strong cross-functional leadership to align business priorities, integrate sustainability into strategic decision-making, anticipate emerging global trends, and proactively address risks and opportunities that advance GPI’s sustainability objectives.

This role leads a global, matrixed sustainability organization through leaders responsible for Product Sustainability, Operations Sustainability, and Supply Chain Sustainability, while influencing a broad network of regional and functional resources across the enterprise.

The Director is responsible for coaching, mentoring, performance management, and professional development of direct reports, while serving as a technical mentor across the organization on climate strategy, carbon accounting, and related sustainability disciplines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy, Governance & Leadership

• Lead the development, evolution, and execution of GPI’s long-term global sustainability strategy and goals, informed by an ongoing assessment of ESG impacts, risks, and opportunities and aligned with the Company’s enterprise strategy and capital planning process.
• Establish and lead global sustainability governance structures, including a cross-functional sustainability steering committee with clear executive accountability, to drive enterprise alignment, visibility, and progress toward strategic goals.
• Advise executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and Board oversight committees on sustainability priorities, emerging risks, regulatory developments, and overall program performance through meaningful KPIs and executive dashboards.
• Monitor and accelerate progress toward internal and public sustainability commitments, providing regular updates to senior leadership and Board oversight committees.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing global sustainability team while strengthening organizational capabilities across product, operations, supply chain, reporting, and governance workstreams.
• Support development and management of the sustainability program budget, including business case development, financial forecasting, and stewardship of annual operating plans.
• Monitor emerging industry trends, regulatory developments, and peer best practices to ensure GPI’s sustainability strategy remains forward-looking and competitive.
• Serve as the enterprise thought leader on sustainability, ensuring alignment between sustainability strategy, corporate strategy, enterprise risk management, investor expectations, and long-term value creation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued):

Climate & Decarbonization

• Lead the evolution of GPI’s climate strategy and decarbonization roadmap, including initiatives to achieve science-based Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, expand renewable energy and fuel strategies, and integrate decarbonization priorities into operational and capital planning.
• Build enterprise capability in environmental data management and carbon accounting by enhancing reporting tools, dashboards, and analytics that provide actionable insight into enterprise and site-level performance.

Reporting, Compliance & Disclosure

• Monitor evolving global sustainability regulations and disclosure requirements, ensuring compliance with all applicable ESG reporting obligations.
• Oversee the strategy, governance, quality, and execution of all external sustainability disclosures—both mandatory and voluntary—while providing executive oversight during critical reporting cycles.
• Lead development of GPI’s annual Impact Report and related publications, including content strategy, sustainability framework alignment, project governance, design oversight, and execution. Ensure robust cross-functional collaboration, disciplined data collection methodologies, and strong internal controls throughout the reporting process.
• Lead engagement with leading ESG assessment and ratings organizations, including CDP, EcoVadis, MSCI, Sustainalytics, and similar organizations.
• Oversee continuous improvement of ESG data quality, controls, audit readiness, and verification processes, advancing priority sustainability metrics toward higher levels of internal and external assurance.
• Evaluate and implement technologies, systems, and processes that improve the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of ESG data management and reporting.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued):

Product, Operations & Supply Chain Sustainability

• Lead GPI’s product sustainability strategy, including circularity and recyclability initiatives, integration of sustainability into innovation and research and development, and expansion of life cycle assessment (LCA) and product carbon footprint capabilities.
• Lead GPI’s operational sustainability strategy, including energy efficiency initiatives, renewable energy and fuel sourcing, waste reduction, and circularity efforts across GPI’s global manufacturing footprint.
• Lead GPI’s supply chain sustainability strategy, including responsible sourcing, forestry stewardship, zero-deforestation commitments, supplier engagement, and environmental and social due diligence.
• Partner across the business to establish effective due diligence processes addressing human rights, labor practices, supplier responsibility, and related regulatory disclosure requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Culture

• Serve as GPI’s primary external sustainability leader, representing the Company’s sustainability strategy and priorities with customers, investors, industry associations, community organizations, conferences, and other external forums.
• Establish governance and accountability for responding to customer, investor, and internal sustainability inquiries while ensuring consistent, timely, and accurate communications.
• Oversee GPI’s sustainability communications strategy, including external recognition, thought leadership, awards, and social media engagement.
• Partner with enterprise leaders to translate sustainability priorities into measurable business actions across procurement, manufacturing, R&D, commercial, and other functional organizations.
• Strengthen employee understanding, capability, and engagement through sustainability training, communications, resource development, and communities of practice that reinforce GPI’s culture of sustainability.
• Manage strategic relationships with sustainability consultants, industry associations, NGOs, and other external partners.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 10+ years of progressive experience leading sustainability, ESG, or related programs within large, global, highly matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated success developing and scaling enterprise sustainability strategies, including science-based target setting, climate strategy, and greenhouse gas accounting across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.
• Proven leadership experience managing managers and developing high-performing global teams.
• Strong knowledge of leading sustainability frameworks, standards, and regulations, including GRI, SASB, ISSB, TCFD, CSRD/ESRS, CDP, and SBTi, with demonstrated experience implementing enterprise programs aligned to these frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to translate evolving sustainability trends and stakeholder expectations into actionable business strategies and secure executive alignment.
• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional sustainability initiatives across large organizations.
• Strong knowledge of sustainability and procurement practices, including responsible and sustainable sourcing principles.
• Strong analytical and strategic problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to develop compelling business cases, establish meaningful KPIs, and measure enterprise sustainability performance.
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, presentation, and influencing skills, with experience engaging executive leadership, Boards of Directors, customers, investors, and external stakeholders.
• Strong project and program management capabilities with the ability to manage multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously while maintaining transparency and alignment with senior leadership.
• Experience developing and managing strategic partnerships with private-sector organizations, NGOs, industry associations, multilateral organizations, consultants, and external service providers.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate degree in Business, Sustainability, Engineering, Environmental Science, Law, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification in sustainability, corporate responsibility, project management, or a related field.
• Experience within the paperboard, packaging, forest products, or related manufacturing industries, including familiarity with fiber sourcing and certification, circularity, recyclability, life cycle assessments, and product carbon footprint methodologies.
• Experience navigating global sustainability supply chain regulations across North America, Europe, and other international markets, including EUDR, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and other emerging regulatory requirements.

Disclaimer

The candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, with or without a reasonable accommodation. Graphic Packaging retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Competencies

• Business Acumen
• Curiosity
• Interpersonal Skills
• Influence Skills
• Self-Starter
• Negotiation Skills
• Organization Skills
• Results Oriented

Pay Range

$172,300.00 - $229,700.00

Pay Range: $172,300.00 - $229,700.00

Graphic Packaging is an equal opportunity employer and abides by all applicable federal, state provincial and local laws with respect to the recruitment and hiring process. We are committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and hiring process free from discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Should you require an accommodation for a disability, please contact your Human Resources representative or email View email address on click.appcast.io.

Requisition: 15587