Head of Sustainability, Northern Europe

at  Louis Nielsen

Planet - Communities - People
As of Head of Sustainability, Northern Europe you’ll be responsible for working with teams across the region to deliver business transformation aligned to our sustainability ambitions and goals. As part of the Global Sustainability team, this role will support the formulation of groupwide strategies and concepts ensuring Northern Europe’s perspectives are understood and considered. This role will lead specific regional strategy development and execution, ensuring change is delivered through cross functional teams.

WHO YOU ARE?

• Extensive experience of leading change activity to support large scale agile programmes.
• A track record of building successful change plans that cover multiple functions.
• Team player maintaining a close working relationship with colleagues, adapting style and approach to meet the needs of team.
• Flexible and adaptable approach and a strong communicator, both written and verbal, with the ability to collaborate with, and successfully influence, all levels of the organisation.
• Strong collaborative style with the ability to engage and foster cross functional and multi territory relationships.
• Ability to simplify complex issues and bring a structured approach to planning and project execution and evaluate regional readiness.
• Capable to see the bigger picture, consider broader implications and think strategically in a commercial context.
  On a more personal note, we are looking for our new colleague to be passionate about sustainability as well as having a good understanding of sustainability issues impacting large businesses. Sharing with passion your view, vision, and ambition for change; you will be able to influence and inspire others to engage and participate.

Operating as an effective change manager you will be involved in a varied agenda focused on driving relevant and practical outcomes for Specsavers, our partners, customers, and our colleagues in the areas of Environmental, Social and Economic impacts.
Whilst this role sits within the Global Sustainability functions and reports directly to the Global Sustainability Director its success will be through matrix working; being an integral part of the region is critical for success.
Working closely with Sustainability Subject Matter Experts, internal colleagues across other Regions, Supply Chain and Group Functions plus relevant third parties and Suppliers to help develop and shape the thinking and ensure initiatives are set up for success to enable brilliant execution to drive the required transformation.
Sustainability is a top priority for Specsavers, it is about ensuring long-term business growth through the right choices for our People, Planet and Communities. Our social priorities focus on having a positive impact beyond profit by creating a business where colleagues and partners are proud to belong, and our customers trust us more because we are transparent, fair and ethical in how we do business, and we actively support the communities in which we operate. Our environmental priorities focus on protecting the planet alongside Group and Partner profits by being more responsible when it comes to the resources, we use to run our business alongside building resilience against climate change impacts.
We have set ourselves some stretching goals, one of which is to achieve net zero carbon emissions across our operations and supply chain by 2050 with an interim goal to halve our operational emissions by 2030.
For us to deliver on this ambition, dedication to driving change that ensures maximum impact across our stores and support offices with focus on both credibility and authenticity is needed.
As the Head of Sustainability, NE, your most important job tasks will include, but not be limited to:

Support Strategy / Initiative Development

• Support the design and development of relevant initiatives to achieve our sustainability ambitions and goals aligned to environment, our communities, and our people in Northern Europe. Develop credible arguments and perspectives to influence and shape better outcomes for Partners, Customer and Colleagues.
• Identify and enable opportunities to bring together teams, facilitating collaborative working and sharing best practices to bring ideas to life and land change in a commercial environment.
• Competently evaluate opportunities, compare, and contrast options and select the optimal solutions relevant for the region.

Business Transformation

• Builds rapport with relevant stakeholders across Stores and Support office; understands and can articulate how sustainability can support their goals and plans, is aware of and empathetic to their challenges, emotions, and enthusiasm.
• Identify and enable opportunities to bring together teams, facilitating collaborative working and sharing best practices.
• Developing inspiring internal engagement programmes and acting as an advocate for broader sustainability activity, building knowledge and awareness across the region on best practice.
• Manage the delivery of programmes to drive change across the region – including project planning, managing relationships, developing internal communication campaigns, engaging senior management/Partners, and evaluating outcomes.
• Evaluating impact of programmes, supporting quarterly reporting of Sustainability KPIs.
• Member of the Group Sustainability Committee representing the region (Stores and Support Office)
• Chair the Regional Sustainability Committee, working closely with the committee to bring relevant topics for discussion and/or decision.
• Create open communication with key stakeholders to inform and update, building trust and respect by creating strong relationships that allow for healthy debate and influential discussion.

Brilliant Execution

• Overall accountable for landing and embedding change within the region.
• Ensuring initiatives are set up for success through careful planning and alignment of resources in a timely and cost-effective manner. Ensuring goals and success factors are clearly understood and articulated.
• Provide direction and support to overcome challenges and proactively enable opportunities at pace.
• Ensure that appropriate governance is in place and respected to ensure that ideas and resources are prioritised to maximise business benefit.
• Partner with the teams to understand and articulate potential benefits of initiatives; track, measure and report on benefits realised.
• Organise, facilitate, and lead initiative development meetings as required, often involving stakeholders from multiple locations and functions.
• Support the development of internal and external communication plans as required.

As Head of Sustainability, you’ll work at our NESO office in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn Our new office features a stunning rooftop terrace with breathtaking city and harbour views.