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Global Sustainability Manager

Smiths Detection United Kingdom Added on Jul 21, 2026
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This role bridges the gap between high-level ESG strategy and the technical granularities of product compliance. You will own the full spectrum of sustainability management, from co-authoring the global decarbonization roadmap to ensuring every component in the supply chain meets international environmental standards. By coordinating between engineering and senior leadership, you ensure the organization doesn’t just report on impact but integrates it into the very design of security technologies.

The unique value of this position lies in its proximity to heavy-industry operations and complex global trade. You are not just managing data; you are safeguarding market access by proactively navigating the shifting landscape of REACH, RoHS, and emerging SCIP requirements. This is a chance to drive systemic change in a high-stakes engineering environment where product durability and environmental stewardship are critical to global safety infrastructure.

This suits someone who possesses a rigorous technical mind and thrives on translating complex legislative requirements into operational reality. You should have a background in manufacturing and a deep comfort with global ESG reporting frameworks.

Preguntas frecuentes

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The Global Sustainability Manager is responsible for co-owning the global ESG strategy and translating it into measurable KPIs and actionable roadmaps. You will maintain a heavy focus on governance, ensuring that sustainability is not a side-project but is embedded into core business decision-making processes across the organization. Technically, you will take the lead on product stewardship, ensuring full market access through compliance with REACH, RoHS, and Conflict Minerals regulations. This involves managing supplier declarations and material disclosures while overseeing environmental data collection to support robust reporting under frameworks like CSRD and TCFD.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep expertise in regulatory navigation, specifically regarding the rapid evolution of product-related environmental legislation such as SCIP and emerging global substance bans. This is a rare chance to see how sustainability interacts with high-security tech supply chains. Furthermore, you will refine your skills in advanced ESG disclosures. Moving beyond basic reporting, you will be involved in double materiality assessments and science-based target setting, providing practical experience in how large-scale industrial operations manage Scope 3 emissions and carbon accounting under the GHG Protocol.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings a blend of technical engineering knowledge and sustainability expertise. A degree in Environmental Science or Engineering is essential, coupled with proven experience in an industrial or manufacturing setting where product stewardship was a primary focus. Beyond technical certifications like IEMA or ISO 14001, you must be a persuasive communicator capable of operating in a matrix structure. You should have a track record of influencing stakeholders across procurement, finance, and engineering to adopt more sustainable practices without compromising operational efficiency.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Focus your application on specific examples of where you have integrated compliance into product lifecycles. Mentioning your direct experience with REACH or RoHS databases will immediately signal your technical readiness for the role's heaviest requirements. To stand out, demonstrate an analytical understanding of how global supply chains in the electronics sector are being impacted by CSRD. Showing that you understand the business risk of non-compliance—not just the ecological benefit—will resonate with a leadership team focused on security and market stability.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on circularity and chemical safety. By managing restricted substances and material disclosures, you ensure that the company's hardware adheres to the highest environmental standards, reflecting excellence in product-level sustainability. There is also a strong emphasis on decarbonization within the supply chain. While operational efficiency (Scopes 1 and 2) is key, you will likely spend significant time engaging with suppliers to improve data quality for Scope 3 emissions, which is critical for meeting science-based targets.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary hurdles will be data integrity in a global supply chain. Collecting accurate material declarations from various tiers of suppliers requires persistence and the ability to build strong, trust-based relationships with procurement partners. Additionally, you will need to manage the complexity of a matrix organization. Balancing the immediate needs of engineering teams with the long-term reporting requirements of the Head of HSE requires significant organizational agility and the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with reviewing legislative updates to assess how new environmental laws affect existing product lines. This is often followed by meetings with the procurement team to discuss supplier compliance statuses or restricted substance management. In the afternoon, you might switch to analytical ESG tasks, such as calculating carbon footprints for specific projects or preparing disclosure drafts for the TCFD. You would likely end the day collaborating with quality assurance to ensure that material data is correctly uploaded to digital compliance platforms.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Given the global nature of the role and the small size of the immediate engineering partner team, this position offers high visibility to senior leadership. Success here can lead to more senior strategic roles within the broader HSE or corporate governance functions. You will have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects, such as the implementation of Lifecycle Assessments (LCA) across the product portfolio, which can establish you as a thought leader in sustainable product design within the security technology sector.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with Engineering and Procurement teams to manage product compliance and supplier sustainability performance. These relationships are the engine of your daily work, ensuring that components meet the required standards. At a higher level, you will coordinate with Finance and HR for ESG reporting and social impact metrics, while periodically reporting progress to the Head of HSE and other senior leaders to ensure the sustainability strategy remains aligned with the company's broader commercial goals.

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