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Head of Sustainability

CPL Aromas • United Kingdom • Added on Jun 23, 2026
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As the interim Head of Sustainability, you will take the lead on executing a global ESG strategy for a world-renowned fragrance house. This twelve-month term involves overseeing complex multi-site projects across the UK, Dubai, and Colombia, while ensuring that the business remains compliant with international management standards and environmental legislation. You will act as the central pivot for sustainability, translating high-level corporate goals into operational reality across diverse manufacturing functions.

This position is critical because it bridges the gap between creative fragrance innovation and environmental stewardship. By working directly with R&D and purchasing teams, you ensure that the scents of tomorrow are crafted from responsibly sourced materials and developed via low-waste, energy-efficient processes. Your leadership will directly influence the company’s ability to reduce its carbon footprint and maintain its status as a sustainable industry leader during a pivotal year of growth and reporting.

This suits someone who is a pragmatic change agent with strong project management skills and an analytical mindset. You should be comfortable navigating international stakeholder landscapes and have a proven ability to translate sustainability concepts into commercial value within a B2B technology or manufacturing environment.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus is to lead and implement global sustainability strategies across the organization's international sites. You will be responsible for driving environmental compliance, specifically managing ISO systems such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001, and ensuring the business meets evolving legislative requirements. This includes delivering specific decarbonization and waste reduction projects in major hubs like Dubai and the UK. Beyond operations, you will lead the internal and external communication of sustainability progress. This involves the creation of quarterly and annual reports, updating the company’s digital presence with ESG initiatives, and fostering awareness among staff. You will also collaborate with technical and commercial teams to ensure that sustainability is embedded into product innovation and raw material sourcing.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain significant exposure to the end-to-end fragrance supply chain, learning how sustainability interacts with raw material sourcing and R&D in a B2B context. Managing projects in diverse regions like Colombia and Dubai provides a unique opportunity to understand how ESG initiatives are localized and scaled across different regulatory and cultural environments. You will also deepen your expertise in integrated management systems. The requirement to advise on ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and SA8000 ensures a comprehensive learning curve regarding global compliance standards. Furthermore, the focus on carbon footprint tracking and waste management projects offers hands-on experience in operational decarbonization strategy.

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

The ideal candidate holds a business or commercial degree and brings solid experience from a B2B technology or manufacturing environment. You should possess a 'can-do' attitude and the ability to influence leadership through data-driven insights and analytical evidence. Experience navigating complex change management within a global organization is highly valued for this senior-level role. Technical proficiency in ISO management systems is a major advantage, alongside strong project management capabilities. Because the role involves working with global teams, the candidate must demonstrate high cultural intelligence and communication skills to secure buy-in from stakeholders across different disciplines and geographies.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your experience in operationalizing sustainability rather than just high-level strategy. Provide specific examples where you managed multi-site environmental projects or successfully achieved ISO certifications in a manufacturing context. Since CPL Aromas prides itself on being a 'fragrance-only' house, demonstrating an interest in the nuances of the fragrance or chemical industry will show genuine alignment. Your application should highlight your analytical and prioritization skills. Given this is a 12-month fixed-term role, the hiring team will look for a professional who can hit the ground running and manage multiple competing deadlines effectively. Showing that you understand the intersection of sustainability and commercial growth will be a significant differentiator.

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

The role centers on operational decarbonization and waste management, with a focus on tangible reductions at production sites. This includes preventing pollution and optimizing resource use across global locations. You will likely spend significant time on responsible sourcing, ensuring that the ingredients used in fragrances meet the company's ethical and environmental standards. Additionally, there is a strong focus on governance and reporting. You will be the architect of the annual sustainability report and will ensure that the company's social responsibility programs, such as community support and charity partnerships, are well-integrated into the broader corporate narrative.

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

A key challenge will be driving change within a fixed timeframe. As a 12-month role, you must quickly establish credibility and momentum to complete key projects in different countries. Balancing the technical demands of ISO compliance with the creative and commercial needs of the R&D and sales teams may also require sophisticated negotiation and diplomacy. Managing sustainability across diverse global sites presents logistical and cultural hurdles. Ensuring consistency in reporting and environmental standards between UK operations and sites in Dubai or Colombia requires rigorous tracking and the ability to adapt global policies to local realities without losing the core mission's integrity.

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

A typical day might begin with a global project sync, reviewing progress on a waste reduction initiative in Dubai or a carbon audit in the UK. You may spend the mid-morning collaborating with the Purchasing team to review supplier assessment forms or advising R&D on the sustainability profile of new raw materials. In the afternoon, you could pivot to strategic reporting, drafting content for the annual sustainability report or updating the company's intranet with recent CSR successes. The day often concludes with stakeholder engagement, perhaps presenting a business case for a new environmental innovation to the Group Technical Director or the leadership team.

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

While this is a fixed-term position, it offers high-level visibility across the entire global organization and the fragrance industry at large. Leading the implementation of a group-wide strategy provides a powerful addition to a professional portfolio, demonstrating the ability to hold a 'Head of' position with significant autonomy. You will have the opportunity to influence the industry narrative by participating in industry groups and promoting CPL’s initiatives. This role positions you as a leading expert in fragrance sustainability, a niche but rapidly growing field, which can open doors to executive roles in sustainability, QEHS, or ESG consultancy.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will report directly to the Group Technical Director and work closely with the leadership team to guide their long-term decision-making. Internally, your most frequent collaborators will be the R&D teams, purchasing managers, and site leads across international locations who are responsible for local implementation. Externally, you will interact with suppliers and industry bodies to drive responsible sourcing and sector-wide sustainability standards. You will also engage with community partners and charities, acting as an ambassador for the company’s corporate social responsibility and ethical commitments.

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