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Global SCM Material Sustainability Lead

Hitachi Energy Italy Added on Jul 26, 2026
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This senior leadership position involves orchestrating the material sustainability strategy within the Global Supply Chain Management function for Hitachi Energy’s Transformers unit. You will be responsible for defining the environmental impact assessment methodologies, standardizing data processes, and driving the implementation of decarbonization initiatives across a complex international supplier network. Your primary focus is to ensure that material selection and procurement align with rigorous sustainability standards and evolving global regulations.

Sustainability is the lifeblood of this role, as you directly influence the carbon footprint of energy infrastructure at a massive scale. By refining Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations for transformer materials, you enable the global transition to a cleaner power grid. The role bridges the gap between high-level ESG commitments and the technical realities of global manufacturing and supply chains.

This suits someone who is a technical sustainability expert with a decade of mastery in supply chain strategy and a deep understanding of LCA frameworks. You should be a persuasive leader capable of driving cultural and operational shifts across diverse international stakeholders.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

As the Global SCM Material Sustainability Lead, your primary mission is to define and execute the strategic roadmap for material sustainability across the Transformers business unit. You will take ownership of the end-to-end management of environmental impact assessments, ensuring that all supply chain activities align with the company's broader sustainability goals and regulatory mandates. Your day-to-day responsibilities involves standardizing processes for data collection and monitoring, specifically focusing on Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD). You will lead supplier engagement programs to reduce Scope 3 emissions and work closely with procurement teams to integrate sustainability metrics into material selection and supplier requirements.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain unparalleled exposure to the industrial application of sustainability frameworks at a massive global scale. You will deepen your technical expertise in ISO standards like 14040 and 14067 while navigating the complexities of the energy sector's decarbonization journey. Furthermore, you will have the chance to lead transformational change management within a Fortune 500-scale environment. This includes developing advanced training modules for the SCM community and perfecting the art of influencing global stakeholders to adopt rigorous environmental claims and emission reduction practices.

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

The ideal candidate brings a minimum of 10 years of experience, blending technical environmental science knowledge with strategic supply chain leadership. You should hold a degree in Engineering or Environmental Science and possess a mastery of Life Cycle Assessment methodologies and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Beyond technical skills, the role requires a resilient leader who can navigate complex international environments. The ability to translate abstract sustainability regulations into actionable operational plans for global suppliers is essential, along with excellent communication skills to inspire change across multiple organizational levels.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your quantifiable impact on supply chain sustainability in previous roles. Rather than listing general duties, provide specific examples of how you have successfully reduced material-related emissions or implemented LCA frameworks across a multi-tiered global supplier base. Research Hitachi Energy’s specific commitments to the energy transition and demonstrate how your expertise in transformer material sustainability or similar heavy industrial equipment can accelerate their 2030 targets. Showcasing a blend of technical environmental compliance and commercial procurement savvy will demonstrate you understand the business value of ESG.

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

This role is a central pillar of the company's decarbonization strategy, specifically targeting the embodied carbon within the materials used for transformers. You will focus on the 'Material Sustainability' pillar, which is critical for reducing the environmental footprint of the global power grid. Key areas of focus include the development of Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) and ensuring all materials meet strict environmental standards. You will likely work on initiatives involving recycled content, low-carbon steel, or bio-based insulation fluids, directly contributing to circular economy principles and sustainable sourcing.

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

One of the primary challenges will involve data consistency and quality across a vast, global network of suppliers. Coordinating complex LCA and EPD data from various international sources into a standardized global framework requires persistent effort and sophisticated technical oversight. Additionally, you may face the challenge of balancing sustainability demands with commercial cost pressures and supply chain resilience. Driving decarbonization initiatives without compromising lead times or manufacturing quality in a high-demand sector like energy infrastructure requires significant negotiation and strategic trade-offs.

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

A typical day could begin with a global call to align with regional SCM leads on new regulatory reporting requirements for materials. You might then spend time reviewing Life Cycle Assessment models or verifying the environmental claims of a new supplier for critical transformer components. Afternoons are often dedicated to cross-functional strategy sessions with R&D, Quality, and Procurement to discuss material innovation or supplier engagement strategies. You will also dedicate time to developing training materials or performance dashboards to track the unit's progress against global sustainability KPIs.

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

Given the 'Global' nature of this role and its strategic importance to Hitachi Energy’s mission, there is significant potential for Executive or C-suite advancement within the sustainability or supply chain functions. The high visibility of the Transformers BU makes this a key platform for career growth. Success in this role could lead to broader roles overseeing Global Sustainability Strategy for the entire corporation or high-level functional leadership in Supply Chain Management. The specialized knowledge gained in material sustainability is also highly portable into consulting or strategic policy-making roles within the energy sector.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will collaborate closely with Global SCM leaders and procurement category managers to embed sustainability into sourcing decisions. Your technical collaboration will extend to R&D and product engineering teams who design the materials you are assessing for sustainability. Externally, your main stakeholders include raw material suppliers and logistics partners, with whom you will build long-term partnerships for carbon reduction. You will also interact with customers in the utility and infrastructure sectors who are increasingly demanding transparent environmental data like EPDs for their own sustainability reporting.

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