This role directs the ongoing execution of sustainability strategy, social compliance, and external reporting across controlled-environment greenhouse operations. You will manage crucial agricultural certifications, oversee ESG data governance, and guide community programs while aligning operational sites with corporate standards.
NatureSweet operates at scale within greenhouse agriculture, tying its business model directly to worker welfare and ethical supply chains. Taking ownership of social certifications and ESG governance here means directly improving the working conditions of thousands of agricultural employees through proven frameworks like B Corp, Fair Trade, and EFI.
This suits someone who pairs deep experience in social compliance frameworks with strong project leadership skills to convert responsible farming principles into verifiable metrics.
Job FAQs
What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?
The Sustainability Lead directs the overarching sustainability strategy, ESG roadmap, and corporate governance frameworks for the organization. Key responsibilities center on managing social certifications such as B Corp, Fair Trade, EFI, SA8000, and SMETA, ensuring that greenhouse facilities meet or exceed rigorous ethical and labor requirements.
On a continuous basis, the role oversees ESG reporting, materiality assessments, and KPI performance tracking. This involves collecting auditable operational data, building progress dashboards, and collaborating with cross-functional partners to translate corporate sustainability commitments into concrete community impact, education, and workplace inclusion initiatives.
Key learning opportunities for this job
Candidates can expect to deepen their expertise in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) and supply chain traceability. Managing a multi-standard portfolio provides hands-on mastery over complex social compliance frameworks, labor rights verifications, and integrated ESG disclosure practices.
Working directly with executive leaders and operational teams also builds practical proficiency in large-scale change management. You will gain deep insight into how customer requirements from major North American grocery retailers influence operational sustainability in farm settings.
How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?
The ideal candidate brings at least 8 years of dedicated experience in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, ESG, or social compliance. A proven track record of successfully guiding organizations through B Corp, Fair Trade, and SMETA audits is essential, alongside demonstrated skill in building measurable community programs.
Professional fluency in English and Spanish is necessary to navigate local agricultural operations and North American commercial partners. Strong relationship-building capabilities, cross-functional leadership, and a solid foundation in data analysis are critical for success.
Advice to stand out and make a successful application
Focus your resume on concrete achievements tied to certification audits and quantifiable social impact metrics. Highlight specific instances where you led an organization through B Corp recertification or Fair Trade compliance, noting how you resolved audit gaps and managed operational stakeholders.
For the interview and case study presentation, be prepared to demonstrate how you balance stringent human rights standards with commercial operating realities in commercial farming. Articulate a clear methodology for maintaining data accuracy across multiple distributed production sites.
What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?
The primary focus of this role lies at the intersection of agricultural human rights, fair labor standards, and community impact. Because the company employs thousands of agricultural associates, verifying fair wages, worker wellness, and safe labor environments is central to the role.
Environmental performance inside greenhouse operations, including resource conservation, packaging considerations, and input efficiency, forms the secondary pillar. The position coordinates these dimensions into cohesive public ESG reporting and retail customer disclosures.
What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?
A central challenge involves coordinating data collection and maintaining rigorous compliance across distributed greenhouse facilities. Ensuring that daily field practices consistently match the high standards required by B Corp, EFI, and SA8000 requires active oversight and continuous internal communication.
Additionally, balancing commercial production targets with ambitious social impact and certification demands calls for strong diplomacy. The lead must influence operational managers across departments without holding direct operational authority.
How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?
A typical day could start with reviewing data submissions from production facilities to track progress against quarterly ESG indicators. You might then meet with an external certification body or auditor to prepare documentation for an upcoming Fair Trade or B Corp verification.
In the afternoon, you could lead an internal workshop with human resources and operations teams to review community programs or inclusion projects. The day might conclude by drafting narrative sections for annual ESG disclosures or preparing presentation materials for executive leadership.
What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?
Given the strategic importance of social responsibility to the company's identity, this position offers high visibility before executive leadership and commercial retail partners. Proven success in this role can lead toward senior director or CSO-track positions within agribusiness or food manufacturing.
The breadth of the role, spanning compliance, corporate reporting, and human rights, equips professionals with versatile credentials that are transferable across international consumer goods and food sectors.
The main stakeholders you might be interacting with
Internal stakeholders include greenhouse operations directors, human resources managers, health and safety leads, and executive management. You will work closely with site teams to implement standards and collect operational records.
External stakeholders encompass independent auditors, certification bodies (such as B Lab, Fair Trade USA, and EFI), non-governmental organizations, local community partners, and sustainability representatives from major supermarket retail clients.
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