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Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability - Nestlé Waters Switzerland

Nestlé • Switzerland • Added on Aug 24, 2026
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As the strategic lead for Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Nestlé Waters Switzerland, you will be the primary architect of the brand’s reputation and advocacy landscape. This senior position involves overseeing the entire spectrum of external communications, crisis management, and the execution of sustainability roadmaps across the Swiss market. You will act as a bridge between local operational realities and global corporate objectives, ensuring that the company’s voice is both consistent and influential.

This role is critical because it sits at the heart of the circular economy and water stewardship conversation in a country where natural resources are highly valued. You will drive high-impact initiatives in water regeneration and circular packaging, directly influencing how a global leader navigates local environmental sensitivities. By successfully managing the intersection of business growth and ecological preservation, you turn sustainability commitments into tangible community trust and brand resilience.

This suits someone who is a sophisticated communicator with deep roots in the Swiss media and regulatory landscape, capable of navigating complex matrix environments with diplomatic precision and strategic foresight.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The successful candidate will own the strategic reputation management for Nestlé Waters in Switzerland, leading all advocacy and communication efforts. This involves designing integrated engagement plans that align business goals with sustainability commitments, ensuring the company maintains a proactive voice in public discourse. You will be responsible for the end-to-end management of sustainability roadmaps, specifically targeting water regeneration, carbon footprint reduction, and circular packaging solutions. This includes budget management, performance tracking, and delivering on high-stakes corporate reporting requirements. Beyond external affairs, you will drive internal advocacy and executive communications, ensuring that employees are aligned with the company's purpose. You will also lead crisis preparedness, acting as a key advisor to the Senior Leadership Team during sensitive issues.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep exposure to large-scale ESG transformation within a global market leader. You will learn how to translate high-level global sustainability targets into localized, actionable strategies that respect Swiss cultural and regulatory nuances. You will also sharpen your skills in high-level stakeholder diplomacy, working across sectors including NGOs, government authorities, and industry associations. This provides a masterclass in navigating the complex power dynamics of the food and beverage industry while managing multi-million-franc sustainability budgets. Furthermore, the position offers professional development in crisis management and governance, providing the tools to lead through volatility within one of the world's most scrutinized corporate environments.

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

The ideal profile is a senior leader with extensive experience in corporate affairs and public relations, specifically within the Swiss market. A robust professional network among Swiss media and industry associations is essential for hitting the ground running in this high-visibility position. Technically, the candidate should possess a strong foundation in sustainability frameworks and project management. The ability to articulate complex environmental data into compelling narratives for diverse audiences is a core requirement for success. Linguistic proficiency is a non-negotiable trait; you must be fluent in French, German, and English. Familiarity with Swiss German is highly valued for navigating local community relations and regional media landscapes effectively.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, your application should demonstrate strategic bridge-building. Rather than just listing PR achievements, highlight instances where you successfully balanced business interests with environmental or social advocacy in the Swiss context. Prepare to discuss your understanding of the Swiss circular economy landscape. Demonstrating specific knowledge of local regulations or initiatives regarding water usage and packaging waste will show that you are ready for the unique challenges of the Henniez region. Finally, emphasize your matrix leadership capabilities. Nestlé is a vast organization, so providing examples of how you have influenced global strategy from a local position, or vice versa, will be highly persuasive to the hiring team.

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

This role focuses heavily on water stewardship and circularity. Given the nature of Nestlé Waters, you will likely spend significant time on water regeneration projects and ensuring that the packaging used in Switzerland meets ambitious recyclability and recycled-content targets. You will also lead on community-based sustainability, ensuring that the brand’s presence in Henniez and other regions contributes positively to local biodiversity and social well-being. This is about moving beyond compliance to active ecological restoration. Lastly, the role involves driving climate action initiatives that align with Nestlé's global net-zero roadmap. You will be the local face of these efforts, ensuring that the Swiss operations are contributing their share to the global carbon reduction goals.

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

One of the primary challenges is balancing global corporate mandates with local Swiss expectations. Switzerland has unique environmental standards and public sensibilities, and you must navigate these carefully without diverging from global brand integrity. Managing public scrutiny and crisis response is another significant hurdle. As a major player in the bottled water industry, the role requires a high degree of resilience and the ability to maintain composure when facing criticism from NGOs or media regarding resource usage. Additionally, driving change in a matrix organization can be slow and complex. You will need to build consensus among various internal departments who may have competing priorities, requiring exceptional influencing skills and persistence.

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

A typical day might begin with a Senior Leadership Team briefing to discuss emerging regulatory trends or media coverage. You would then likely transition into a working session on a local water regeneration project, reviewing progress with environmental experts and local authorities. Your afternoon might involve stakeholder outreach, perhaps meeting with an industry association to discuss circular economy legislation, followed by drafting executive communications for the Swiss CEO. The pace is fast, often shifting between high-level strategy and immediate tactical responses. You will also spend time mentoring your team and coordinating with global Corporate Affairs colleagues in Vevey to ensure that the Swiss strategy remains synchronized with the broader Nestlé group objectives.

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

This position is a high-level stepping stone toward Executive or C-suite roles within Nestlé or other multinational corporations. The visibility of the Swiss market within the Nestlé group means that success here is noticed at the highest levels of global leadership. You could potentially transition into Global Sustainability leadership roles or move into broader General Management, given the heavy emphasis on business acumen and strategic decision-making required for this post. The role also provides the platform to become a thought leader in the F&B industry, participating in high-profile international forums and shaping the future of water and packaging policy on a European scale.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your primary internal stakeholders include the Swiss Senior Leadership Team and the Global Corporate Affairs and Sustainability function. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior executives, providing guidance on reputation risk and strategic opportunities. Externally, you will interact with Swiss media, government authorities, and NGOs. Building and maintaining these relationships is crucial for advocacy and ensuring the company's social license to operate remains secure. You will also engage with local communities in Henniez and industry associations. These interactions are vital for ensuring that Nestlé Waters is seen as a collaborative and responsible member of the Swiss economic and environmental ecosystem.

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