Q: What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core mission involves leading the Product Pillar of the sustainability strategy on a global scale. This includes tracking and forecasting Scope 3.11 emissions, which represent the greenhouse gases emitted during the use of products. You will be responsible for ensuring that the product roadmap and sales mix are mathematically aligned with the company's public reduction targets. Beyond emissions, you will manage sustainable packaging initiatives and waste reduction projects across diverse regions. You will lead internal task forces to ensure compliance with emerging regulations such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), while also identifying opportunities to reduce environmental fees through better material choices. Another key responsibility is the integration of Design for Sustainability (DfS) into the Product Development Process (PDP). This involves providing tools and frameworks to engineering teams so that environmental considerations are embedded from the initial concept phase rather than being an afterthought.

Q: Key learning opportunities for this job

A candidate in this role will gain deep expertise in Scope 3 carbon accounting , specifically the complexities of use-phase emissions within a global manufacturing context. You will learn how to apply Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles to real-world industrial products, gaining a technical edge in how hardware at scale impacts global climate goals. You will also develop a masterful understanding of international environmental regulations , such as packaging compliance and energy efficiency standards across different markets. This provides a rare view into how global policy directly dictates product engineering and supply chain decisions. Additionally, the role offers a significant opportunity to hone strategic influence skills . By presenting data-driven business cases to senior leadership and managing 'Sustainability Ambassadors' worldwide, you will learn how to drive cultural and operational change in a century-old manufacturing giant.

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

The primary focus is the Environmental footprint of products . This role is less about internal office recycling and more about the heavy-duty climate impact of manufacturing, distributing, and operating industrial equipment. You will be the point person for 'Product Circularity' and 'Carbon Intensity'. You will also focus heavily on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and packaging. As global markets tighten regulations on what materials companies use to ship products, this role ensures the company stays ahead of legal requirements while minimizing the 'waste cost' of their packaging stream. Finally, there is a strong shift toward Scope 3 decarbonization . Because Rheem’s products consume energy for years after purchase, this role focuses on the long-term energy efficiency and low-carbon operation of the hardware itself, which is the company's biggest lever for global impact.

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

One of the toughest challenges will be driving cross-functional alignment . You will need to convince engineering, procurement, and sales teams to prioritize sustainability metrics that might sometimes compete with traditional goals like speed-to-market or lowest-cost-components. Managing global data consistency is another hurdle. Collecting accurate environmental data from diverse global sites and ensuring it meets rigorous reporting standards requires high attention to detail and persistent follow-up with regional teams who may have competing priorities. Finally, the regulatory landscape is moving extremely fast. Keeping up with changing packaging laws, carbon disclosure requirements, and energy efficiency mandates across multiple continents requires constant vigilance and the ability to pivot strategies quickly without disrupting existing product roadmaps.

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

Your day might begin with a morning call with Sustainability Ambassadors in EMEA or APAC to track progress on regional packaging goals. You might then transition into a deep-dive data analysis session, using Excel or PowerBI to forecast how upcoming product launches will impact the company's total Scope 3 footprint. In the afternoon, you could be facilitating a Design for Sustainability workshop with an R&D team, reviewing a new product concept to see where recycled materials could be used or how the unit could be made easier to disassemble at end-of-life. This requires balancing technical constraints with sustainability aspirations. The day often ends with strategic planning or reporting , perhaps drafting a presentation for senior leadership that summarizes current trends in the HVAC industry or outlines the business case for a new eco-friendly packaging material across the enterprise.

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

This role is a springboard for Executive Sustainability Leadership . Given the global and strategic nature of the responsibilities, success here positions you as a candidate for Director-level roles in sustainability, product strategy, or environmental compliance. You will have high visibility with senior leadership , providing opportunities to showcase your command of the business and your ability to drive global initiatives. For someone with a technical background, it offers a path into high-level strategic management without losing touch with product innovation. There are also opportunities for lateral growth into product management or operations, as the 'Design for Sustainability' expertise you build is increasingly becoming a core competency for all business leaders in the manufacturing sector.

Q: The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will serve as a bridge between the Corporate Sustainability team and the engineering divisions. Your most frequent interactions will be with Product Managers, Packaging Engineers, and R&D specialists who are building the next generation of Rheem technology. You will also interact with Global Site Leaders and 'Sustainability Ambassadors' at various manufacturing facilities. These relationships are crucial for implementing initiatives on the ground and ensuring that global goals are translated into local actions. External stakeholders include regulatory bodies regarding packaging and emissions compliance, as well as industry groups. Internally, you will also liaise with Procurement to source more sustainable materials and with Senior Leadership to report on metrics and influence the long-term corporate strategy.

Question 1

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Accepted Answer

The core mission involves leading the Product Pillar of the sustainability strategy on a global scale. This includes tracking and forecasting Scope 3.11 emissions, which represent the greenhouse gases emitted during the use of products. You will be responsible for ensuring that the product roadmap and sales mix are mathematically aligned with the company's public reduction targets. Beyond emissions, you will manage sustainable packaging initiatives and waste reduction projects across diverse regions. You will lead internal task forces to ensure compliance with emerging regulations such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), while also identifying opportunities to reduce environmental fees through better material choices. Another key responsibility is the integration of Design for Sustainability (DfS) into the Product Development Process (PDP). This involves providing tools and frameworks to engineering teams so that environmental considerations are embedded from the initial concept phase rather than being an afterthought.

Question 2

Key learning opportunities for this job

Accepted Answer

A candidate in this role will gain deep expertise in Scope 3 carbon accounting, specifically the complexities of use-phase emissions within a global manufacturing context. You will learn how to apply Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles to real-world industrial products, gaining a technical edge in how hardware at scale impacts global climate goals. You will also develop a masterful understanding of international environmental regulations, such as packaging compliance and energy efficiency standards across different markets. This provides a rare view into how global policy directly dictates product engineering and supply chain decisions. Additionally, the role offers a significant opportunity to hone strategic influence skills. By presenting data-driven business cases to senior leadership and managing 'Sustainability Ambassadors' worldwide, you will learn how to drive cultural and operational change in a century-old manufacturing giant.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The ideal candidate brings at least five years of experience, likely starting with a foundation in mechanical, industrial, or environmental engineering. You need to understand the 'how it's made' aspect of products to effectively advocate for their improvement. Experience in product management or new product introduction (NPI) is vital for navigating the development lifecycle. Technical proficiency in greenhouse gas accounting and emissions forecasting is highly valued. If you have worked with carbon management software or Life Cycle Assessment tools like SimaPro or GaBi, you will have a significant advantage in managing the data-heavy aspects of the role. Soft skills are equally important; you must be an analytical problem solver who can communicate complex technical sustainability concepts to non-experts. Experience working in a global, multi-site manufacturing environment is essential for managing the sheer scale of the projects described.

Question 4

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Accepted Answer

To stand out, focus your application on your ability to combine technical engineering knowledge with sustainability strategy. Don't just list your passion for the environment; highlight specific instances where you optimized a product or packaging for cost, efficiency, or waste reduction. Results-oriented examples carry the most weight. Demonstrate your familiarity with decarbonization technologies like heat pumps or solar-integrated systems, as these are central to Rheem's growth. If you have experience with PowerBI or other automated reporting tools, emphasize this, as the role requires managing and presenting diverse datasets across global time zones. Research Rheem's specific climate goals and mention how your background in product development can help them hit their intensity or absolute reduction targets. Showing that you understand the specific challenges of the HVAC/R industry—such as refrigerant transitions or energy efficiency standards—will prove your immediate value.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The primary focus is the Environmental footprint of products. This role is less about internal office recycling and more about the heavy-duty climate impact of manufacturing, distributing, and operating industrial equipment. You will be the point person for 'Product Circularity' and 'Carbon Intensity'. You will also focus heavily on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and packaging. As global markets tighten regulations on what materials companies use to ship products, this role ensures the company stays ahead of legal requirements while minimizing the 'waste cost' of their packaging stream. Finally, there is a strong shift toward Scope 3 decarbonization. Because Rheem’s products consume energy for years after purchase, this role focuses on the long-term energy efficiency and low-carbon operation of the hardware itself, which is the company's biggest lever for global impact.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

One of the toughest challenges will be driving cross-functional alignment. You will need to convince engineering, procurement, and sales teams to prioritize sustainability metrics that might sometimes compete with traditional goals like speed-to-market or lowest-cost-components. Managing global data consistency is another hurdle. Collecting accurate environmental data from diverse global sites and ensuring it meets rigorous reporting standards requires high attention to detail and persistent follow-up with regional teams who may have competing priorities. Finally, the regulatory landscape is moving extremely fast. Keeping up with changing packaging laws, carbon disclosure requirements, and energy efficiency mandates across multiple continents requires constant vigilance and the ability to pivot strategies quickly without disrupting existing product roadmaps.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Your day might begin with a morning call with Sustainability Ambassadors in EMEA or APAC to track progress on regional packaging goals. You might then transition into a deep-dive data analysis session, using Excel or PowerBI to forecast how upcoming product launches will impact the company's total Scope 3 footprint. In the afternoon, you could be facilitating a Design for Sustainability workshop with an R&D team, reviewing a new product concept to see where recycled materials could be used or how the unit could be made easier to disassemble at end-of-life. This requires balancing technical constraints with sustainability aspirations. The day often ends with strategic planning or reporting, perhaps drafting a presentation for senior leadership that summarizes current trends in the HVAC industry or outlines the business case for a new eco-friendly packaging material across the enterprise.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

This role is a springboard for Executive Sustainability Leadership. Given the global and strategic nature of the responsibilities, success here positions you as a candidate for Director-level roles in sustainability, product strategy, or environmental compliance. You will have high visibility with senior leadership, providing opportunities to showcase your command of the business and your ability to drive global initiatives. For someone with a technical background, it offers a path into high-level strategic management without losing touch with product innovation. There are also opportunities for lateral growth into product management or operations, as the 'Design for Sustainability' expertise you build is increasingly becoming a core competency for all business leaders in the manufacturing sector.

Question 9

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Accepted Answer

You will serve as a bridge between the Corporate Sustainability team and the engineering divisions. Your most frequent interactions will be with Product Managers, Packaging Engineers, and R&D specialists who are building the next generation of Rheem technology. You will also interact with Global Site Leaders and 'Sustainability Ambassadors' at various manufacturing facilities. These relationships are crucial for implementing initiatives on the ground and ensuring that global goals are translated into local actions. External stakeholders include regulatory bodies regarding packaging and emissions compliance, as well as industry groups. Internally, you will also liaise with Procurement to source more sustainable materials and with Senior Leadership to report on metrics and influence the long-term corporate strategy.

Global Sustainability Associate Manager

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