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Sustainability Manager

Schweppes International Limited • Netherlands • Added on Jun 8, 2026
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This is a central role in which you drive Schweppes International Limited’s sustainability agenda for the Benelux and surrounding markets. You take full ownership of the local execution of the ESG strategy, turning plans into measurable actions on packaging and climate impact. You’re the anchor who keeps track of progress through careful governance and reporting.

The impact of this role is significant, since you contribute directly to transforming iconic beverage brands within a complex value chain. You work on tangible decarbonization projects and make sure the organization is ready for stricter CSRD legislation, while bringing partners and licensees along in the shift to circular packaging. This is where strategy and practice meet to shrink the environmental footprint of a global player.

This suits someone who is analytically strong, comfortable working with Scope 3 emissions, and has the persuasive skills to get diverse stakeholders moving in the same direction.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The Sustainability Manager is responsible for leading the local delivery of the sustainability strategy specifically across the EECM-Benelux region. This includes managing a broad portfolio that covers three critical pillars: nutrition, packaging, and climate action. You will integrate these priorities into daily operations and long-term business planning. A significant portion of the role involves governance and accountability. You will supervise decarbonization initiatives from technical analysis to final execution, ensuring that greenhouse gas emission targets are met. Additionally, you will establish controlled data flows for ESG disclosures to meet annual reporting requirements. Beyond internal management, you will lead partner engagement strategies. This involves working closely with licensees and external stakeholders to align their operations with the company's carbon reduction and ESG standards, ensuring the entire value chain moves toward the same goals.

Key learning opportunities for this job

This role offers deep exposure to CSRD compliance and advanced sustainability reporting frameworks. As the European regulatory landscape shifts, you will gain hands-on experience in implementing rigorous data management systems that meet the newest legal standards for large-scale corporate disclosures. You will also sharpen your expertise in Scope 3 carbon accounting. Engaging with licensees and supply chain partners provides a rare opportunity to learn the intricacies of managing emissions outside of direct corporate control. This is a high-value skill set in the current ESG job market. Furthermore, being part of the Suntory Group allows for cross-cultural professional development. You will learn to navigate the 'Yatte Minahare' philosophy, blending Japanese corporate culture with European market dynamics, which fosters a unique approach to innovation and sustainable growth.

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

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in ESG or sustainability roles, with a specific focus on governance and KPI management. A background in environmental science, engineering, or business is essential to handle the technical and economic analyses required for decarbonization projects. Technical proficiency in carbon footprinting and data management is a must. You should be comfortable navigating complex datasets and translating them into clear, actionable insights for leadership. Experience with sustainability software or advanced reporting tools would be a significant advantage. Soft skills are equally important; you need to be a collaborative influencer. The role requires the ability to simplify complex environmental topics for stakeholders in procurement, legal, and marketing, ensuring everyone understands their role in the sustainability roadmap.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and technical execution. Use your application to highlight specific instances where you successfully managed Scope 3 data or led a project that resulted in a measurable reduction in carbon emissions. Show an understanding of the beverage industry's unique challenges, such as packaging circularity and water stewardship. Mentioning your familiarity with CSRD and how you have previously handled audit-ready data will prove your readiness for the compliance aspect of this role. Alignment with the 'Yatte Minahare' spirit is vital. Express a 'go-for-it' attitude and a willingness to tackle ambiguity. Research the Suntory Group's wider 'Growing for Good' mission and explain how your professional values align with their commitment to social and environmental harmony.

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

The primary focus of this role is the decarbonization of the value chain. This involves identifying initiatives to reduce GHG emissions and conducting the economic analyses necessary to get these projects approved by decision-making bodies. Packaging circularity is another major pillar. In the beverage sector, this means improving collection rates, increasing recycled content, and innovating in design. You will be responsible for ensuring that the Benelux market hits its targets for sustainable packaging materials. Finally, the role focuses heavily on transparency and disclosure. By establishing data flows and preparing the annual ESG report, you ensure the company remains accountable to regulators, consumers, and internal headers regarding its environmental stewardship and social impact.

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

One of the main challenges is managing sustainability across licensees. Since you are working with external partners, you do not have direct control over their operations. Influencing their decarbonization journeys requires significant negotiation skills and a strong value proposition. Navigating data fragmentation can also be difficult. Gathering accurate ESG metrics across multiple countries and departments requires patience and the ability to improve legacy systems. You will likely face the challenge of ensuring data quality is high enough for regulatory audits. Balancing environmental goals with economic realities is a constant factor. Proposing decarbonization projects requires a solid business case, and you may face resistance if sustainability initiatives appear to conflict with short-term financial performance or operational speed.

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

A typical day might begin with a cross-functional meeting featuring members from procurement and supply chain to discuss progress on a specific packaging initiative. You would then pivot to reviewing carbon accounting data to ensure Scope 3 calculations are on track for the quarterly review. In the afternoon, you might hold a strategic session with a licensee, advising them on how to align their decarbonization efforts with the Schweppes roadmap. This requires a mix of technical consulting and relationship management to keep the partnership productive. The day often concludes with analytical reporting work. You might be refining a presentation for the leadership team that translates complex sustainability metrics into clear recommendations, helping them make informed decisions on future investments or policy changes.

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

Growth in this role is often found through increased regional scope or ascending into broader leadership positions within the Suntory Beverage & Food Europe group. Success here positions you as a key expert in one of the company's most strategic priority areas. You also have the chance to lead high-visibility projects that have a direct impact on the brand's public image and regulatory standing. Successfully navigating a CSRD implementation, for example, is a massive career milestone that marks you as a senior reporting and governance expert. Internal mobility is encouraged, and there are paths towards Global Sustainability leadership or specialized roles in sustainable procurement and environmental engineering, given the role's exposure to the entire corporate ecosystem and external value chain.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will regularly interact with the Executive Leadership within the Benelux region, providing them with the insights and reports needed to steer the company's sustainability direction and investments. Internal collaboration is heavy with functional leads in Procurement, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Legal. These interactions are focused on embedding sustainability into their specific processes, from sourcing raw materials to communicating brand purpose to consumers. External stakeholders include licensees and business partners who produce and distribute the products. You act as a sustainability advisor to them. You may also engage with external auditors and sustainability consultants during the ESG reporting and disclosure process.

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