Duurzaamheidsspecialist

The core mission is to translate Verweij Houttechniek's ambition of being fully circular and CO2 neutral by 2040 into practical action rather than strategy documents. In practice this means measuring and disclosing the environmental impact of the organisation, its wood products and its supply chain, then identifying where improvements are possible. You would run or coordinate life cycle analyses, look at sustainable material choices, and quantify carbon storage and reuse of products and raw materials. You also advise colleagues and chain partners, acting as both the driver and the point of contact for sustainability questions inside the company. A large part of the role is connecting analysis to execution. You would not simply produce a report; the posting is explicit that ideas need to become reality, whether through product innovation, CO2 reduction measures or circular solutions with suppliers and other partners. That means working with production, purchasing and sales colleagues to embed changes in real projects. Longer term, the role shapes how the company and its chain partners move step by step toward the 2040 goal, prioritising which improvements come first and keeping sustainability on the agenda across locations in Woerden and Drachten.

You would build hands-on expertise in life cycle analysis and in calculating the carbon footprint and carbon storage of timber products. Working with a manufacturer means you learn how environmental data is actually generated at product level, from material sourcing through production and reuse, which is a skill set that is hard to acquire in a pure advisory role. The circular economy side is equally concrete. You would learn how eco-design, material choices and reuse of products and raw materials work in a real production setting, and how to assess trade-offs between durability, cost and environmental impact in wood construction. Because the role involves advising colleagues, suppliers and clients, you also develop stakeholder advisory skills and learn to move between analysis, advice and execution. The company mentions an extensive introduction programme and room for training, so certifications or courses in LCA tools or sustainability standards could likely be part of personal development.

The posting asks for higher vocational, hbo level working and thinking ability, plus knowledge of sustainability and an affinity with technology and innovation. This is not a compliance or reporting-only profile: the company wants someone comfortable with technical production processes and product-level environmental questions. On the soft skills side, the emphasis is on creativity to develop new opportunities, decisiveness and the drive to turn ideas into results, an independent and proactive working style, analytical ability with attention to detail, and strong communication skills. You need to work well with a mix of younger and experienced colleagues and with external chain partners. Good command of Dutch is required, since the role involves advising internal colleagues, clients and suppliers in the Netherlands. A background or interest in timber, construction or building products would help you understand the material context faster, though the posting does not require a specific degree.

Because this is a hands-on role in a timber manufacturer, the strongest applications will show you can connect environmental analysis to production reality. In your letter or CV, give concrete examples of where you measured impact, ran or contributed to a life cycle analysis, worked on carbon footprint or circularity projects, and, importantly, where an idea actually got implemented. Verweij states clearly that ideas must become reality, so evidence of execution matters more than big-picture ambition. Show that you understand wood as a material and the building products chain. Mentioning carbon storage, reuse of frames, doors or raw materials, eco-design or sustainable material choices signals you have thought about this company specifically rather than sustainability in general. Naming the 2040 circular and CO2 neutral goal and explaining how you would approach the first steps gives a concrete hook. Finally, the role is collaborative and the culture is described as down to earth, with a mix of young and experienced people. In an interview, expect questions about how you bring colleagues along, how you handle resistance when sustainability competes with cost or lead times, and how you prioritise. Prepare examples of influencing without formal authority, and be ready to discuss working in Dutch with clients and suppliers.

The main focus would be on the environmental performance of Verweij Houttechniek's products and its chain. That includes the carbon footprint of the organisation and its products, CO2 reduction, carbon storage in wood, and reuse of products and raw materials. Life cycle analysis and eco-design are central tools mentioned in the posting. Circulation is the other pillar, given the 2040 target of fully circular and CO2 neutral operations. In practice this could cover material choices, whether wood and other inputs are sustainably sourced, how offcuts, end-of-life frames, doors and windows are recovered, and how renovation solutions extend product life. Because Verweij works with construction clients and chain partners, product-based sustainability rather than only internal operations is likely the emphasis. Governance and reporting appear secondary here; the role reads as operational and chain-oriented, which is characteristic of a technical manufacturer of this size rather than a listed company with a large ESG reporting machine.

One likely challenge is translating an ambitious 2040 target into practical steps within a company of around 56 people, where sustainability competes with cost, lead times and production pressures. You would need to prioritise among many possible improvements and keep momentum without a large dedicated team behind you. Another is influence. Much of the impact sits with suppliers and chain partners, so progress depends on persuading parties outside the company to change materials or processes. That requires relationship building and clear argumentation, not just analysis. Internally, you may meet colleagues who see sustainability as extra work rather than core business, which makes communication and demonstrating quick wins important. Data could be a further obstacle. Getting reliable environmental data across products, suppliers and locations in Woerden and Drachten is rarely straightforward, and life cycle analyses of timber products involve assumptions that need careful handling. Balancing analytical rigour with the drive to move quickly is part of the tension in this role.

A typical day could start with reviewing sustainability developments, regulations or supplier information, then turning that into notes on opportunities and priorities. You might spend part of the morning on data work for a life cycle analysis or carbon footprint calculation, checking material inputs or discussing assumptions with production or purchasing colleagues. Meetings take up a good share of the week. You could sit with a project team working on a circular renovation solution, talk to a supplier about sustainable material options, or answer questions from colleagues who need advice on a client project. Because the role spans two locations, some travel between Woerden and Drachten and some remote work is possible. Later in the day you might work on a proposal to make an idea concrete, prepare advice for a client or chain partner, or follow up on an initiative that is moving from plan to execution. The mix of analysis, advice and hands-on follow-up varies with the project phase.

The posting frames this as a key role in realising the company's sustainability ambitions, with a lot of freedom and responsibility to pick up initiatives. That gives a strong base for growth: as the 2040 programme matures, the person in this role could take on more scope, perhaps coordinating a small team or leading the circular and CO2 roadmap across both locations. Skills growth is likely in life cycle analysis, carbon accounting, eco-design and circular business models applied to construction products. These are transferable to larger manufacturers, construction firms or consultancies, and a few years of delivering measurable results in this setting strengthens that profile considerably. Because you work with clients, suppliers and other chain partners, you also build an external network in the sustainable building sector, which opens options for later roles in chain cooperation or product sustainability leadership. The stated room for personal development and training supports longer-term progression.

Inside the company you would work closely with colleagues in production, purchasing, sales and management. Production and purchasing matter most for material choices and reuse, while sales and management decide how sustainability arguments reach clients and shape priorities. As the internal point of contact for sustainability, you would also field questions from employees across both the Woerden and Drachten locations. Externally, suppliers and other chain partners are central. These are the parties that provide materials and take back or reuse products, so much of the CO2 reduction and circularity work depends on them. Business clients in property maintenance and renovation are another key group, since they buy the products and increasingly ask about environmental performance. Depending on the projects, you might also deal with certification bodies, industry organisations or knowledge partners. The nature of these interactions ranges from day-to-day advice to longer negotiations about materials, data and joint improvement plans.