As the regional lead for Europe and Canada, you will take full ownership of the sustainability roadmap across fifteen countries. You will be the central architect behind integrating global environmental and social targets into practical, regional operations while ensuring every local branch meets rigorous sustainability standards. This senior role bridges the gap between high-level global strategy and impactful regional execution.
This position is critical for Daiichi Sankyo as they transition towards their Vision 2030 of being a truly sustainable healthcare innovator. You are not just managing environmental metrics; you are steering the social contribution programs and regional climate actions that define the company’s ethical footprint in the pharmaceutical sector. It is a rare chance to shape the heritage of a century-old firm during its most significant ESG transformation.
This suits someone who possesses over a decade of experience and thrives in a complex matrix environment. You should be a high-level strategist who can navigate the technicalities of the CSRD while inspiring cross-functional teams to act.
Perguntas frequentes da vaga
What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?
The Head of Sustainability for EUCAN acts as the strategic lead for the region, ensuring that all 15 European countries and Canada are aligned with the company's global ESG objectives. You will be responsible for translating global environmental and climate change targets into regional action plans, monitoring performance, and ensuring transparent reporting that supports master strategic decisions.
Beyond environmental protection, you will lead the regional social contribution agenda, which includes managing charitable donations, disaster relief efforts, and volunteering initiatives. You will also serve as the primary monitor for regional ESG regulatory landscapes, ensuring that the organization stays ahead of evolving compliance requirements like the CSRD across all operating territories.
Governance is a central pillar of this role. You will be charged with standardizing reporting processes across diverse business units and manufacturing sites, creating a culture of accountability. By managing regional KPIs and leading internal awareness campaigns, you ensure that sustainability is not just a department but a core philosophy embedded in daily business operations.
Key learning opportunities for this job
In this role, you will gain unparalleled exposure to the institutionalization of ESG within a highly regulated global pharmaceutical context. You will learn how to navigate the complexities of international sustainability frameworks such as TCFD, GRI, and SSBJ, specifically as they apply to the life sciences industry, which faces unique scrutiny regarding product safety and chemical management.
Furthermore, the position offers a deep dive into transnational corporate governance. Working directly under the Head of Global Sustainability, you will learn how to influence and lead within a Japanese-rooted global matrix organization, gaining insights into how disparate regional regulatory environments can be unified under a single corporate vision.
There is also significant opportunity to develop expertise in corporate philanthropy and social impact strategy. By designing and executing regional volunteering and donation programs, you will learn to measure and report on the 'Social' aspect of ESG with the same rigor usually reserved for environmental data.
How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?
The ideal candidate is a seasoned sustainability veteran with at least 10 years of experience, ideally within the pharmaceutical or life sciences manufacturing sector. A Master’s degree in Environmental Science or Business is preferred, but your track record of implementing large-scale sustainability initiatives in complex, global organizations will be the primary measure of your fit.
Technically, you must be an expert in ESG reporting frameworks like the CSRD and GRI. Because you will be working across multiple European borders and Canada, you need to be adept at managing cross-functional teams without direct hierarchical authority, requiring exceptional negotiation and communication skills.
Soft skills are paramount for this leadership role. You should possess the analytical mindset to interpret complex data alongside the emotional intelligence needed to foster a culture of sustainability. Fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in German or Japanese is highly valued given the company’s headquarters and regional hub locations.
Advice to stand out and make a successful application
To stand out, move beyond just listing your ESG knowledge and demonstrate your ability to operationalize strategy in a pharmaceutical context. Highlight specific instances where you successfully managed sustainability projects across different jurisdictions with varying regulatory requirements, as the EUCAN region is highly fragmented.
Research Daiichi Sankyo’s Vision 2030 thoroughly. In your application, connect your past achievements to the company’s goal of becoming a 'Global Healthcare Innovator.' Show that you understand the specific ESG challenges of the pharma industry, such as supply chain ethics and the environmental impact of manufacturing facilities.
If you have experience with Japanese corporate culture or have worked in a matrix organization that bridges Asian and Western business practices, emphasize this. The ability to harmonize regional EUCAN needs with global HQ expectations is a key success factor that the hiring team will be looking for.
What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?
The focus is dual-faceted, covering both decarbonization of operations and societal impact. You will likely spend significant time on environmental protection at manufacturing sites, focusing on energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction to meet global climate targets.
On the social side, the role emphasizes access to healthcare and community engagement. You will be the architect of programs that leverage the company’s resources for social good, ensuring that Daiichi Sankyo’s presence in Europe and Canada translates into tangible benefits for the communities they serve.
Governance is the third major focus, specifically regulatory alignment. With the CSRD coming into full force, ensuring that the EUCAN region provides high-quality, audit-ready ESG data to the global reporting team will be a top priority during your first year in the role.
What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?
The most significant challenge will be regional harmonization. Aligning 16 different national markets (15 in Europe plus Canada) under a single sustainability framework is difficult due to varying local regulations, market maturity, and cultural attitudes toward ESG initiatives.
Additionally, you will be operating in a global matrix structure. This means you must balance the directives coming from Global HQ with the practical realities of European and Canadian business units, which might sometimes have competing priorities or resource constraints.
Finally, the regulatory speed in the EU is intense. Keeping pace with evolving ESG directives while ensuring that manufacturing and supply chain operations remain compliant without disrupting the delivery of life-saving medicines requires constant vigilance and high-level project management.
How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?
A typical day might begin with a global alignment call with the sustainability team in Japan to discuss the progress of global carbon reduction targets. This is often followed by a working session with regional manufacturing leads to review ESG data and resolve reporting bottlenecks.
Your afternoon could be dedicated to external stakeholder management, perhaps meeting with a regional NGO partner to refine a social contribution program or consulting with legal teams on upcoming ESG disclosure requirements. You will likely spend time reviewing KPIs and preparing briefs for senior leadership.
You will also frequently lead internal workshops. These sessions aim to educate regional employees on sustainability topics, fostering the 'sustainability awareness' mentioned in the job description and ensuring that every department understands its role in the 2030 strategy.
What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?
This role is a high-visibility position that puts you at the forefront of the company's regional leadership. Success here can lead to even more senior global sustainability roles or executive positions in regional management, as sustainability becomes increasingly central to core business strategy.
There are also specialized growth paths in ESG finance and reporting. As you master the complexities of CSRD and global frameworks, you become an expert in the intersection of finance and sustainability, a skill set that is in extremely high demand globally.
Furthermore, the opportunity to lead large-scale social impact projects allows you to build a reputation as a leader in corporate social responsibility, potentially leading to advisory roles or board-level positions in international healthcare and environmental organizations.
The main stakeholders you might be interacting with
Your most frequent interactions will be with the Global Sustainability HQ, reporting directly to their lead to ensure regional efforts are in sync with the worldwide mission. Locally, you will work closely with Country Managers and Business Unit heads across the EUCAN region.
You will also be a key partner for Manufacturing and Supply Chain leads, as these functions are central to environmental footprint metrics. Collaborating with Human Resources is also vital for employee engagement and volunteering programs.
External stakeholders include regulatory bodies, NGOs, and community partners. You will act as the face of Daiichi Sankyo for sustainability in Europe and Canada, managing relationships that enhance the company's social license to operate and ensuring compliance with regional authorities.
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