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Global Environmental Technology Manager

Syngenta • Switzerland • Added on Aug 27, 2026
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As the Global Environmental Technology Lead, you will bridge the gap between high-level sustainability strategy and on-the-ground industrial execution. You will be the primary architect for how production sites identify and deploy technologies to manage waste, wastewater, and air emissions globally. Your daily focus involves maturing lab-scale innovations into robust manufacturing applications while providing technical oversight for large-scale environmental engineering projects across various sites.

This role is critical because it directly safeguards the company’s license to operate in an increasingly regulated chemical sector. By integrating Best Available Techniques (BAT) early in the product development cycle, you help ensure that crop protection solutions are manufactured with the smallest possible environmental footprint. It is a rare opportunity to transform the resource intensity of global agricultural manufacturing.

This suits someone who is a seasoned chemical engineer or environmental scientist comfortable navigating complex technical data and executive-level strategy. You should possess the resilience to drive change within a massive global production network.

Perguntas frequentes da vaga

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core mission involves defining and executing the global environmental technology strategy across waste, wastewater, and air emissions. You will act as a technical authority, ensuring that all production and supply activities align with the Best Available Techniques (BAT) to minimize environmental impact. You will be responsible for identifying emerging technologies, taking them from pilot stages to full-scale manufacturing integration. This includes providing independent technical challenge to environmental projects, assessing their feasibility, cost, and long-term ecological benefit.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep exposure to cutting-edge industrial environmental solutions within one of the world's largest chemical manufacturing networks. You will learn how to navigate complex international environmental legislation and translate these requirements into engineering specifications. Additionally, the role offers significant development in strategic change management. You will learn to influence process development at the earliest stages of active ingredient creation, gaining a holistic view of the product lifecycle from a sustainability perspective.

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

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry or Chemical Process Engineering and brings at least ten years of industrial experience. Deep technical knowledge of organic and inorganic chemistry is essential to understand the complex waste streams associated with agrochemical production. You should demonstrate a strong track record in project leadership within matrix environments. Beyond technical expertise in wastewater or emissions treatment, you need the negotiation skills to influence stakeholders and the resilience to work under high pressure in a global setting.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your experience in scaling technologies from a laboratory setting to a global manufacturing site. Be specific about the environmental benefits you achieved in previous roles, such as reductions in COD levels or improvements in solvent recovery. Given the hybrid nature and global scope, highlight your ability to collaborate across cultures and your proficiency in French if applicable, as the role involves sites in French-speaking regions. Demonstrating an understanding of the specific environmental challenges facing the agricultural chemical sector will be highly valued.

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

This role focuses heavily on the operational environmental footprint of the manufacturing process. It intersects with sustainability goals regarding water stewardship, air quality, and circularity through waste recycling and solvent recovery systems. By influencing product choices early in the R&D phase, you will help the company meet its targets for sustainable agriculture by ensuring the chemicals that protect food security are produced through the most resource-efficient and least-polluting methods possible.

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

The most significant challenge will be standardizing environmental excellence across a diverse portfolio of manufacturing sites that may have different legacy systems and local constraints. You will need to balance environmental performance with operational costs and production speed. Navigating ambiguous regulatory environments across different countries while maintaining a unified global strategy requires high cognitive flexibility. You must also successfully advocate for environmental investments in a competitive capital allocation environment.

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

A typical day might begin with a technical review meeting with process development scientists to evaluate the waste streams of a new active ingredient. Mid-morning could involve a global call with regional environmental managers to troubleshoot a wastewater treatment challenge at a specific site. Afternoons are often spent on strategic planning and literature reviews for emerging BATs, or perhaps providing technical coaching to junior engineers. You will frequently switch between high-level capital project assessments and detailed engineering risk assessments.

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

There are significant paths for upward mobility into executive leadership within Production & Supply or Global EHS functions. The high visibility of this role, dealing with critical license-to-operate issues, positions you well for senior strategic roles. Furthermore, the technical expertise gained here allows for lateral moves into R&D leadership or Corporate Sustainability strategy. As the company continues to pivot toward biologicals and digital solutions, your role in environmental technology will be central to the firm's evolution.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with Site Managers and Environmental Specialists at manufacturing locations to ensure local operational compliance and performance improvement. You will also partner with Technology & Engineering teams to design and install new environmental hardware. Externally, you will engage with technology providers, consultants, and research partners to bring innovation into the company. You also serve as a key technical liaison for business stakeholders who need to understand the environmental implications of strategic production decisions.

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