Associate Director – Packaging Sustainability

About Anthesis

Anthesis is the sustainability activator. Proud to be a B Corp, we seek to make a significant contribution to a world which is more resilient and productive. We do this by working with cities, corporates, investors and other organisations to drive sustainable performance. We develop financially driven sustainability strategies, underpinned by technical expertise and delivered by innovative collaborative teams across the world.

At Anthesis Group, we are truly committed to putting people and our planet at the heart of all we do.

Summary of Role & Key Responsibilities

We are seeking a sustainable packaging expert to join our Packaging Solution within the Circularity & Value Chain Transformation practice. The Packaging Solution team at Anthesis is highly experienced in supporting clients in setting sustainable EPR packaging strategies that are rooted in data, achievable, future proof and with the ambition to reduce the impact that packaging has on our environment. This role will support leading packaging-related projects, providing the foundational support to help advance our clients’ sustainability and EPR strategies as a technical expert and key client representative. Projects and clients may span a diverse set of industries, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to boutique brands and start-ups. You will be joining an engaged, collaborative community that approaches its work with energy and optimism.

Key Responsibilities

• Concurrently manage or sponsor multiple projects, often spanning various clients, industries and topics.
• Thoughtfully inform client strategies, with a strong ability to understand the commercial benefits and tradeoffs implied when looking at sustainable packaging design.
• Capable of leading discussions with executive teams on business-critical decisions that lend to these objectives.
• Have excellent client, project and team management skills, with the ability to delegate tasks, clearly articulate client needs, and oversee the full scope of a project.
• Provide strong technical oversight, quality assurance and support to colleagues and junior team members, and ensure high quality, impactful deliverables for a client.
• Advise clients on how to integrate sustainability into EPR planning and packaging design and development processes, including material selection, design playbooks, product architecture, durability, energy efficiency, end‑of‑life considerations and financial implications.
• Perform quantitative modelling to help determine a client’s packaging baseline and prep for EPR reporting.
• Provide in depth quality control on project-related research, collect and analyze data, and engage with a range of stakeholders.
• Perform data analysis to identify gaps and inaccuracies, and developing well‑reasoned approaches and assumptions to fill gaps implementing and optimizing digital tools and data frameworks to manage product sustainability data across design, manufacturing, and supplier networks (e.g., EPR reporting tools, sustainability data platforms, etc.).
• Develop and deliver executive‑ready reports and presentations that translate complex technical data into clear, actionable insights for C‑suite executives, as well as product, manufacturing, and sustainability leaders.
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships, identifying opportunities to expand EPR and packaging sustainability programs and innovation initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal Anthesis experts across strategy, climate, circularity, and digital services to deliver integrated product sustainability solutions.
• Contribute to thought leadership on EPR, sustainable packaging design, life cycle thinking, and technology‑enabled sustainability transformation.

Key Requirements & Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Product Design, Environmental Science, or related field; graduate degree preferred.
• 8+ years’ professional experience (packaging engineering or equivalent is required).
• Excellent team leadership, communication, problem‑solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent written and oral command of the English language.
• In depth understanding of packaging material technical attributes and applications.
• Understanding of US and Global EPR regulations is preferred.
• Understanding of Life Cycle Assessments for various packaging materials, formats, and usage scenarios.
• Advanced analytical skills, including competency in Microsoft Excel.
• Additional experience with Alteryx, Tableau, NetSuite and PowerBI preferred but not required.
• Client and project management skills: ensuring projects are delivered on time, to budget and to client expectations.
• Strong business development skills, with an ability to identify client challenges and adapt renewal or proposals to address these.
• Effective time management, with the ability to stick to deadlines and prioritize tasks.
• High level of organization and attention to detail.
• Team player with the ability to work well with others on a global basis and supportive of Anthesis’ values and JEDIA initiatives.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and competitive group health, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents.
• FSA (Flexible Spending Account) benefit (US only).
• Anthesis provides 100% Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance benefit.
• In addition, Anthesis covers 100% of Short & Long‑Term Disability Insurance benefits.
• Anthesis provides a 3% contribution into retirement plans, and you may elect to contribute more each pay period with a pre‑tax deduction up to a certain cap.
• Anthesis provides Employee Assistance Program and Travel Insurance.
• Annual allotment of PTO, in addition to 56 hours of sick leave, paid company paid holidays, and more.
• An opportunity to participate in the Anthesis Employee Participation Plan (EPP), an industry‑pioneering employee incentive plan that allows all employees to be rewarded for the growth in the equity value of Anthesis.
• Work within a highly motivated team in an innovative and rapidly growing global company.
• Opportunity to have a direct impact and be a key part of the growth and development of the business and the team.
• Work collaboratively on projects that have an impact on the sustainability and climate change goals/challenges for clients.
• Opportunity to work alongside of, collaborate with and learn from sustainability Subject Matter Experts (SME) who are passionate about the work they do and the impact Anthesis can have.