Sustainability Program Manager (Global CPG Brand)

ABOUT NEXTSTEP

NextStep is an AI-powered career platform designed to support top consulting talent through career transitions. Our platform uses smart matching technology to pair consultants with high-potential opportunities, helping companies access world-class talent. We're looking for a Sustainability Program Manager on behalf of a client in our partner network.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Our client is a global consumer packaged goods company headquartered in Chicago, with a portfolio of well-known brands across food, beverage, and household products. They operate in more than 40 countries and generate over $8 billion in annual revenue. Sustainability is a board-level priority, embedded in the company's five-year strategy and tied directly to executive compensation. The sustainability team is adding a Program Manager to lead global initiatives across packaging, supply chain, and carbon commitments.

THE ROLE

As Sustainability Program Manager, you will be responsible for coordinating and delivering global sustainability programs from the Chicago headquarters. You will work with regional teams, external partners, and internal functions, including procurement, operations, and communications, to ensure the company meets its sustainability commitments on time and on target. This is a complex, global role with meaningful accountability and high visibility within the organisation.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Own delivery of key sustainability programs across the company's global portfolio, including packaging reduction, supply chain decarbonisation, and water stewardship initiatives.

• Coordinate with regional sustainability leads across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific to ensure consistent program execution and reporting.

• Manage ESG data collection, validation, and reporting processes in line with GRI, TCFD, CSRD, and CDP frameworks.

• Build and maintain program tracking tools, dashboards, and governance processes that give leadership clear visibility into progress against commitments.

• Work with procurement and supply chain teams to embed sustainability requirements into supplier engagement and sourcing decisions.

• Monitor regulatory and market developments across key geographies and translate them into program requirements and risk assessments.

• Contribute to the development of the company's sustainability communications, including the annual impact report and investor disclosures.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 5+ years of experience in sustainability, ESG, or program management, with at least part of that in a consulting or advisory role.

• Proven experience managing global or multi-regional programs with complex stakeholder environments.

• Solid understanding of sustainability reporting frameworks, including GRI, TCFD, CDP, and CSRD.

• Strong program management skills; able to run multiple workstreams across geographies without losing control of quality or timelines.

• Analytical rigour with experience managing ESG data at scale, including verification and assurance processes.

• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills and experience working with international teams.

• Comfortable navigating a large, matrixed organisation while maintaining momentum and accountability.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Base salary of $100,000 - $130,000, determined based on experience and scope.

• Annual performance bonus in addition to base, tied to individual and program-level outcomes.

• Additional benefits, including health, dental, 401(k), and generous PTO, are included and detailed as part of the full offer package.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this role, please create your profile at nextstep.com https://getnextstep.com/candidate/landing?utm_medium=job-board&utm_source=job-board. Once your profile is complete, our matching system will evaluate your background against the criteria for this role. No cover letter required.

This role is listed by NextStep on behalf of our client. All applications are handled with confidentiality.