Sustainability Officer

Kepak is one of Europe’s leading food companies operating 12 manufacturing sites across

Ireland and the UK with sales offices in Europe, US and Asia. The group has a turnover of €1.5bn and employs over 4,500 people. Our company purpose “Meat at our heart, innovation our driver and nutrition our future” is underpinned by our values of “Responsibility, Ambition, Passion for Food and Teamwork”.

About the role:

As the Group Sustainability Officer at Kepak Group, you will play a key role in championing sustainability across the business. Working closely with our Sustainable Agricultural teams, as well as colleagues and external partners, you will report to the Head of Sustainability and help shape our sustainable way of working. Your main responsibility will be to maintain the sustainability strategy for our organization and support the Agriculture Sustainability Strategy. This collaborative role will require close cooperation with other functions within the Group.

• We are seeking a Subject Matter Expert in Sustainable Agriculture to play a crucial role in supporting our business. As an expert, you will focus on areas such as GHG emissions, Water quality, Biodiversity, on Farm sustainable agricultural practices and technology. Your responsibilities will include researching, assessing, and communicating relevant strategic projects that will help our business transition to Net Zero. You will also support our plans to reduce scope 3 emissions by working with stakeholders and managing partnerships.
• In addition, you will be assisting the business in various sustainability topics, with a particular emphasis on emissions (scope 1, 2 & 3), sustainable diets, and responsible sourcing.
• Your role will involve communication and reporting responsibilities. This includes preparing, analyzing, and summarizing updates through reports and bulletins for the business. You will also support the maintenance and completion of various business reporting frameworks with cross-functional teams, such as CSRD, Origin Green, and the Science Based Targets Initiative. Your expertise will be valuable in collecting, analyzing, and communicating key environmental data from across the organization to help inform decision making at all levels.
• As a representative of our company, you will have the opportunity to attend external meetings and events, including those with key government agencies and policy makers on agricultural related issues. Additionally, you will support key customer interactions and relationships. A key part of your role will be synthesizing and communicating regulatory and customer requirements within the business, ensuring compliance and customer satisfaction.

Key Deliverables:

• Collaborate with the sustainability department to achieve business objectives
• Assist the sustainability department in meeting all customer requests and requirements
• Compile and communicate important legal and customer requirements to the Head of Sustainability
• Provide support in maintaining reporting obligations
• Facilitate and contribute to the development of the Agriculture Sustainability Strategy
• Support and drive the implementation of the Agriculture Sustainability Strategy and initiatives
• Synthesize and convey critical legal and customer requirements to the head of sustainability

Requirements

What can you bring:

• Having a 3rd level qualification in Sustainability or an Agricultural related discipline would be a huge advantage for this role.
• If you have at least two years of experience in Sustainability, particularly within the food industry, you would be a perfect fit for this position.
• We are looking for someone who is familiar with the latest legislation trends and issues related to sustainability, decarbonisation, or the environment in Ireland and the EU.
• Education or work experience in agriculture is a requirement for this role.
• We need an excellent communicator who can easily synthesize and present complex information in a way that is easy to understand.
• You will be working in cross-functional teams, so the ability to collaborate effectively is essential.
• Strong planning and organizational skills are a must for this role.
• Good project management skills will be highly valued.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and software like Excel, Power BI, or sustainability management platforms is desired.

**Please note, as this is a Group based role across our entire business, some travel will be required**

Benefits

• Company Pension
• Further Education support
• Employee Discount Platform - All Kepak employees are entitled to access to the WrkIt platform, which offers significant discounts and cashback with hundreds of brands.
• Refer a Friend Scheme - Earn up to Get up to €500 for successfully referring a friend or family member to Kepak Group.
• Bike to Work Scheme - You can buy a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!
• Long Service Awards - We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees
• GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program - help with a wide range of topics including mental health and wellbeing support, family and relationship advice, debt management, back to work support, and counselling for all Kepak colleagues and their families.