Director of Sustainability

About Kingspan Data & Flooring:

Kingspan Data & Flooring, part of the global Kingspan Group plc have been at the cutting edge of design manufactured engineering solutions for over 120 years. Founded originally in the UK, Kingspan Data & Flooring has become synonymous with raised access floors, specifically for high end commercial office settings, including data centres. The growth of the business escalated in early 2000, through the acquisition of the global Tate data centre brand. Tate's reputation, stemming over 60 years, has earned recognition on a worldwide scale as an industry leader in the manufacture of data centre infrastructure solutions.

Planet Passionate is our 10-year Group-wide sustainability programme that aims to impact on three big global issues: climate change, circularity and protection of our natural world. Our in-house sustainability team continues to grow as we align with Planet Passionate, advance our EPD certifications and upgrade our product portfolio to more low carbon sustainability solutions.

Our experienced team is expanding and we are excited by our fresh, dynamic, and inclusive team of experts working collaboratively on projects. Our focus on people talent and development, sharpens our desire for success offset by the flexibility, responsibility and accountability you will experience working in Kingspan. 

Key Responsibilities:

• As the Director of Sustainability, you will play a key role in leading and driving our sustainability strategy and initiatives across all commercial, supply chain, manufacturing and communication aspects of our global business. You will be responsible for managing the team in developing and implementing strategies, to drive sustainable practices throughout our global business , to promote social responsibility and to enhance our environmental performance.
• As a continuously developing area of interest for our customers and with new and evolving guidance emerging, you will be proactive in developing and implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy that is aligned with the Company's Planet Passionate strategy and long-term business goals, being proactive in raising the knowledge and awareness within our business of the latest industry trends and standards.
• As a business we are keen to drive Lower Embodied Carbon (LEC) solutions and as an advocate to roll this out across the business, you will work closely with Procurement ensuring that the supply and availability of sustainable raw materials across all regions is achieved, carbon footprint is reduced and that waste is minimised whilst balanced by the achievement of commercial and customer demands, enabling us to dominate in our industry.
• We have and continue to invest heavily in third party verified EPDs as a key point of differentiation for our brand. Part of your role will be working strategically with the commercial team and key customer segments ensuring we are optimising the value this brings.
• Integrate sustainability considerations into all commercial activities including product development, marketing and sales and collaborate cross-functionally to ensure that sustainable sourcing practices are achieved including the identification and selection of environmentally sustainable suppliers.
• Developing key stakeholder relationships while deepening existing relationships leaning on your expertise, will also be key in offering additional value to our customer. As a topic expert your expertise will be felt as part of key customer meetings and presentations, aligning commercially with the various regions to best represent the brand and business, while ultimately helping to drive conversion.
• A key part of internal and external engagement will be through the development and execution of a dedicated sustainability communications strategy that effectively conveys the Company's sustainability efforts to both internal and external stakeholders.
• As we develop new solutions, your role will play a lead ensuring alignment with our sustainability agenda and will require close working relationships with senior leadership across our divisional businesses, operations, finance, HR, R&D, procurement, technical and engineering teams in all regions to embed sustainability into the company's culture and decision making processes.
• Overseeing Planet Passionate reporting to Group is managed within the sustainability team and requires proactive communication on performance against targets, working cross functionally with the wider teams to ensure we remain on track. Monitoring and reporting on progress is a core part of driving our sustainability agenda forward through the ongoing engagement of our executive team, boards of directors and wider group stakeholders.
• As a flexible business, this role is both strategic in nature but requires flexibility to be hands on as we become more established in our field. The candidate selected for this role needs to be able to work at speed, multitask a number of projects and act as a strong communicator and influencer understanding the commercial challenges we need to balance.
• On a day to day you and your team will bring more structure to how we decide on our sustainability strategies, reporting on the performance of that, aligned with our key customer goals that offer value to the business as a whole and supports our ambition for growth.
• Strong influential skills as well as being comfortable working across teams and business regions will support you as you work to align the business on priorities.

Qualifications / Education / Experience:

• With an engineering, construction, environmental or sustainability background qualified to minimum degree level preferably to masters/postgrad level, experience in a similar Director role operating at a senior / expert level, minimum of 5+ years.
• An above excellent and active communicator that is a natural at proactively sharing the right level of information to the right audience.
• Strong analytical skills and rigorous attention to detail
• Strong business acumen and commercial understanding
• An expert in sustainability strategic planning and execution including Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to build credibility and strong relationships with senior stakeholders as well as the ability to influence and engage with external customers.
• Excellent presentation skills, verbal and written; ability to take information and present it to senior stakeholders in a non-complex manner
• A strategic thinker with the ability to multi-task and prioritise under the pressure of deadlines, while working independently; knows when and how to escalate appropriately.

Benefits of working with Kingspan Data and Flooring

Working with a thriving and growing orginisation that offers clear progression opportunities can be incredibly rewarding. Here are some candidate benefits that highlight the advantages of such an environment:

• Career Scope and Advancement: As we continue to grow (Ireland, Australia, Canada, and the USA) new positions and opportunities are available, offering some accelerated careers (locally and globally) for the right person.
• Skills Development: With the fast-paced nature of our business and high degree of collaboration, your new role is diverse and multifaceted - making you a more versatile employee with a broadened skill set.
• Mentorship and development: At Tate we don't believe in hierarchy, we work together as one team for one common goal. You will have access and exposure to our senior leaders and experts for learning in your role, and additionally mentorship for the future.
• Culture: We have a great team culture, highly collaborative, supportive and social. Together we innovate, collaborate and work together to provide excellence.