Director & Head of Circular Economy
ASSA ABLOY: was founded in 1994 and is the global leader in access solutions. We are 63,000 employees in more than 70 countries around the world with a uniquely decentralized business model. We have leading positions in areas such as efficient door openings, trusted identities and entrance automation. Our innovative access solutions help people feel safe and secure so that they can experience a more open world.
Sustainability: is integrated in everything we do and is a driver throughout our value chain. By growing our sustainable product offering and reducing our environmental footprint while ensuring a safe and healthy workplace, we contribute to creating a better world at the same time as we drive sales and optimize our operations.
Our Mission:
▪ Integrate sustainability and circularity into every aspect of our product portfolios
▪ Ensure our products deliver value to customers while minimizing environmental impact, from cradle to cradle
▪ Assure commercialization of sustainability with strong value propositions, making it easy for customers to make conscious choices
Circular Economy:
The purpose of a circular economy is to ensure that resources and products stay in closed loops of usage that eliminate waste, rather than eventually ending up in landfill. Utilizing circular practices to optimize resource management is a key strategy to reduce the environmental impact of our products. It will support us to achieve our 2030 target to reduce our Scope 3 carbon footprint by 28%, as well as realizing our net-zero target no later than 2050.
What are we looking for:
A Director & Head of Circular Economy who will lead the development and implementation of circular economy strategies across our business. This is a key role to drive ASSA ABLOY's transformation towards a more sustainable future.
The role will work cross-functionally to inspire the development of circular business models and solutions, which will be scaled up across the business. As a decentralized organization, we embrace autonomy while leveraging our collective size to collaborate and realize synergies.
The Director & Head of Circular Economy will report to the VP & Head of Sustainability.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive circular economy strategy that aligns with the company's sustainability goals.
- Lead cross-functional teams to identify and implement circular economy initiatives, including product design, manufacturing processes, reverse logistics and end-of-life management.
- Collaborate with supply chain, innovation, product development, strategy, branding and communication teams to integrate circular principles into operations.
- Establish metrics and KPIs to measure the effectiveness of circular economy initiatives and complement the Group sustainability targets and objectives.
- Participate in the Global Sustainability Council
- Support reporting to sustainability indices and platforms e.g. TCFD, EU Taxonomy, S&P Global CSA, CDP, science-based targets, CSRD etc.
- Engage with external stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and industry partners, to promote circular economy practices.
- Stay informed about industry trends, regulations, and best practices related to circular economy and sustainability.
- Provide thought leadership and represent the company at industry conferences, workshops, and events.
- Facilitate cross-divisional collaboration to accelerate improvements through rapid knowledge sharing
- Coach divisional, regional and site Sustainability Champions
Required experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, Business, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in sustainability, circular economy, or related fields, with a proven track record of leading successful initiatives.
- Experience in Manufacturing / Engineering with experience of delivering transformational change.
- Demonstrated ability to get things done in a highly complex decentralized multinational matrix organization, without a direct reporting line
- Strong understanding of circular economy principles, including waste reduction, resource optimization, and circular product design.
- Excellent leadership and project management skills, with the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with experience in developing and tracking sustainability metrics.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Passion for sustainability and a commitment to driving positive environmental impact.
- To be successful in this role, we believe you need a proven ability to transform strategy into actionable work-streams, and motivate teams to change
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity and meet the qualifications listed above, we would love to hear from you! Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience and why you are a great fit for this role.
For any questions or further information, feel free to contact Virginia Marchioro virginia.marchioro@assaabloy.com
We are the ASSA ABLOY Group
Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access.
As an employer, we value results – not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions – supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally.
As we welcome new people on board, it’s important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.
