Sr. Product Environmental Impact Program Manager

Role: Sr. Product Environmental Impact Program Manager

Team: Global Footprint – Environmental Impact

Scope: Individual Contributor – P4

Years of Experience: 8+

Location: Ventura, CA (Hybrid)

As the Sr. Product Environmental Impact Program Manager, you will advise internal business partners on how they can reduce the environmental impact of making Patagonia products. You will spend most of the time working closely with teams responsible for making products. You bring technical expertise in product environmental impacts and have a sound understanding of how textiles are produced and the associated environmental impact generated. You will create and facilitate a cross-functional steering working group ensuring all stakeholders are working towards Patagonia’s product impact goals. You will partner with the Sr. Environmental Impact Analytics Engineer, ensuring that Patagonia product impact data is fit for purpose. You will advise product leadership in evaluating environmental tradeoffs, ultimately guiding responsible product and sourcing decisions. You will report directly to the Head of Environmental Impact within the global footprint department.

The Sr. Product Environmental Impact Program Manager will be comfortable with interpreting peer reviewed research, synthesizing technical information for non-technical audiences, collaborating, communicating with cross-functional stakeholders and external sustainability focused organizations, and presenting for small and large audiences. You will collaborate with Product Line Management, Innovation, Materials and Product Development and Design, bringing technical expertise and identifying mitigation measures that reduce the impact of creating responsible high-quality products, helping Patagonia fulfill its mission of Saving Our Home Planet.

What You’ll Do

Product Environmental Impact Program Management

• Be a trusted and known subject matter expert internally and externally, demonstrating depth of knowledge in several areas of product sustainability, with a focus on microfibers.
• Liaison between internal teams, advise the business and product teams on the environmental impact of product and material choices.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders within the business, product, design, materials, marketing, sourcing, sales, and production teams, amongst others internally.
• Manage programs with ongoing engagement on product environmental impacts, such as EP&L, with key internal stakeholders.
• Develop, collaborate, and facilitate a cross functional steering working group focused on reducing the environmental impact of products.
• Support internal training programs and educational initiatives related to product sustainability.
• Manage Patagonia’s ongoing efforts to minimize the environmental harm of microfibers.
• Develop strategies for further reducing product environmental impact in areas such as water, chemistry, and biodiversity.
• Liaison with Circularity lead and the Sr. Environmental Impacts Analytics Engineer to support data collection and communication of circularity principles for business stakeholders.
  
  

Research and Advising

• Manage external LCA processes, including coordinating consultants and suppliers for data requests.
• Partner with Sr. Environmental Impact Analytics Engineer in improving product impact data and interpreting and communicating results.
• Support Sr. Environmental Impacts Analytics Engineer in evaluating other sources of secondary and primary product impact data sources for consideration to enhance existing product impact calculations.
• Stay up to date on regulatory and industry objectives for product sustainability and collaborate with Legal Compliance team by supporting efforts into monitoring domestic and internal ESG legislation related to products, such as Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulations (ESPR).
• Partner with external microfiber working groups.
• Research and build measurements around environmental impacts of natural fibers.
  
  

Industry Engagement

• Engage and influence regulatory and sustainability industry progress through proactive and ongoing stakeholder engagement in industry working groups (TMC, Cascale, TE, OIA).
• Provide ongoing updates to the Environmental Impact team and other internal stakeholders on key industry initiatives.
  
  

International and/or domestic travel requirements about 10% of the time.

Who You Are

• Action Oriented: Highly motivated self-starter with proven ability to manage projects, meet deadlines, and drive results organized.
• Engaging: Thoughtful, timely and responsive communication style, keeping stakeholders (internal and external) up to date on progress.
• Strong Communicator: Strong public speaking and presentation skills with the ability to create content and adjust messaging to adapt communication to varied audiences.
• Emotionally Intelligent: high level of self-awareness, diplomatic, empathy, interpersonal skills, and adept at conflict resolution.
• Influential: Superb collaboration and influencing skills - able to establish strong cross-functional relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders both internal and external, inspiring trust and driving alignment
• Strategic: Strategic and business minded, strong business acumen and understanding of Patagonia’s goals and value proposition, able to align efforts and priorities to broader team and organizational goals.
• Passionate: Trusted, reputable and credible subject matter expert and advisor with a positive outlook and creative about solving environmental problems.
  
  

Experience You Bring

• 8+ years of practical experience related to product sustainability, design for sustainability, product manufacturing, life cycle assessment, product stewardship, or Ecodesign.
• Relevant post-secondary degree in environmental science, engineering, chemistry, materials science or relevant field.
• 4+ years’ experience in program management and working cross-functionally within an organization.
• Understanding of manufacturing practices with experience in product design, sustainability or other product or supply chain management roles is desired.
• Prior background as a consultant or in an advisory capacity that has been responsible for revenue generation is considered beneficial.
• Strong research, critical thinking and analytical skills; ability to intake, process, and interpret large quantities of complex information, identify relevant business impact, and summarize important information for non-technical stakeholders.
• Expertise in interpreting academic literature and data, researching, quantifying, and communicating environmental impacts of products and supply chains.
• Demonstrated applied knowledge of apparel supply chains, manufacturing processes, product creation processes, and the related environmental and chemical impacts.
• Strong competency in LCA standards and industry specific measurements tools such as Higg MSI
• Experience implementing environmental programs within a business and/or supply chain.
• Understanding of microfiber and biodiversity measurement
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  
  

Hiring range: 128,800-140,000 USD Annual

At Patagonia, pay ranges are assigned to a job based on the location specific market median of similar jobs, according to 3rd party salary benchmark surveys. Individual pay within that range can vary for several reasons including skills/capabilities, experience, and available budget.

Benefits

Patagonia offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement and leave of absence plans. Benefit plans may vary slightly depending on the nature of your employment. 

Workplace Location Overview

This position is Hybrid, with a standard schedule of Tuesday - Thursday on-site and remote work on other days. Occasional additional office visits may be required for team events or critical meetings.

Employee Conduct

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers, and vendors.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.