Director, Sustainability

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is the North American leader in fiber cement home siding and exterior design solutions. Hardie® products offer long lasting beauty and endless design possibilities with trusted protection and low maintenance. The company pioneered modern fiber cement building products and continues to invest in innovation to transform the industry. James Hardie is a high-performance organization, with an unwavering commitment to Zero Harm. The company proudly employs a diverse workforce of over 3,000 employees across operations in North America.

Make your dream career a reality. It’s possible!

Based in Chicago highly preferred; Remote possibility

Sustainability is a never-ending journey for James Hardie.  We continue to identify and develop solutions that do right by our planet, our people and the communities where we operate.  The Director of Sustainability will enable James Hardie's efforts to scale and achieve sustainability ambitions including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, increased circularity and protection of human rights for our North America (NA) region. This role will be responsible for defining and leading all aspects of James Hardie’s NA sustainability strategy, working in collaboration with NA senior leadership. The role will provide leadership and expertise in our driving our ESG strategy for value creation and operational performance.  This role will work across functions, with business team members, with suppliers, and potentially with outside industry groups and customers/distributors toward a goal of delivering practical sustainability solutions that enable business growth, while being responsible stewards.  The position will report to the VP ESG and Chief Sustainability Officer.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop the vision and roadmap for James Hardie NA’s sustainability efforts – in alignment with, and support of, the NA Region’s overall business strategy and James Hardie’s global ESG strategy.
• Prioritize and lead NA-wide projects as part of the strategy (e.g., decarbonization, circularity, increased water recycling).
• Identify inefficiencies or areas where the company can improve its environmental impact, providing strategic advice related to energy efficiency and circularity in our plants.
• Partner with Central Engineering teams, manufacturing plants and commercial leadership to ensure removal of obstacles to strategy execution and accelerate the implementation of technical measures.
• Work closely with plant management teams to understand individual challenges and provide solutions to ensure set goals are achieved.
• Act as an advisor and thought leader on issues and emerging technological advances material to our NA sustainability strategies.
• Partner with NA business leaders to ensure sustainability strategies align with operational processes and integrate with our Hardie Manufacturing Operation System.
• Facilitate and deliver on social sustainability opportunities within NA, working closely with the Director of Global Social Impact.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to direct report(s).

What You’ll Bring: 

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, sustainability, science, a related field or equivalent experience in sustainability/ESG required
• MBA degree desired
• Minimum of 10-15 years of professional experience required
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in ESG/sustainability required
• Experience with energy efficiency and process optimization in industrial or manufacturing facilities required
• Familiarity with greenhouse gas accounting required
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting on ESG data and metrics preferred
• Self-sufficient with experience taking initiative and courage to chart a new course
• Strength in the ability to influence others at all levels of the business
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to build materials and content for use internally and externally
• Teamwork and collaboration skills and ability to work with cross-functional or other teams for successful completion of work
• Critical thinking skills with the ability to navigate multiple priorities
• Project management planning and execution skills
• Maintains a practice of prioritizing work for impact
• Ability to travel an average of 25-35%

What You’ll Receive:

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Comprehensive low-cost co-pay Health Insurance; medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance benefits for every 30+ hour full-time employee. Insurance starts on day one!
• 401(k) Retirement plan that will match 100% of employees saved dollars up to the first 6% of your salary
• Paid holidays, paid vacation including Jury Duty and bereavement leave
• Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Parental Leave
• Community Involvement & Sustainable Solutions - Fire Resistant Siding to Help Rebuild the Grizzly Flats Community | James Hardie

• And more

Apply now and come “home” to Hardie!

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The expected pay range for this position is between $160,000 and $240,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience, market conditions, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This position qualifies for benefits which may also include a discretionary bonus and equity program.

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.