Sustainability Manager International
Job Purpose
The Sustainability Manager, International, leads the development and implementation of sustainability strategies across international markets (EMEA and Asia Pacific), in alignment with the global sustainability strategy and in close collaboration with the global sustainability team.
A glimpse of your daily mission
(1) Leads the effective strategic development, integration, and reporting of sustainability requirements and ambitions within Haworth International, including policies, strategies, and performance objectives. Leads the implementation of Haworth's 2025 sustainability strategy in International together with internal and external stakeholders globally.
(2) Leads implementation of sustainability program and reporting across the entire value chain from sustainable product design, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, until the management of used products with functional leaders and cross-functional teams in International.Provides expert advice and works actively with cross-functional teams in developing and implementing sustainability plans and initiatives.
- Drives sustainable product design efforts including product sustainability transparency (data gathering, lifecycle assessments, product declarations) and certification (related to indoor air quality, comprehensive sustainability LEVEL, etc) by internally partnering with Product Line Management, Engineering, and Sourcing.
- Drives responsible sourcing initiatives including material and supplier transparency, exclusion of banned chemicals, promotion of more sustainable materials and processes, supplier reviews, audits, and development.
- Drives sustainable operations initiatives including zero waste to landfill, energy reduction, renewable energy, sustainable wood, packaging, and circular services.
- Leads carbon transparency and accountability initiatives.
- Encourages people and community initiatives.
Actively networks Haworth in organizations promoting sustainability.
(4) Acts as the spokesperson and business partner for sustainability within the EMEA and AP markets. Demonstrates to our customers our ability to inspire on future perspectives. Provides strategic sustainability knowledge and support for large current and potential customers.Provides occasionally sustainability consultancy to Haworth affiliates within the broader Haworth family.
(5) Leads and promotes implementation according to sustainability standards like UN Global Compact, SDGs, GRI, CDP, ESG, ISO 26000, LEED, WELL.(6) Leads integrated management system certification according to ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 (QEHS) in EMEA, and corporate assessments. Creates and continually updates policies and procedures. Contributes to the organization’s culture of opportunity and risk management.
By deputy leads the environmental management for Haworth in Germany, incl. the PEFC chain of custody.
(7) Leads gathering and provision of environmental, safety and other technical sustainability information for decision-making and continuous improvement. Leads sustainability content and communication materials for global sustainability reporting, corporate assessments such as EcoVadis, existing and potential client information requests, and member engagement.
(8) Provides leadership and expert advice, reviews strengths and opportunities to develop strategies to build best in class frameworks. Promotes a culture of excellence in achieving sustainability objectives throughout the organization by promoting continual use of the policies and procedures, establishing and implementing training programs, by monitoring compliance, and by fostering a sustainability and continuous improvement mindset.Leads sustainability trainings to internal and external stakeholders, develops knowledge and knowhow on sustainability across the organization.
(9) Leads and conducts sustainability and QEHS audits of selected key suppliers in collaboration with sourcing and quality.(10) Leads direct and indirect Sustainability budget, and teams’ relationships in Haworth International’s functional and matrix organization.
Your Qualifications
(1) Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in sustainability management, business administration, engineering, environmental management, health & safety, or a related field.(2) Substantial professional experience (typically 10 years or more) in sustainability, environmental management, or related disciplines, preferably within manufacturing or industrial environments.
(3) Proven leadership experience (approximately 5 years or more), including managing teams and operating effectively in matrix and cross‑functional organizational structures.
(4) Demonstrated experience supporting regional or international operations, with a strong track record of developing and implementing sustainability strategies across multiple markets.
(5) Strong technical knowledge and practical experience in sustainability‑related areas such as:- Life‑cycle assessment and materials sustainability
- Responsible sourcing and chain‑of‑custody frameworks (e.g. FSC, PEFC)
- Manufacturing and engineering processes
- Management systems and standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001)
- Sustainable building standards (e.g. LEED, WELL)
(6) Sound understanding and application of relevant legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks related to sustainability, including environment, energy, waste, packaging, chemicals, ethics, and transparency.
(7) Strong stakeholder‑management, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders across regions.(8) Demonstrated project and process management capability, including setting and achieving objectives, managing budgets, tracking key performance indicators, and delivering measurable outcomes.
(9) Experience in auditing or assessment activities related to sustainability, quality, environment, or health & safety (QEHS) is advantageous.
(10) Proficiency in commonly used digital tools and business software relevant to sustainability reporting, analysis, and project management.
(11) Professional proficiency in English and German is required. Knowledge of additional languages is an advantage for regional and international collaboration.
About Us
Haworth is one of the world's largest manufacturers of office furniture, providing solutions for tomorrow's customers worldwide. At the center of our work is the human being: What does a person need to work, what pushes them, motivate them and what makes people feel comfortable at work?Only if we can answer that question, we are able to introduce designs to our customers that will make them achieve their goals. To stay one step ahead, we invest in our own research, have a worldwide network of interesting partners and are part of think tanks around the world who are trying to think ahead.
The family-owned company, headquartered in Holland, Michigan/United States, employs more than 8.000 people and is represented in more than 150 countries in Asia, Europe and America with subsidiaries and partners.