Sustainability Specialist – Communication, Engagement & Training

The Sustainability Specialist is integral to continuing to establish WSI as the leading sustainable home furnishings company, building off the company’s recognition as one of Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies for six years running. This role is highly cross-functional, and the ideal candidate will need to be a strong communicator who enjoys advocating sustainability within a large and complex organization.

This position will partner with the Manager of Sustainability - Communication, Engagement and Training based in the US on all internal training, sustainability resources (Sustainability hub content, brand reporting), events (Earth Day, International Women’s Day, Good By Design Award, etc.), marketing guidance, and external communications strategies for both social and environmental sustainability.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Policies and Documentation:

• Responsible for Vendor Compliance Manual update for the Sustainability team.
• Work closely with process owners to create and update new and existing policies and procedures for the Sustainability team.
• Work with the legal team for policy approvals.

Trainings, Events, and Engagement:

• Partner with the US Manager of Sustainability - Communication, Engagement and Training to ensure successful training and engagement within WSI and WSGO to drive program adoption.
  • Coordinate and plan program-specific training opportunities and cadence.
  • Develop and design decks for the sustainability team for
    • internal trainings and events
    • external trainings and events for vendors
    • senior leaders sharing, from board meeting to quarterly updates

Sustainability Resources System Management: Internal Sustainability Resource Hub, Vendor Sustainability Library, WSI Inc Sustainability website.

• Maintain and manage content within the platform to ensure it is up to date and inform relevant stakeholders on emerging regulations and sustainability trends.
• Responsible for regular internal communications (newsletters, inspirational impact stories, sustainability library) and vendor communications.

Sustainability Research, Reporting & Disclosure:

• Follow industry trends, best practices, emerging regulations, and peer benchmarking of competitors’ initiatives and sustainability reporting to inform ongoing reporting strategy and disclosures.
• Manage the completion of sustainability surveys and questionnaires from third parties, including CDP reporting and ratings agencies.
• Oversee data management and verification of the company’s key sustainability disclosures, including identifying key metrics and engaging content owners to collect and validate sustainability information.

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

• Embodies the highest level of personal and professional integrity and ethics.
• A true passion for running a business with purpose and achieving positive social and environmental impact.
• Possesses a personally engaging style with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Embraces a diversity of ideas, approaches, and points of view.
• Thrives in a collaborative team environment.
• Possesses attention to detail while managing simultaneous projects in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrates a creative, energetic, and motivated spirit.

COMPETENCIES & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, sustainability, environmental science, or related field.
• Working experience in a multinational corporation or corporate setting is preferred.
• Experience in social and environmental compliance, and sustainability with experience in policy writing/formulation & training.
• Strong analytical skills to inform strategy development with data and storytelling a compelling business case.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, Power BI).