Manager, Consumer Sectors

~ Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is a global nonprofit organization that works with its network of more than 250 member companies and other partners to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. Visit our website for more information about BSR’s 25 years of leadership in sustainability. ~

We are proud to say that we have a team of some of the most talented and motivated people in the industry working in our global offices in Copenhagen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Tokyo.

Position Overview

The Consumer Sectors Manager will be part of the team working with companies in BSR’s Consumer Sectors (CS) cluster in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), including in the consumer products and food, beverage, and agriculture sectors, with a strong focus on supply chain.

The Manager will partner on BSR’s work with consumer sectors globally, but will focus on developing and executing projects with the sector in this region. The Manager will play a key role in driving the growth of our consumer sectors practice in Europe, including in the food, beverage and agriculture, luxury, apparel, footwear, consumer packaged goods, hospitality, and retail sectors. 

The Manager will work closely with BSR directors and managers to deliver consulting and grant-funded projects that provide high value to BSR members and other leading companies that are interested in improving their sustainability performance, as well as support business development efforts. This position is full-time and based in Paris.

Responsibilities

• Consulting, Member Engagement and Services: The Manager will play a key role in delivering consulting services to member and non-member companies in the CS sector. The primary area of focus is on supply chain sustainability and responsible sourcing, but other areas of project focus may include strategy development, corporate social responsibility reporting, and business integration. The Manager may be required to provide services to companies outside of the CS sector or EMEA region according to business needs. In addition, the Manager will manage several key member relationships and provide member support to drive recruitment and retention for the sector.
• Business Development: The Manager will have responsibility for developing new business opportunities across BSR’s CS portfolio.
• Project Implementation: The Manager will assume responsibility for designing and implementing advisory services projects with members and non-members. The role includes budgeting and forecasting, people management, industry expertise, and presentation and facilitation skills.  The Manager should expect to allocate up to 70 percent of her/his time to project implementation.
• Collaborative Action: The Manager will support collaborative action initiatives in EMEA and globally, helping to drive innovative approaches to creating business and social value for participating companies.
• External Representation: The Manager will represent BSR and the CS and supply chain practices to external audiences, especially in Paris, London and Brussels, by presenting at industry conferences, writing publications, forming beneficial external partnerships, and creating other opportunities to raise the profile of BSR more broadly. 

Qualifications

The ideal candidate must be able to thrive in an international and entrepreneurial environment, working at the nexus between business and society. The candidate must be able to plan, execute, and continuously improve his/her work independently and/or in close collaboration with colleagues, as appropriate.

The candidate is expected to have demonstrated excellence in business development and project management within a sustainability context, either from within a corporation or in a consulting position.

Specific expectations:

• Master’s degree in, for example, business and/or sustainability/CSR.
• Subject matter expertise across focus areas, including sustainability management, consumer sectors, and/or supply chain.
• 7-10 years of relevant professional experience from a top-tier consulting firm, NGO working with business, or a CSR/sustainability, corporate affairs, business development, or similar role in the private sector.
• Proven and demonstrated track record of success in working with business in a client/customer facing position.
• Experience managing multiple, disparate projects simultaneously. 
• Fluent in both written and conversational English; fluency in French a clear advantage.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills for high-level interaction with members and other companies.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Capacity to work and thrive in a growing, fast-paced entrepreneurial organization with a collaborative environment.
• Ability to undertake business travel 25 percent of time or more.
• High ethical standards and commitment to BSR core values of leadership, respect, and integrity.

Diversity

BSR is committed to developing an inclusive work environment where diversity of thought, style, culture, and skill is valued in support of individual performance and potential, as well as our business goals and mission.