Job descriptions library for sustainability positions

Job Description

Company X is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health. This position works in the Legal Division. As the Senior Counsel – Environmental, you’ll have the chance to provide direct oversight for complex elements of Company X’s global Sustainability program at the corporate level.

You will partner with internal clients including Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) to identify climate and environmental risk areas and to communicate such risk areas to management along with action plans to address risk. You will provide oversight and assistance with education and training and serve as a legal advisor to multiple internal EHS programs in the sustainability space.
You will be responsible for the supervision of legal analysis, risk assessments and remediation of issues on a multitude of environmental topics.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and guidance on complex legal and regulatory issues, analyzes alternatives, and works with other parts of the Legal Division, as appropriate, to propose solutions on environmental topics.
• Tracks and evaluates new and emerging global legislation, regulations, and guidance on environmental, sustainability and safety issues including emerging contaminants, environmental justice, GHG reduction schemes and accounting methodologies, and EU regulatory frameworks.
• Reviews regulatory and industry trends and recommends responsive actions and program modifications, where appropriate. Keeps abreast of developments of laws/regulations and develops best practices in processes and procedures in addressing environmental issues.
• Partners with EHS, Finance, and Global Sustainability on voluntary and mandatory climate related and environmental liability and chemical restriction reporting.
• Partners with internal clients including Global Sustainability on environmental topics and projects related to Company X’s 2030 Global Sustainability Plan goals and targets.
• Provides oversight to corporate and/or divisional clients and their processes to ensure compliance with corporate, divisional and affiliate environmental related ESG policies and procedures including those related to Company X’s internal EHS and sustainability programs and targets.
• Partners with EHS, Licensing & Acquisition, and Corporate Real Estate on EHS/ESG due diligence for business and property transactions.
• Possesses in-depth knowledge of Company X’s businesses and knowledge of the broader business impact. Serves as SME for environmental legal issues
• Assists in developing, updating, and implementing a comprehensive training program on complex ESG and divisional/affiliate policies and procedures.
• Along with the DVP ESG Legal, leads the external reporting of program results in line with local regulations.
• Leads cross-functional teams on other complex issues or projects.

Requirements

• JD or foreign equivalent required.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience with, or exposure to, business functions such as compliance, legal, regulatory affairs, government affairs, and finance.
• Understands legal requirements of various US and international environmental laws including, but not limited to, the pending SEC Climate Regulations, EU Directive on Corporate Social Responsibility, REACH and RoHS, EPA regulations and other ESG laws and is able to translate these regulations into processes and controls for Company X.
• Familiarity with voluntary reporting frameworks such as the Climate Disclosure Project, TCFD and TFND.