Associate Director

Associate Director / Director - Product Sustainability Department: Circ. & Value Chain Trans. : Circ & Value Chain Trans. Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time Location: Canada Compensation: Associate Director: $125,000 – 153,000 CAD / Director: $148,500 – 188,000 CAD Description About Anthesis: Anthesis is the sustainability activator. Proud to be a B Corp, we seek to make a significant contribution to a world which is more resilient and productive. We do this by working with cities, corporates, investors and other organisations to drive sustainable performance. We develop financially driven sustainability strategies, underpinned by technical expertise and delivered by innovative collaborative teams across the world. At Anthesis Group, we are truly committed to putting people and our planet at the heart of all we do. Summary of Role & Key Responsibilities Anthesis is seeking a Product Sustainability Expert with deep experience in materials, chemistry, product design or product development to join our Circularity and Value Chain Transformation team. This role focuses on helping clients design, evaluate, and scale sustainable products, integrating environmental performance into product strategy, business models, and effective design for sustainability. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in sustainable product development, design for sustainability, technical acumen in material science, engineering chemistry or a related field. This individual should have a comprehensive understanding of how product design choices influence emissions, resource use, safety, and regulatory compliance across manufacturing, use, and end‑of‑life. In this role, you will lead client engagement and influence client decisions that embed sustainability into product requirements, design trade‑offs, and commercialization decisions, enabling reductions in product carbon footprint, improved material efficiency, and enhanced circularity. Clients may include CPG, retail and apparel distributors, manufacturers, Fortune 500 companies, and emerging technology brands. You will join a collaborative, global team passionate about transforming how products are designed, built, used, and recovered for a more sustainable future. Key Responsibilities: Lead and manage multiple product sustainability and eco‑design projects across their lifecycle, ensuring excellent client management with on‑time delivery, within scope, and with measurable environmental and business impact. Thoughtfully inform client strategies, with a strong ability to understand the commercial benefits and tradeoffs implied when incorporating design for sustainability. Capable of leading discussions with executive teams on business‑critical decisions that lend to these objectives. Have excellent project and team management skills, with the ability to delegate tasks, clearly articulate client needs, and oversee the full scope of a project. Provide strong technical oversight, quality assurance and support to colleagues and junior team members, and ensure high‑quality, impactful deliverables for a client. Advise clients on how to integrate sustainability into product design and development processes, including material selection, design playbooks, product architecture, durability, energy efficiency, and end‑of‑life considerations. Translate sustainability goals into product‑level requirements and KPIs, working alongside design, manufacturing, engineering, EHS, procurement, and product management teams. Guide the development of sustainable materials strategies, including recycled content, avoiding perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS), low‑carbon materials, hazardous substance reduction, and emerging alternatives. Apply knowledge of EHS regulations and standards (e.g., RoHS, REACH, chemical management, product safety) to inform compliant and responsible product design. Conduct quantitative modeling and scenario analysis to evaluate design trade‑offs, such as material substitution, energy efficiency improvements, or product lifetime extension. Implement and optimize digital tools and data frameworks to manage product sustainability data across design, manufacturing, and supplier networks (e.g., LCA tools, PLM integrations, sustainability data platforms). Perform landscape assessments of industry benchmarks, competitor product strategies, and evolving regulations related to design for sustainability efforts. Develop executive‑ready reports and presentations that translate complex technical data into clear, actionable insights for C‑suite executives, as well as product, manufacturing, and sustainability leaders. Build and maintain trusted client relationships, identifying opportunities to expand product sustainability programs and innovation initiatives. Collaborate with internal Anthesis experts across strategy, climate, circularity, and digital services to deliver integrated product sustainability solutions. Contribute to thought leadership on sustainable product design, life cycle thinking, and technology‑enabled sustainability transformation. Key Requirements & Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Product Design, Environmental Science, or related field; graduate degree preferred. 8+ years of professional experience, including: 5+ years in product sustainability, sustainable product development, or life‑cycle–based environmental assessment, and 5+ years in project management Experience working directly with product design, material or chemical engineering, R&D, EHS, or manufacturing teams. Hands‑on experience applying sustainability considerations to materials selection, product architecture, energy efficiency, and circularity strategies. Working knowledge of EHS requirements and product regulations, including chemical compliance, PFAS regulations and product stewardship considerations. Experience with digital tools and data systems supporting product sustainability, such as LCA software, PLM systems, or sustainability reporting platforms is preferred. Advanced quantitative and data analysis skills (Excel required; experience with PowerBI, Tableau, Alteryx, or similar tools preferred). Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders, including executives and commercial teams. Strong client management, proposal development, and account growth capabilities. Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, global, virtual consulting environment. Please note this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Benefits Comprehensive and competitive group health, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents FSA (Flexible Spending Account) benefit (US only) Anthesis provides 100% Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance benefit. In addition, Anthesis covers 100% of Short & Long‑Term Disability Insurance benefits. Anthesis provides a 3% contribution into retirement plans, and you may elect to contribute more each pay period with a pre‑tax deduction up to a certain cap. Anthesis provides Employee Assistance Program and Travel Insurance Annual allotment of PTO, in addition to 56 hours of sick leave, paid company paid holidays, and more. An opportunity to participate in the Anthesis Employee Participation Plan (EPP), an industry‑pioneering employee incentive plan that allows all employees to be rewarded for the growth in the equity value of Anthesis. Work within a highly motivated team in an innovative and rapidly growing global company. Opportunity to have a direct impact and be a key part of the growth and development of the business and the team. Work collaboratively on projects that have an impact on the sustainability and climate change goals/challenges for clients. Opportunity to work alongside of, collaborate with and learn from sustainability Subject Matter Experts (SME) who are passionate about the work they do and the impact Anthesis can have. #J-18808-Ljbffr