Project Manager, Chemicals of Concern

EDF is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, we have linked science, economics and law to create pioneering, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society’s most urgent environmental problems.

EDF is a global leader in partnering with innovative companies to improve environmental and business performance. We have a 20-year track record helping the world’s largest corporations unleash environmental innovation while demonstrating that good environmental strategy is good business strategy.  Our objective is to create a green “race to the top” between companies, spurring innovation throughout entire industries and sending a strong signal about the potential and profitability of environmental sustainability. 
We are extending that approach to the protection of public health, specifically the impact of toxic chemicals on human health.  Scientific research now links exposures to toxic chemicals—including chemicals commonly found in household products—to a number of health effects ranging from infertility to obesity and cancer. As concern about exposure to toxic chemicals in consumer products grows, NGOs and consumers are putting pressure on retailers and brands to reformulate or redesign their products to ensure their safety. EDF is one of several NGOs advocating for the reduction of chemicals of concern in products. The key approaches used by EDF include direct partnerships with major retailers, as well as working through The Sustainability Consortium, a group of leading retailers and consumer products companies developing standards and tools to measure and report on the sustainability of products.

Overall Function

The Project Manager will support the collaborative work between EDF’s Corporate Partnerships and Health Programs, with a primary focus on outreach and engagement of NGOs and corporations in support of reducing and eliminating hazardous chemicals in consumer products. Our overall strategy involves working in direct partnership with Walmart as well as through The Sustainability Consortium to set goals and methodologies for reducing chemicals of concern in products; pursuing policy changes that improve regulation of chemicals of concern; working with the environmental community, academics, regulators, and others to advance green chemistry principles and practices; and raising awareness of the health issues associated with toxic chemicals in our environment. Project outcomes must be practically and technically sound from a business and operational perspective, and yet aggressively address concerns around hazardous chemicals in products.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Build consensus among key NGOs, business networks, and other strategic constituencies on practices for reducing or eliminating chemicals of concern in consumer products
• Engage key NGOs, business networks, and other strategic constituencies in aligning on and pursuing strategies to reduce or eliminate chemicals of concern in consumer products
• Develop and implement NGO-focused initiatives to increase the urgency that retailers and consumer products companies feel to reduce chemicals of concern in products
• Identify and advocate for rigorous methodologies to evaluate safer substitutes and incorporate potential health impacts into product lifecycle assessments
• Oversee development and dissemination of case studies on product chemistry improvement , and effectively communicate the business case for product chemistry improvement to retailers and consumer product companies
• Communicate project results to Environmental Defense Fund staff, corporate partners, businesses, NGOs, and other stakeholders through reports, presentations, and other methods

 
In addition to these responsibilities, the incumbent may participate in general corporate partnership program activities, including fundraising, strategic planning, new project development, and communication, and be an overall team player in a vibrant and entrepreneurial organization.

Qualifications
 
The optimal candidate will have experience in stakeholder relations, facilitation, and constituency building; knowledge about health and environment issues with an interest and ideally experience in the health effects of chemical exposures; a background in consumer product markets; and an understanding of the broad range of environmental challenges facing retail and consumer product companies.
 
The qualifications for this position include:

• Master’s degree in chemistry, environmental science, business, engineering, or other relevant discipline; a bachelor’s and equivalent experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated success in moving stakeholders to agreement and joint action on complex issues.
• Working knowledge of current issues around chemicals of concern in consumer products.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in analysis and documentation in support of highly visible work.
• Solid experience in project management.
• Ability to juggle many tasks and deadlines and to respond quickly to changing opportunities.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of small teams in a fast-paced, dynamic and creative environment.
• Understanding of, or experience in, product development, management, or strategy in the retail sector.

 
Location

The Chemicals Project Manager will be based in Washington, DC, co-located with the EDF Health and Corporate Partnerships teams, and report to the Corporate Partnerships Senior Manager, Retail, in Bentonville AR.
  
Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.
Environmental Defense Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer
 
 
 
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