About Us:

Valent BioSciences LLC is a worldwide leader in the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of biorational products for the agriculture, public health, and forestry markets. We have more than 60 years of experience bringing biorational products to market, and our products are used in sustainable operations in 95 countries around the world. Biorational products maximize plant quality, productivity, and sustainability.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical, Valent BioSciences LLC operates with the Sumitomo Spirit mindset, which means to benefit both self and others, recognizing that private and public interests are one and the same. It’s about contributing to society, as well as making a profit.

Description of Job: The Associate Director of Sustainability supports and drives the growth of the Valent BioSciences sustainability initiatives globally and is to be the Global Ambassador for Sustainability. Reporting to the Vice President, Global Marketing & Business Management this highly visible position champions the importance of biological product use in agriculture, while also focusing on carbon neutrality, nature positive, carbon impact and nitrogen fixation in the future of agriculture. The position partners with our corporate and commercial partners around the world to amplify the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and the positive impact on end consumers, specifically the planet and people.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Incumbent will be the ‘front and center’ Global Ambassador as the internal and external ‘face of the company’ for all sustainability initiatives.
• Capture and share baseline carbon footprint data for Valent BioSciences and subsidiaries / affiliates separately and collectively
• Consolidate and coordinate the capture of all Carbon neutral projects for current and next mid-range plan (MRP) and beyond.
• Develop the range of scope for all sustainability activities for the next five (5) years and stepwise strategy to implement the capture and execution of plan
• Set annual short-range Plan (SRP) and mid-range planning (MRP) goals for the reduction of carbon footprint for the organization
• Function as product management, asset management for all agreed-upon activities for the year and the MRP; and lead cross functional teams in the implementation of the plan with dedicated focus on sustainability
• Research and implement sustainability / environmental issues and best practices internally and externally
• Monitor and task track sustainability initiatives for effectiveness and contribution to achieving the sustainability goals for Valent BioSciences, Sumitomo Chemical and affiliates
• Develop sustainability outreach programs – in support of the marketing activities and promotion of Valent BioSciences businesses
• Align with Valent Biosciences Project Management Office to oversee the fulfillment of all cross-functional initiatives to ensure strategic alignment with business objectives

Capabilities:

• Strong understanding of sustainable food supply chain or agriculture is an added plus
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills with senior leaders, stakeholders, and partner organizations to create the business case for sustainability
• One-on-one engagement and thought partnership skills
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial spirit who can navigate ambiguity to achieve results
• Proven results to consistently meet deadlines and stay within budget on projects and initiatives
• Flexible and able to work in a start-up environment
• Ability to excel in internal and external environments
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment and able to manage multiple projects

Experience:

• Experience in the field of agriculture, food and/or sustainability is strongly desired
• Demonstrated knowledge of sustainability issues, disclosure practices, and industry-wide trends, preferably with an emphasis on agriculture or related field
• Experience working across different farming systems, including smallholder and large farmers in both the northern and southern hemispheres
• Proven track record in building the business cases for sustainability, must have high communication and analytical skills
• Comfortable presenting to executives/leaders of partner organizations, and using influence and persuasion to these leaders with respect to Business Management priorities and goals
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills; including experience writing technical reports or white papers
• Strong organizational skills, including attention to detail and multitasking skills
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
• Excellent analytical skills
• Align with Valent BioSciences Project Management Office to oversee the fulfillment of all cross-functional initiatives to ensure strategic alignment with business objectives

Education: Master’s degree in agriculture / ag-business, environmental studies / sciences, business, or related field with 7-10 years related experience. PhD degree is a plus.

Location: Global business headquarters in Libertyville, Illinois, with a hybrid telecommuting policy of up to 20% per month.

Travel: As required

What We Offer:

You’ll enjoy competitive compensation, consisting of base pay plus an incentive program available to all full-time employees, and a comprehensive benefits package including high-quality healthcare options, 401k matching, life and disability insurance, generous time off (with time off to volunteer) and much more! Additionally, we offer several Flexible Work Arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance.

We work together to power our sustainable future. Here's what drives us: Valent BioSciences, LLC has a strong commitment to both sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In fact, being a responsible corporate citizen has been ingrained in our culture since the company’s founding. Today, it remains at the forefront of everything we do.

• Valent BioSciences LLC is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and/or identity, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, disabilities, or protected veteran status.