Leonid Group has been retained by a leading global healthcare company to appoint a Global Product Sustainability Manager - Packaging based in Barcelona, Spain.

Role Overview:

The Global Product Sustainability Manager is a senior individual contributor responsible for driving our client's global packaging sustainability, compliance, and strategic transformation initiatives. This position leads the development, implementation, and oversight of packaging-related regulatory compliance programs, sustainability frameworks, and cross-functional efforts required to meet worldwide packaging requirements.

This role provides deep subject‑matter expertise on packaging regulations (PPWR, EPR, AGEC Law, ESPR), packaging materials, recyclability, reuse, labeling, design optimisation, and compliance documentation. As our client expands its global packaging obligations, this role ensures readiness, governance, and risk mitigation across Technology Centres (TCs), manufacturing sites, and affiliate markets.

The position requires influencing without authority, coordinating diverse global teams, engaging suppliers, ensuring data accuracy, and shaping our client's long‑term packaging strategy. This position will report to the Global Product Sustainability Sr. Manager under the corporate sustainability leadership.

Key Accountabilities:

Regulatory Compliance & Stewardship

Lead global compliance for packaging regulations including: EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR - material restrictions, recyclability, recycled content thresholds, technical documentation, EU Authorized Representative requirements), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR - requirements across EU Member States, UK, U.S. states, APAC, and emerging markets), French AGEC Law & national reuse targets, mandatory annual declarations on packaging mass, weight, recyclability, and reuse metrics.
Develop and support packaging compliance documentation including Declarations of Conformity (DoCs), technical files, testing evidence, and supplier attestations.
Ensure packaging types used across products are registered appropriately with EU Authorized Representatives and competent authorities.
Support audits, inspections, and reporting for governmental bodies, packaging producer responsibility organizations, and sustainability frameworks.

Packaging Strategy, Governance & COE Enablement

Lead creation of a global packaging governance model, advancing the foundation for a Packaging Centre of Excellence (COE) to support sustainability, compliance, and innovation goals.
Develop strategic roadmaps addressing packaging redesign, reusable systems, and sustainable alternatives
Translate regulatory deadlines (2026–2030+) into global execution plans, ensuring cross‑functional readiness and risk mitigation.

Packaging Data, Analytics & Reporting

Oversee global packaging data collection and validation across the business, including: Packaging type, weight, material composition, recyclability, recycled content, and country‑specific reporting fields
Establish standardized templates, processes, and repositories to ensure accurate and consolidated reporting across business units.
Lead creation of dashboards and analysis for senior leadership on packaging costs, EPR fees, waste metrics, supplier performance, and compliance exposure.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Program Leadership

Serve as the global subject-matter expert for packaging sustainability across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, QA/RA, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Affiliate teams.
Provide guidance to packaging engineering teams on design requirements, testing, validation, labeling, and compliance readiness.
Lead engagement with packaging suppliers on recyclability, recycled content, documentation, and engineering constraints.
Coordinate supplier assessments, compliance questionnaires, and PPWR/EPR‑aligned material declarations.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

Identify opportunities for packaging optimisation (weight reduction, material substitution, consolidated packaging types, circularity).
Promote reuse initiatives, recycled content targets, and alternatives to high-impact packaging materials.
Facilitate benchmarking against top IVD packaging organizations and industry standards.

Reporting & Communication

Develop and deliver periodic program reports and dashboards to track progress, risks, and milestones.
Prepare and present regular updates to senior leadership and executive sponsors, driving decision-making and transparency.

Networking/Key relationships

Global sustainability teams
Technology centres
Cross-functional stakeholders (Global Supply Chain & Logistics, Procurement, R&D, QA/RA, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, IT)

Minimum Knowledge & Experience Required:

Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Sustainability, Mechanical/Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or related field, Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.
Experience: Minimum 7–10 years in packaging sustainability, packaging engineering, product stewardship, or regulatory compliance.
Demonstrated expertise in global packaging regulations, especially PPWR, EPR, AGEC, ESPR, recyclability standards, and packaging data/reporting systems.
Experience working in regulated industries (medical devices, IVD, pharma, life sciences) strongly preferred.
Language: Native or high level of business English required

Preferred Qualifications:

Professional certifications in packaging, sustainability, environmental management, or program leadership.
Experience with digital product compliance, digital product passports, and sustainability tools.
Familiarity with ESG reporting frameworks (GRI, TCFD, CSRD).

Skills & Capabilities:

Deep knowledge of packaging materials, sustainability principles, and regulatory frameworks.
Strong analytical, data management, and program management skills.
Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership.
Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across global teams.
Proactive, solution-oriented, and adaptable to evolving regulatory landscapes.

Travel requirements:

International travel required (<20% of average time)