This role will shape the next phase of both programmes, driving both ESG and commercial outcomes to drive strategic progression and stakeholder value creation. It is a global role, working across all three RS regions (EMEA, Americas, APAC) and our global brands. You will lead a direct team of two but influence a much larger and broader matrix of stakeholders across Product & Supplier Management, ESG, Digital, Go-to-Market, Procurement and Ethics & Compliance.

We welcome candidates from product management, supplier management, category leadership, commercial strategy, proposition development or sustainability backgrounds. Whatever your route, you will need to demonstrate experience of converting sustainability objectives into customer propositions, supplier action and measurable commercial results.

Key Responsibilities

Better World Products (BWP)

• Lead the end-to-end strategy for BWP to maximise its value for RS suppliers and customers.
• Partner with Product & Supplier, Sales and Commercial teams to define and deliver BWP growth targets (range expansion, customer adoption, and revenue contribution), embedding sustainability into core commercial decision-making.
• Lead teams to develop the BWP go-to-market strategy, including digital experience, pricing & margin, customer and supplier marketing, segmentation and sales enablement.
• Oversee ongoing development of BWP claims-based framework and launch of BWP Solutions to drive further product and supplier identification, verification and onboarding to expand the BWP range and grow to 100k by 2030.
• Oversee relationships with sustainability consultants supporting framework development and regulatory alignment.
• Ensure framework alignment with emerging sustainability and product compliance regulations such as the Green Claims Directive and industry best practice to avoid greenwashing and maintain industry standard and customer trust.
• Shape the long-term roadmap toward product lifecycle assessment and environmental footprint model, including product carbon footprint labelling. Partner with ESG team to develop Scope 3 roadmap and deliver ongoing improvements in customer and stakeholder reporting.
• Grow sustainable product data within the Product Information Management system and utilise AI to manage efficiently.
• Develop short, medium- and long-term metrics, external targets and monthly ESG and commercial performance reporting in collaboration with ESG data team. Use insight to drive decision making and progress.
• Partner with the ESG team to accelerate globalisation, governance, data development and reporting — including product carbon reporting from 2026 onward.

Supplier ESG Action Plan

• Lead global strategy, policy, process development and delivery of Supplier ESG action plan to limit third party risk and create greater value for RS and our suppliers in our go-to-market offer.
• Lead the change leadership to ensure this is fully embedded across all RS procurement teams globally: branded and RS PRO product suppliers, indirect procurement, RS Integrated Supply and new acquisitions.
• Collaborate with Group Ethics & Compliance and Procurement Governance teams across RS to develop and implement RS Group’s supplier due diligence and management approach in line with current and emerging legislation with ongoing horizon scanning.
• Develop strategy and oversee delivery of education and engagement programmes for RS category and supplier partners to drive action on key ESG topics including carbon reduction, SBTi alignment and collection of primary Scope 3 data, EcoVadis/Sedex assessments, BWP alignment, packaging improvements and region-specific priorities.
• Strengthen supplier experience and customer trust through consistent, scalable, value added ESG initiatives.

Leadership

• Influence change with stakeholders at all levels across the global matrix: ESG, Product & Supplier Management, Digital, Go-to-Market, Ethics & Compliance.
• Lead and develop a direct team of two (BWP Lead and Supplier ESG Lead).
• Lead cross-functional and regional matrix working groups for BWP and Supplier ESG.
• Represent RS with customer, suppliers and wider industry and be RS’ thought leader and authority on product, supplier and customer ESG topics.

What we are looking for from you:

• Strong commercial leader with end-to-end experience across product, supplier, or commercial roles.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills; able to build strong relationships internally and externally.
• Proven matrix leader in complex global organisations; able to align and mobilise cross functional and regional teams to drive change in ambiguous environments.
• Strong understanding and passion for ESG, with the ability to guide programme development with strategic integrity and regulatory awareness.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills – able to deliver compelling narratives and insights to internal and external stakeholders, including customers and suppliers, ensuring clarity, trust, and alignment.
• Able to translate technical sustainability concepts into simple, compelling commercial messaging that resonates with suppliers and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and data-driven mindset; able to develop metrics, reporting and insight-led strategies.
• Experience developing or managing sustainable product ranges and understanding of market offerings.
• Experience in sustainability roles within product, supplier or procurement environments.
• Product and/or supplier management experience with business development or value-creation skills.
• Knowledge of sustainability regulatory requirements including Green Claims Code, EU sustainable product principles and relevant international standards.

RS – Who We Are

At RS we’ve been solving engineering problems for over 80 years: big ones, small ones, easy and difficult ones. We turn the ‘what ifs’ into the ‘why nots’, the impossible into the possible.

Our purpose? Making amazing happen for a better world.

We offer service and product solutions. We send out a parcel every 2 seconds, to over 130 countries. We provide over 700,000 in-stock and over 3 million unstocked products to more than 1.2 million customers. We want people like you, as you are curious about things, you like doing things differently and in a human way with empathy. Because that’s exactly how we partner with people – our customers, suppliers, colleagues, and communities – to solve problems.

We’ll also invest in your development and wellbeing – because building a more diverse and inclusive culture, being ethical, responsible, and committed to our Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) action plan is at the heart of everything we do.

Come and join us and over 9000 colleagues and we’ll help you to think big, do more and unleash your brilliance, so you do amazing things too.