Producer Sustainability and Quality Manager

About Re-turn

Ireland has one of the most beautiful natural environments in the world, and we want to keep it that way.

Appointed by the Irish government, but operating as a standalone company, Re-turn is a not-for-profit organisation established to run Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), a simple solution to achieving higher collection rates for drinks containers. DRS schemes operate successfully in more than 40 countries, with the average collection rate of established EU schemes now over 90%. As well as higher recycling rates DRS schemes reduce litter, prevent waste, lower emissions and relieve pressure on natural resources.

The Irish scheme went live on 1 February 2024 and has already collected over 2.5 billion drinks containers across the country. This means high quality material can be reprocessed and used to make new products – supporting a truly circular economy.

We’re a small but growing team and we’ve got off to a great start, but there’s still plenty to do to ensure Ireland’s scheme runs as efficiently as possible and achieves its high recycling ambitions.

Who Are You?

You are passionate about the circular economy and motivated by creating real environmental impact through better packaging design, higher-quality recycling outcomes, and stronger collaboration with industry stakeholders.

You combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, and are equally comfortable shaping long-term sustainability initiatives as you are solving operational challenges. You are experienced in team leadership, driving performance and compliant stakeholder engagement. You build trusted relationships with producers, retailers, recyclers, regulators and industry bodies, using influence and technical credibility to drive change across the value chain.

You are curious, analytical and solutions-focused, with a strong understanding of packaging materials, recycling systems and emerging environmental regulation. You thrive in a fast-paced environment where regulation, commercial realities and sustainability ambitions must be balanced.

You are comfortable challenging existing practices, providing technical guidance, and acting as a trusted advisor to producers seeking to improve packaging recyclability, material quality and environmental performance.

What You’ll Achieve:

• Drive improved packaging recyclability and circularity across Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme through engagement with producers and implementation of Design for Recycling (DfR) principles.
• Ensure new products and packaging entering the scheme meet technical, operational and sustainability requirements.
• Improve material quality outcomes by working closely with producers, sorters and material buyers to reduce contamination and increase the value of recovered materials.
• Improved team capability via coaching, performance management and structured training.
• Support producer adoption of sustainable packaging innovations that enhance recyclability, recycled content and compatibility with collection and sorting infrastructure.
• Provide leadership on producer-facing sustainability initiatives, helping Re-turn support national and European circular economy objectives.
• Influence implementation of emerging legislation, including PPWR and other producer responsibility requirements, ensuring producers are prepared for future obligations.
• Strengthen relationships with producers, retailers, recyclers and policy stakeholders, positioning Re-turn as a trusted sustainability partner.
• Deliver robust quality assurance processes that maintain confidence in collected materials and support food-grade recycling opportunities.

Required Skills & Experience

Essential

• Degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, Packaging Technology, Materials Science, Chemistry, Business, or a related field.
• Experience working in sustainability, packaging, recycling, waste management, FMCG, producer responsibility, manufacturing, or a related sector.
• Strong understanding of circular economy principles and packaging sustainability.
• Lead the Producer team, overseeing OKRs, HR processes, performance management, work planning and capacity alignment.
  
• Experience engaging with external stakeholders and influencing organisations to deliver change.
• Knowledge of packaging materials, particularly PET, aluminium, glass, paper or other consumer packaging formats.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret technical and operational data.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of engaging both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience managing projects and delivering cross-functional initiatives.

Desirable

• Experience with Design for Recycling (DfR) frameworks and packaging assessment methodologies.
• Knowledge of EU environmental legislation including PPWR, SUP Directive, EPR and waste regulations.
• Experience working with quality management systems, material specifications or compliance frameworks.
• Understanding of recycling technologies, sorting systems and reverse vending technologies.
• Experience with recycled-content requirements, food-contact compliance or certification schemes.
• Familiarity with ESG reporting, carbon reduction initiatives or sustainability strategy development.
• Working knowledge of packaging traceability, product data management or barcode-based systems.

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About our benefits

We offer a competitive salary and benefits packaging which includes:

• 23 days’ holidayplus 2 company days (Good Friday & Christmas Eve) plus 10 bank holidays
• Hybrid working: we operate a hybrid working arrangement with 2 days home working permitted per week (1 to be a Friday)
• Flexible working: 37 hour week with core times Monday to Thursday 08:45 to 15:45 & Friday 08:45 to 12:45
• MyFutureFund pension scheme 1.5% employee matched by 1.5% employer contribution
• Laya Well-being portal & Employee Assistance Programme
• Parking on site
• Subsidised Canteen

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We are an equal opportunities employer and happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be needed for successful candidates.