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Operating in 35 countries across the world, our purpose is to be the best part of the journey.

Whether our customers are flying abroad on holiday, heading off on a business trip or commuting to work by train, we aim to offer them food and drink experiences that meet their many different tastes and needs.

At SSP our social and environmental responsibilities are integral to our business strategy, and we are committed to playing a key role in addressing sustainability issues and making a positive impact.

SSP is a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations across 36 countries with c.35,000 colleagues. In the UK & Ireland, we are the largest provider of food and beverage in travel locations, including our own brands, such as Millie’s Cookies, Ritazza and Upper Crust, and our brand partners, such as M&S, Starbucks, Leon and Burger King.

We have an ambitious global sustainability strategy focused on reimagining food for people and the planet and working in collaboration to drive positive change across the food travel sector. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of that strategy across our SSP’s UK & Ireland business. In this role, you will be at the forefront of developing and implementing key sustainability initiatives and programmes in the region, focused on areas such as net zero, food waste, plastic packaging, sustainable sourcing and human rights.

The role will also have a close working relationship with the Group Head of Sustainability and central sustainability team (based in the Group’s London headquarters). It is a role that offers a lot of opportunities for professional career development in sustainability for an international food business.

• Leading the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, initiatives and programmes, such as carbon neutral restaurants, climate-friendly menus and zero waste partnerships, working closely with and coordinating between business functions, clients, brand partners, suppliers and other key stakeholders.
• Proactive engagement with clients, brand partners and suppliers to identify opportunities for collaboration in support of shared sustainability goals and to position SSP as a sustainability leader in the food travel sector.
• Preparing and presenting strategies, performance dashboards and presentations for leadership teams, senior reviews and other key meetings.
• Managing and coordinating regional data collection and monitoring of performance and progress against sustainability targets and KPIs, including ensuring robust systems/processes/controls are in place to manage this effectively.
• Developing best-in-class sustainability communications and marketing for both internal and external audiences, including ensuring robust verification and compliance against standards relating to ‘green claims’.
• Representing SSP at key industry and sustainability forums, events, working groups and roundtables.
• Supporting Purchasing teams to provide technical knowledge for supply chain sustainability programmes, including auditing and due diligence, traceability and certification for key ingredients (such as for palm oil, tea, coffee, fish etc.)
• Providing technical support and subject-matter expertise for business functions on sustainability issues and standards.
• Identify knowledge gaps in the business, and provide training and capacity building where needed.
• Responding to requests for sustainability information and requirements from clients and brand partners, including for business tenders.
• Monitoring market, industry and sustainability trends (including emerging regulation) and advise the business on future risks and opportunities and evolving best practice.
• Building strong working relationships with the country, regional and Group-level teams to ensure effective coordination and delivery of the strategy, and sharing best practice and knowledge.

• 5 years+ experience working in corporate sustainability (either in-house or through a consultancy), preferably in the food, travel, hospitality or consumer goods sectors.
• Technical knowledge of environmental management and relevant standards, including the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, science-based targets, TCFD, net zero strategies, plastic packaging, circular economy principles and UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights
• Confident and engaging, resilient and flexible, highly organised with ability to work simultaneously across a wide range of initiatives and priorities, with a variety of business areas and stakeholders to strict deadlines
• Demonstrable passion for sustainability coupled with strong commercial acumen
• Excellent project management and organisational skills
• Strong attention to detail and focus on delivering work to a high standard
• Self-motivated and willingness to learn and be challenged
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Excellent English-language verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage resources (budgets, stakeholders and external consultants/suppliers) effectively and efficiently
• Undergraduate degree or higher, preferably in a relevant field such as environmental management or sustainability

Diversity and Inclusion is a priority at SSP. We are an equal opportunities employer committed to engaging all of our people, so they feel valued and motivated; we champion diversity, promote inclusion, and ensure equality. We respect and protect human rights and prevent discrimination; and we positively impact our communities. We encourage and welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual identity and orientation or age.