Director, Corporate Sustainability & ESG

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Corporate

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Corporate, you are integral to our company’s award-winning success.

• Enrich your managerial and organizational talents – from finance, quality, and supply chain to human resources, IT, sales, and strategy
• Augment your comprehensive skillset with expert training across decision-making, change management, leadership, and business development
• Obtain 360-degree support throughout your career life cycle, from early-stage to seasoned leader

About the Role

The Director of Corporate Sustainability & ESG (“Director”) is responsible for building HARMAN’s implementing its ESG strategy and corporate global sustainability program, which is committed to measuring and reducing HARMAN’s climate impact, implementing best practices to identify and mitigate climate-related risks, overseeing due diligence related to social matters such as human rights,  and ensuring compliance with all regulatory reporting requirements. The Director serves as HARMAN’s lead subject matter expert on ESG and sustainability.  The position is responsible for cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders and senior leadership to develop and progress HARMAN’s strategic sustainability goals and program. The Director will also identify trends, opportunities, and potential threats to meeting HARMAN’s corporate sustainability and ESG objectives. 

Your Team

The Director leads a team of direct reports and multiple dotted-line sustainability professionals, and is responsible for coaching, mentoring, performance management, and professional development.

What You Will Do

Strategy and Governance

• Build and implement HARMAN’s long term corporate sustainability  and ESG strategy and goals, based on a regular impact, risk & opportunities assessment process.
• Lead and accelerate the company’s progress toward each ESG initiative and goal – including the efficacy of HARMAN’s decarbonization strategy and progress toward established GHG reduction goals.
• Advise and inform the HARMAN ESG Committee and other internal leaders on the priority of sustainability issues and overall sustainability program performance.
• Drive consideration for ESG matters in corporate enterprise risk management processes and ensure action plans are in place to mitigate identified risks.
• Lead the budgeting process for HARMAN’s corporate sustainability program, including the development of business cases, adherence to assigned annual budget(s), and opportunities to enhance spend efficiency.
• Manage HARMAN’s relationship with external sustainability strategy and reporting consultants.

Cross-departmental Collaboration

• Align internal stakeholders such as Business Division Sustainability Leads, Supply Chain Risk Management, Procurement, and Manufacturing to track and accelerate the progress and efficacy of HARMAN’s sustainability program.
• Create and manage global ESG program governance forums and mechanisms to drive progress toward sustainability initiatives, and ensure regular and effective cross-functional coordination, communication, and visibility into our sustainability strategy and priorities.
• Enhance employee engagement through training and communications initiatives across divisions and functions, to educate on sustainability best practices and drive a culture of sustainability within HARMAN.
• Serve as the dedicated interface between HARMAN and parent company Samsung on ESG and sustainability program synergy and alignment opportunities.

Compliance

• Collaborate across the business to ensure appropriate supply chain and internal due diligence mechanisms are in place regarding social matters such as human rights (e.g., child/forced labor, working conditions), and that the company is compliant with all related disclosure regulations.
• Identify, advise on, and ensure compliance with all global sustainability & ESG disclosure laws and regulations.
• Maintain a view of industry and peer best practice, and regulatory requirements, to ensure sufficient coverage and action across HARMAN’s current and future sustainability & ESG policies.

Reporting

• Lead all external ESG reporting and disclosure activities. Oversee the continuous improvement of data quality and reliability, efficiency of data collection systems and processes, internal controls, and audit/verification processes (as applicable) for all ESG data.
• Develop HARMAN’s expertise and accuracy with regard to environmental data and carbon accounting practices, including the management of corporate environmental dashboards to enhance decision-useful visibility into collected data (e.g. trends, site-level comparisons).
• Lead the production (content, standards/framework alignment, design and timeline) of HARMAN’s annual voluntary sustainability report, including cross-departmental collaboration and data collection methodologies, and selection/oversight of support resources. 
• Lead corporate engagement and disclosure activities with strategic ESG assessment organizations (e.g., CDP, Ecovadis, and others).
• Support internal and external inquiries regarding ESG and sustainability strategy and performance data, such as from internal business units, and customers.

Thought Leadership

• Oversee HARMAN’s internal and external sustainability communications Lead HARMAN’s relationships with membership-based sustainability organizations (e.g., RBA .).
• As the lead representative of HARMAN’s ESG and sustainability program, communicate our strategy and priorities in external community networks, broader industry forums and engagements (e.g., conferences, webinars).

What You Need to Be Successful

• At least 7-10 years’ experience working in large, global, highly matrixed, and dynamic organization.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of global and industry sustainability trends, challenges and opportunities.
• Demonstrated experience building and scaling a corporate sustainability and ESG program and decarbonization strategy – including meaningful goals and KPIs against which the company can measure sustainability performance.
• The ability to assess and translate sustainability frameworks, standards, regulations and other pressures/trends into business cases and corporate action plans, and secure division, business unit and leadership buy-in.
• A proven track record of successful cross-functional collaboration and leadership, ability to build consensus, and implementation of concurrent, complex strategic sustainability initiatives and programs.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills. Experience communicating with internal and external stakeholders, with the willingness to represent the company’s sustainability interests in public forums and the highest levels – including executive leadership and the Board.
• Experience fostering and managing partnerships with private sector partners, NGOs, governments, and multilateral organizations.
• Familiarity with best-in-class sustainability, sourcing and procurement  practices.
• Ability to analyze complex data and create internal controls to ensure data integrity.
• Experience managing external counsel, agencies and/or contractor support.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Graduate level business, sustainability, engineering or law degree a plus.
• Certification in the field of sustainability, corporate responsibility, project management or similar.
• Understanding of the Automotive and/or Consumer Electronics industry and manufacturing processes a plus.

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel up to 10%, domestic and internationally.
• This role is eligible to work remotely full-time with occasional trips into various office locations as required .
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment, allowing for full-time remote work globally for positions that can be performed outside a HARMAN or customer location
• Access to employee discounts on world-class products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, and more)
• Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
• Competitive wellness benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development

Salary Ranges:

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.