Director, Corporate Sustainability Strategy

Director of Sustainability Strategy will be responsible for leading stakeholder engagement and for driving forward Western Digital’s corporate sustainability strategy. This individual will collect, analyze and utilize data from stakeholders and other sources to support leaders and employees throughout the company on risks, opportunities and best practices in sustainability. They will lead the company’s public engagement on sustainability issues primarily through the annual sustainability report. The report requires managing regular materiality, climate, and human rights assessments. This role will also lead customer engagement, collaborating closely with teams in Sales, Investor Relations, Legal and Global Operations. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and collaboration skills, and demonstrated experience serving as a strategic advisor to leadership on sustainability issues.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the company’s sustainability-focused materiality assessments and annual sustainability report
• Lead the company’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, based on materiality, direct stakeholder input, industry research and company priorities
• Lead Western Digital’s sustainability-related engagements with customers and oversee the company’s efforts to meet stakeholder expectations in sustainability
• Lead Western Digital’s sustainability-related outreach to investors and shareholders in collaboration with the Legal Department
• Act as a subject matter expert to advise functional leads at the company on best practices in sustainability and on possible initiatives in support of the company’s sustainability strategy
• Lead support the company’s public reporting efforts on sustainability
• Monitor and report on trends and developments in sustainability expectations and requirements
• Support compliance with sustainability reporting regulations
• Collaborate with government affairs team to determine implications of sustainability-related policies and regulations, and translate them to action plans for Western Digital
• Lead developing materials for communication of sustainability topics to internal and external audiences, working with internal teams to leverage strategic channels for communication
• Manage vendor relationships to ensure highest levels of performance and results

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree is a plus
• 10+ years related professional experience and a demonstrated record of success in a similar sustainability role, preferably at a technology, consulting, and/or manufacturing organization
• Strong project management expertise with proven skills to lead cross-functional projects and drive them completion effectively and timely
• Strong presentation and speaking skills, including the ability to respond to live questions with poise and judgment
• Demonstrated expertise in sustainability standards and frameworks, including GRI, SASB, TCFD, ESRS, and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol
• Proven ability to proactively build positive relationships and navigate organizational complexities; skilled at collaborating and influencing up and down the organization and across global sites
• Genuine passion for sustainability and a drive to make a positive impact through technology and innovation
• Experience building strong relationships within a team to facilitate a collaborative, trusting, and supportive environment
• Demonstrated ability to instill trust and develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders across multiple functional units and external vendors, suppliers, and strategic partners
• Deep and broad knowledge of general sustainability risks, opportunities, trends and standards impacting technology/manufacturing companies
• Demonstrated ability to inspire trust, confidence and excitement through effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Ability to learn from challenges and demonstrate resilience