Head of Sustainability (PPWR)

Do you have proven experience navigating the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) within a manufacturing or FMCG environment?

Are you confident translating complex regulatory requirements into practical, commercially-viable solutions across NPD, Technical and Commercial teams?

Ready to lead sustainability strategy for a globally recognised leader in prestige beauty packaging, at a pivotal moment for the industry?

MacGregor Black is partnering exclusively with a globally recognised leader in prestige beauty packaging on the search for a Head of Sustainability (PPWR). This is a newly created, business-critical permanent position with genuine influence.

This is a senior role responsible for leading the business’s sustainability strategy, with a core focus on compliance with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which became binding on 12 August 2026. You will act as the internal and client-facing authority on packaging compliance, working across NPD, Technical and Commercial teams to embed sustainability into how the business designs, sells and reports on its packaging.

Working closely with senior stakeholders across sales, product development, technical and supply chain, you will play a key role in ensuring the business’s packaging portfolio meets recyclability, recycled-content and labelling requirements, whilst directly supporting client-facing teams as brand-owner customers increasingly ask how their packaging complies.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the business’s sustainability strategy and PPWR compliance roadmap, translating regulatory requirements into practical, commercially-viable actions.
Act as a client-facing compliance expert, directly supporting Sales and Key Account teams in conversations with brand-owner clients who need to understand and evidence their own packaging’s PPWR compliance.
Partner closely with NPD to influence material selection and packaging design at the earliest stages of development, ensuring recyclability and recycled-content requirements are built in rather than retrofitted.
Work with Technical teams to assess and validate recyclability grading and recycled-content thresholds across the portfolio.
Develop clear, client-ready compliance materials and sustainability positioning to support the sales process.
Manage EPR registration and compliance documentation across relevant EU Member States, including engagement with Authorised Representatives where required.
Track phased regulatory deadlines through 2028-2030 and beyond, building forward compliance plans rather than point-in-time fixes.
Monitor national implementation of PPWR (e.g. Germany’s VerpackDG) and other adjacent regulation as it develops.
Represent the business at industry forums, client meetings and cross-functional planning sessions.
Coordinate with international teams to ensure consistent compliance positioning across markets.

What We’re Looking For:

Demonstrable hands-on experience with PPWR specifically, ideally within packaging, FMCG or a related regulated manufacturing environment.
Confident operating client-facing, able to explain complex regulatory detail to commercial audiences and directly support sales conversations.
Track record of working cross-functionally with NPD, Technical and Commercial teams to influence outcomes.
Strong working knowledge of EPR schemes and EU regulatory frameworks.
Comfortable operating as a sustainability lead, not just a compliance administrator.
Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels, including senior leadership.
Strong communication and presentation skills with the confidence to lead client and internal strategy meetings.
Highly organised, with the ability to manage regulatory timelines across multiple EU Member States simultaneously.
Passionate about sustainability and packaging innovation, with a strong understanding of the beauty and personal care market.

For more information, please contact Jess Murphy.