Corporate Partnerships Project Manager, Walmart

With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, founded in 1967, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life. With programs from Boston to Beijing, Environmental Defense Fund is the only environmental group to receive an A rating from Wired magazine.

Corporate Partnerships Program - Walmart Partnership: 

For 5 years, Environmental Defense Fund has been working with Walmart to reduce their environmental impact and to create environmental benefits and innovations through their vast global supply chain.  With broad, ambitious goals - to be supplied by 100% renewable energy, to sell sustainable products and to reduce waste to zero - Walmart and Environmental Defense Fund are working to change the world on a range of issues from energy consumption to toxics to agriculture. 

Because the potential to create environmental benefits through changes in Walmart's own operations and engagement with their 100,000 suppliers is so great, Environmental Defense Fund has opened an office in Bentonville, Arkansas.  The Project Manager will join a staff of 4, including an existing team member based in Bentonville, in challenging and advising Walmart on their journey toward sustainability.  

Responsibilities:

Project Managers lead the development and execution of our nationally recognized corporate partnerships with icon companies such as FedEx, KKR, and McDonalds. The primary responsibilities of this position will be to interact with Walmart, assessing goals and priorities and implementing strategies for achieving measurable environmental benefits within key areas.  Project outcomes must be practically and technically sound from a business and operational perspective, and yet aggressively address environmental concerns.

Project Managers on-site with Walmart coordinate the work of other Environmental Defense Fund experts as needed.  The Project Manager will work under the direction of our Corporate Partnerships Managing Director in San Francisco, CA.  The incumbent will:

• Support our relationship with Walmart by developing workplans and timetables for addressing environmental issues, identifying and assisting in procuring necessary resources, and managing project work and deliverables.
• Manage or perform environmental, business, and market analysis based on rigorous economic, financial, technical and environmental research to generate and implement innovative strategies for minimizing the environmental impacts associated with Walmart operations and purchasing.
• Use knowledge of corporate strategy, operations, and financial management to develop business rationales for those strategies.
• Develop and apply appropriate means for measuring the environmental and business benefits of our relationship with Walmart.
• Communicate project results to Environmental Defense Fund staff, corporate partners, businesses, and other stakeholders through reports, presentations, and other methods.

Environmental Defense Fund provides strategic advice to Walmart on sustainability. Staff are currently working with Walmart in the areas of global supply chain, product lifecycle and supply chain greenhouse gas reduction, sustainable agriculture, green chemistry, packaging, thin film solar, Sustainability Index, and private brand product sustainability, in addition to monitoring work in many other areas.

In particular, the incumbent will:

• Lead or support work in one or more of the areas outlined above
• Attend local meetings as needed for entire team
• Develop and manage relationships with key Walmart staff, including the sustainability, communications, merchandising and specific project team staff as appropriate.

In addition to these responsibilities, the incumbent will participate in general corporate partnership program activities, including fundraising, strategic planning, new project development, and communication, and be an overall team player in a vibrant and entrepreneurial organization.

Qualifications:

We are looking for an energetic, results-driven candidate with solid project management, analysis, and communication skills. The optimal candidate will have deep knowledge about environmental issues; be current on the broad range of environmental challenges facing retail and consumer product companies and innovative solutions for those challenges; and have an understanding of operations in the retail sector. The qualifications for this position are:

• Masters degree or higher in economics, business administration, or environmental studies; joint degree preferred in business and environment;
• 3 years experience in project management;
• A solid educational background or experience in quantification and measurement - engineering or other technical background a plus;
• Understanding of or experience in business management or strategy, especially in the retail sector;
• Strong analytical skills and experience in performing rigorous analysis in support of highly visible work;
• A broad understanding of environmental issues including the basic statutory and regulatory structure in the US;
• Experience with life cycle assessment (LCA), supply chains, and natural resource science a plus;
• Excellent written and oral communications skills and the ability to work with colleagues and partners of varied backgrounds and experience;
• Ability to juggle many tasks and deadlines and to respond quickly to changing opportunities;
• Exceptional personal organization and attention to detail; and
• An ability to work both independently and as a member of small teams in a fast-paced, dynamic and creative environment.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience.

To Apply: 

Qualified applicants should please submit their cover letter (including salary requirements) and resume through the EDF jobs page or by email directly. 

Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually.  Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.

Environmental Defense Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer.