Application Deadline: 27 March 2026
Cefic is looking for an Executive Director Sustainability, a dynamic individual who will develop and lead Cefic’s sustainability strategy in alignment with the vision of the Chemical industry. This includes developing initiatives to accelerate the transition towards a resource-efficient, circular, climate-neutral and free from harm society, addressing gaps and opportunities in Cefic policy making and offering Cefic positioning on strategic, long-term trends.
You will engage with stakeholders to position the chemical industry as an innovation driver and solution provider.
The right candidate will act as an advocate and representative of the industry in official and professional bodies in order to position, communicate and safeguard its interests at all times.
Inspired? you will:
- Support the Chair, member of the Cefic Executive Committee, in leading the Cefic Sustainability Advisory Forum. The Forum consists of thirty members with a high-level sustainability responsibility in their organisation.
- Advice Cefic membership on the sustainability aspects of proposed positions, activities and strategies.
- Guide the Cefic team members managing working structures reporting to the Sustainability Advisory Forum, focusing on e.g. product and organisational sustainability performance, planetary boundaries, and related issues.
- Develop, steer and implement initiatives meeting the mission and objectives agreed by the Sustainability Forum and integrate them into the global EU chemical industry strategy.
- Contribute to the sustainability ambition formulated by the ICCA as part of the Global Framework on Chemicals and connect with the GFC relevant workstreams e.g. Green & Sustainable Chemistry.
- Translate the approved strategies into objectives, plans, resources and budgets.
- Inform and shape Cefic’s sustainable development communications.
- Represent Cefic in official and professional bodies, act as the broader Sustainability lead ‘outside’ and liaise with relevant sustainability related organisations (e.g. WBCSD).
- Be a member of Cefic’s Leadership Team, coordinating the activities of the Association.
Can you make the difference?
The successful candidate will be a highly motivated and experienced professional who demonstrates the following experience and competencies:
- An industry Sustainability expert or a Brussels-based expert on Sustainability with a sound understanding of the challenges of the European Chemical Industry; Prior experience in the chemical industry will be very useful but is not a must.
- At least 10 years of hands on experience either in industry or in Brussels, with a strong political and business acumen and a strong and wide network in the EU marketplace;
- Strong strategic thinking and planning as well as excellent implementation skills;
- Outstanding interpersonal acumen, communication and negotiation skills;
- A successful track record of building consensus in a complex environment;
- Full professional proficiency in English and at least one other European language; additional languages are a definite asset.
- Prepared to live in Belgium (Brussels)
Required personal qualities:
You are a service-oriented listener who engages with all constituencies in a meaningful and respectful way;
While possessing leadership skills, you are the ultimate team player and diplomat who is skilled in building bridges, aligning different views in a variety of settings;
You are a person of the highest integrity with exceptional energy and drive. You possess self-confidence, balanced with a healthy amount of humility and a good sense of humour;
You are collaborative, empathic, trusted, diplomatic, listening, engaging, inspiring, open-minded, culturally astute, committed and results-oriented;
You are strongly motivated to bring the Cefic activity on Sustainability to a higher level, together with the Director General, the team and the strongly motivated membership;
You enjoy the challenge of coordinating the large number of issues impacting the chemical industry, the large number of professionals in the Cefic world and the need to move beyond lobbying in becoming a partner of policy makers where possible.
What do we offer?
- Working in a people oriented, international and dynamic culture at the centre of EU affairs;
- Working in a team with a positive attitude towards stress and mindful of work – personal life balance;
- Full time employment contract, competitive salary according to experience and several benefits or the option of a 3 – 5 year secondment.
Are you interested? Apply now
Reference for applications: SusED26 – Web