Product & Innovation Lead – Plastic- Systems; Volunteer

Product & Innovation Lead – Plastic-Free Systems (Volunteer) Promise Zero | Sustainable Materials & Packaging Innovation

Organization Mentor A Promise (MAP) – Promise Zero Initiative

Location Remote with supplier and pilot-site collaboration as needed

Type Founding Leadership (Volunteer Executive Track or Structured Contract Role)

Reports To Chief Innovation & Impact Officer

Works Closely With Research & Development Advisors, Supply Chain Partners, Compliance & Risk Lead, Pilot Customers, Promise Studios (Brand & Communications)

Promise Zero is MAP’s climate-forward innovation initiative focused on eliminating plastic waste through next-generation packaging systems.

We begin with water-dissolving bags — and build outward.

Promise Zero exists to design scalable, plastic-free alternatives that:

• Reduce environmental harm
• Meet real-world durability standards
• Align with regulatory compliance
• Avoid performative sustainability claims

We operate with a zero-green washing standard.

Every material must be defensible.

Every claim must be verifiable.

Sustainability is not branding.

It is engineering discipline.

We are seeking a Product & Innovation Lead – Plastic-Free Systems to own the end-to-end product lifecycle for Promise Zero’s packaging innovation platform.

This founding leadership role will:

• Translate real-world use cases into technical product specifications
• Coordinate material research and prototyping
• Establish supplier relationships and production benchmarks
• Develop compliance documentation and quality standards
• Support pilot programs with early adopters

The Lead will bridge:

• Materials science curiosity
• Product management discipline
• Supply chain execution
• Environmental compliance literacy
• Market viability strategy

This role requires operational rigor, climate literacy, and measurable impact orientation.

• Lead development of water-dissolving and plastic-free packaging prototypes
• Translate field use cases into clear product requirement documents (PRDs)
• Coordinate laboratory testing, material validation, and durability analysis
• Identify and vet sustainable material suppliers
• Establish quality assurance and performance benchmarks
• Develop compliance documentation aligned with environmental and consumer safety standards
• Support pilot implementation with early customers and partners
• Create structured feedback loops for iterative product refinement
• Document lifecycle analysis considerations and environmental impact metrics
• Collaborate with Promise Studios for transparent product storytelling
• Maintain timely, professional responsiveness via email and chat in Google Workspace

• Background in product management, materials science, sustainable manufacturing, industrial design, or related field
• Experience bringing physical products from concept to pilot
• Familiarity with packaging systems and environmental compliance frameworks
• Strong documentation and specification-writing skills
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams (suppliers, labs, early adopters)
• Systems-thinking mindset with climate accountability

• Experience in biodegradable or compostable materials
• Familiarity with ASTM, ISO, or other packaging compliance standards
• Experience conducting or interpreting lifecycle assessments (LCA)
• Knowledge of supply chain sourcing and vendor evaluation
• Experience launching climate-forward or circular economy products

• Founding leadership role
• Structured engagement (minimum 5–10 hours per week for executive volunteer track; scalable during prototyping and pilot cycles)
• Remote with supplier and pilot collaboration required
• 6-month minimum commitment preferred

• A scalable plastic-free packaging framework
• Tested water-dissolving product prototypes
• Compliance-aligned documentation systems
• Pilot-ready product architecture
• A measurable environmental impact pathway

The future of packaging must be designed — not promised.

Help build systems where sustainability is engineered, tested, and proven.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, leadership volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, environmental compliance, product liability, procurement, and regulatory requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.