Sustainability Manager

Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA (On-site)

Industry: Leading Paper Product Manufacturing Company

Join a Leader in Sustainable Paper & Packaging Manufacturing

A leading Paper Product Manufacturing Company is seeking a strategic, hands‑on Sustainability Manager to lead and expand sustainability initiatives across its paper mill and packaging operations. This high‑impact role will oversee environmental performance, compliance, and ESG advancement‑driving meaningful progress toward long‑term sustainability goals and industry commitments, including the 2030 AF&PA targets.

This position operates onsite at the corporate headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

• Develop and implement site‑level sustainability plans aligned with corporate ESG strategies.
• Lead initiatives to reduce carbon footprint, water consumption, waste, and energy use.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on sustainability KPIs including GHG emissions, effluent discharge, and fiber sourcing.
• Establish and drive sustainability compliance policies and best practices across mills and packaging sites.
• Manage training, compliance adherence, and continuous improvement within sustainability programs.
• Develop a robust sustainability management program across operating divisions.

• Partner with Environmental Management teams to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations (EPA, Clean Water Act, air permitting, etc.).
• Work with operations to ensure best practices in chemical handling, wastewater treatment, and air quality management.
• Support third‑party environmental audits, including tracking performance, quality, and cost control.

• Support responsible fiber sourcing and maintain chain‑of‑custody certifications (FSC, PEFC).
• Evaluate sustainability performance of suppliers in collaboration with procurement.
• Promote circular economy strategies and increased use of recycled materials.

• Prepare sustainability disclosures for internal and external audiences (CDP, GRI, Ecovadis, SASB, etc.).
• Collaborate across departments on sustainability‑related issues and reporting.
• Support ESG reporting for mills and packaging operations, contributing content to annual sustainability reports.
• Lead employee engagement and awareness programs.
• Collect and analyze environmental performance data across operations, including tracking progress against the company's sustainability commitments.
• Represent the organization in relevant industry forums and community outreach initiatives.

• Bachelor's degree in Sustainability, Engineering, Environmental Science, Forestry, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
• 3-5+ years of sustainability or environmental compliance experience
• Experience in pulp & paper or heavy manufacturing industries strongly preferred
• Strong working knowledge of sustainability frameworks, ESG systems, and compliance programs

• Excellent project management and cross‑functional collaboration skills
• Proven ability to design, implement, and improve sustainability initiatives
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Ability to work independently with creative, proactive thinking
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels

• LEED Green Associate or LEED AP
• Certified Sustainability Practitioner (CSR‑P)
• FSC Chain‑of‑Custody experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

• Combination of office and mill settings
• PPE required in operational areas
• Occasional attendance at industry events, supplier meetings, and regulatory sessions