Aventa Sustainability Marketing Lead

Role Profile

Responsible for the execution of strategy for market-facing initiatives that strengthen Aventa’s sustainability value proposition in order to drive and sustain growth across Aventa’s market segments. Develops and executes related plans, with (as relevant) Advocacy, Government Affairs, Technology, and broader Marketing team, while also monitoring their effectiveness and adjusting when necessary.

Serves as an expert on Aventa’s sustainability claims and policy implications on Aventa, and coaches other Market Development Managers and Business Development / Sales Managers on related topics.  This includes owning Aventa’s policy intelligence strategy – tracking, data collection, trends monitoring, and translating to business implications, in collaboration with Advocacy/Policy Analyst, Government Affairs, and Aventa Marketing team.  

Manages sustainability initiative projects through completion and/or serves as Marketing/Sustainability subject matter expert as needed. Effectively collaborates and communicates with all relevant stakeholders required to successfully execute initiatives in the external market. Working with the appropriate cross functional team, the SML is responsible for maximizing Aventa’s sustainability value proposition, as well as informing appropriate customer or brand segmentation that would find the value proposition most compelling.  The effort should maximize Aventa’s addressable market, revenue and variable margin contributions.   SML will also work with other MDMs and SMMs to assess the value of the sustainability value proposition to inform offers and pricing. 

Responsibility can extend beyond Aventa to other cellulose-based Eastman products, e.g., Solus, where there is sufficient overlap and synergy of scope.  At minimum, SML will stay connected with other Cellulosics-based teams to cross-share knowledge and insights.This role will generally NOT include direct lobbying, unless properly credentialed to do so or otherwise supported by Government Affairs. This role requires up to 25% travel. 

Responsibilities

• Develop robust sustainability marketing strategies to engage broad set of stakeholders and influence outcomes with a clear understanding of the broader eco-system related to compostability and biodegradability and the bioeconomy  

• Work with Aventa Marketing Director to set strategic objectives for sustainability strategy, and determine best path for specific initiatives surfaced from market strategy work, developing the plans for execution (either individually or in partnership), executing the plan (either directly or indirectly) and monitoring its effectiveness 

• Leads or supports projects that impact Aventa’s sustainability value proposition as a Marketing resource by using the EBME framework to make quality strategic choices on all initiatives; assists others as needed 

• Establishes and tracks metrics to ensure post execution efforts are contributing to segment’s strategy and performance; provides recommendation to Marketing leaders if changes are needed 

• Align internal resources on the strategic plans and document progress towards those goals  

• Lead the cross functional segment teams that are accountable for executing all initiatives within the Sustainability Marketing strategy.  This includes working with the Sustainability COE, Government Affairs and Advocacy, as needed, to establish appropriate engagement plans and advocacy strategies.  

• Identify critical certifications needed to provide credible third-party certification behind Aventa sustainability value proposition – and work with Technology team to maintain compliance
• Effectively communicate the strategy and progress to internal stakeholders at a variety of levels including C-level.  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, sustainability, environmental science, public policy, engineering, chemistry, communications, or a related field, with progressive experience in sustainability marketing, market development, product marketing, business strategy, public policy, or a related commercial discipline.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sustainability topics relevant to Aventa, including compostability, biodegradability, circularity, bio-based materials, life-cycle thinking, and the bioeconomy; experience in specialty chemicals, cellulose-based materials, packaging, or related markets is preferred.
• Proven ability to translate sustainability, policy, customer, market, and competitive insights into actionable growth strategies, compelling value propositions, market segmentation, innovation opportunities, pricing support, and measurable commercial outcomes.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution, including collaboration with Marketing, Sales, Technology, Product Stewardship, Legal, Compliance, Sustainability, Government Affairs, and Advocacy teams.
• Strong communication, stakeholder-management, project-leadership, and coaching skills, with the ability to explain complex sustainability concepts, support credible claims and certifications, influence without direct authority, and communicate effectively with senior executives and external stakeholders.

Enable Aventa’s Marketing, Sales, and Technology Teams to achieve objectives through Sustainability

• Creates understanding of sustainability value of Eastman offerings vs. alternatives by contributing to Economic Value Estimates (EVE™) with Market Development Manager, Product Manager and Technology 

• Develop plans and materials as well as provide coaching to Sales and other supporting functions for effectively communicating a compelling sustainability value proposition  

• Ensure that all team members are aligned on sustainability messaging and have the necessary knowledge and skills to execute the sustainability strategy 

• Leverages market, policy, and customer insights to identify market segments with the highest sustainability value potential to inform margin growth potential and Addressable Market Maps*.  Note:  This is done in collaboration with the Marketing Director and Segment Market Manager as input to the Marketing Plan. 

• Work with Segment Market Manager and MDMs to support their creation of compelling offers (including pricing strategy) and value propositions for Aventa’s market segments    

• Based upon market/segment sustainability trends and customer insights, work with Marketing team to identify innovation and growth opportunities to bring new, differentiated offers (products and services) to the targeted market segments 

• Coordinates with internal product stewardship, legal, compliance teams to ensure compliance with applicable external and internal regulations, procedures, and guidelines 

• Develop and own points of view on claim credibility made by NBCAs (in partnership with Sustainability COE)  

• Lead / coach a team of direct reports, as needed   

Support Internal & External Sustainability Thought Leadership

• Ensures that sustainability & policy fact base is continuously refreshed and deepened from a variety of sources, and that appropriate insight is drawn to inform Marketing Strategy. 

• Interfaces and maintains relationships with key stakeholders and leverage points through the value chain to identify potential sustainability-related product and application opportunities and shares those with the segment teams 

• Work with MarCom and Marketing Director to identify strategic events that Aventa should attend to provide sustainability/compostability thought leadership.   

• Participate and represent EMN/Aventa at key forums where needed