Chief Sustainability Officer

Description: Job Description:

Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) As Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), you will be responsible for the effective administration and implementation of the Highland Sustainable Biomass Policy, ensuring robust and demonstrable sustainability credentials are achieved within a defined risk structure across the Highland Pellets business and any of its affiliated companies.

You will be tasked with managing the fiber supply chain audits for the site and acting on the outcomes for all Sustainability Standards that Highland is accredited to, including but not limited to: Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Chain of Custody and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Fiber Sourcing, as well as any other Sustainability Standards that Highland or its Affiliates are required to participate in. You will be tasked with ensuring the timely upkeep of all Sustainability Standards and compliance as each of their requirements change and evolve over time.

Our business will be actively pursuing expansion into new products and markets which will require research and effective implementation of additional sustainability standards. You will work on expanding our sustainability capabilities and operations to potentially include SDE++, ISCC, Flemish, forestry carbon offsets and any other sustainability or carbon market requirement for our business to be able to enter and operate in the market.

To maintain Highland’s Sustainability Biomass Policy according to the latest market requirements, it will be necessary for you to engage with fiber suppliers, customers, Industrial Associations and Government Organizations. Your role will require working in close support to other internal operations, including the Wood Yard Manager and Highland’s Controller.

Sustainability is a core business requirement and essential part of Highland’s culture. You will therefore be responsible for effective communication and promotion of Highland’s sustainability policy across all Highland employees.

Your Responsibilities Will Include, But Are Not Limited To

Research and Development of relevant sustainability standards and compliance applicable to present and future needs of the Highland business, and any of its Affiliates:

• Monitoring and reporting on UK, US, European and Asian Biomass sustainability compliance, including timely analysis on evolution of the Renewable Energy Directive, development of national schemes and how market rules might impact the future of our business or market opportunities
• Regular participation of USIPA Sustainability Working Group calls and any other relevant USIPA Working Group meeting. Provide reports back to the Management Team following each meeting
• Regular communication with other sustainability personnel across the biomass industry to promote positive relationships with other companies and stay abreast of market information
• Research, develop and implement all necessary documents and procedures for successful and timely implementation of SBP, SDE+/++, ISCC, Flemish, Forestry Carbon Offsets and any other Sustainability or Carbon Market requirement, for successful entry and development of the Highland business (or its Affiliates) into existing or new markets.
  
  

Upkeep Of Highland Policy And Procedures

• Upkeep, develop and communication to all Highland employees and management of the Highland Sustainable Biomass Policy
• Provide sustainability Training on new procedures to relevant Highland personnel and all new employees upon arrival to the company
• Develop and upkeep of Controlled Wood Policy
• Develop and upkeep of Chain of Custody Procedures
• Communication to all fiber suppliers of Highland’s sustainability procedures and requirements via development, upkeep, and distribution of Highland’s Wood Purchase Agreement
• Control use of Trademarks in Highland documents, communications, and media, to prevent non-compliance with use of Trademark regulations for all Standards
  
  

Monitoring Compliance Of Fiber Procurement Process

• Interviewing potential new suppliers to ensure they meet our sustainability requirements
• Know your customer checks on fiber and wood suppliers to ensure that they are both legal and sustainable
• Ensure all suppliers are contracted to operate according to approved Best Management Practice
• Provide guidance to Wood Procurement Manager to enable them to effectively monitor deliveries to reduce the risk of receiving saw logs, unaccepted species, or fiber from uncontracted parties
• Monitor source of all fiber deliveries to be within permitted catchment area for all round wood. Ensure catchment area of mill residual sources do not fall outside of Highland’s catchment area.
• Monitor correct functioning of Track and Trace system
• Maintain and execute, when necessary, Highland’s Corrective and Preventative Action Procedure
  
  

Prepare, lead and execute follow-up actions on all sustainability audits:

• Provide close communication with Certification Bodies
• Manage Internal Audits and external Surveillance Audits
• Lead and report on Highland Annual Management Review for the site
• Upkeep of Greenhouse Gas Database and provide any GHG reports as required
• Lead Greenhouse Gas Audits
• Lead Stakeholder Consultations
• Upkeep of SBP Risk Assessment
• Upkeep of SBP Supply Base Evaluation and any related documents
  
  

Data Management

• Manage Sustainability claims accounting database to ensure that all claims are correctly aligned with delivery, processing and sales of different fiber sources, including accurate monitoring of claims under mass balancing.
• Entering and managing SBP Claims into Radix Tree
• Oversee maintenance and upkeep of purchased fiber spreadsheets
• Submit monthly EIA questionnaire and any additional requirements from the EIA or Government organizations.
• Manage ESG company requirements
• Timely and effective upkeep of Document Directory and all Sustainability Documents
• Assist Controller with billing and enquiries from suppliers, Standards and Certification Bodies
• Calculation of Highland’s Carbon emissions along the whole supply chain using the latest available OFGEM Biomass Solid and Gaseous Biomass Calculator or Drax Biomass Carbon Calculator
• Monitor best practices and apply to Highland Pellets