Thank you for considering the role of Head of Communication & Engagement (G6) for the UK Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) for Packaging Scheme Administrator (“PackUK”). You will be part of a leadership team at the heart of one of the most important and powerful environmental reforms of our time, shaping and leading an organisation that will make a direct contribution to the achievement of net zero by 2050 while boosting the economy.
The new pEPR UK scheme launched in 2025, and the Head of Communication and Engagement will be responsible for leading a team of talented individuals who are passionate about recycling and the environment. Together you will work on transforming our current linear economic model of ‘take, make, use, throw’ into a circular economy. In a circular economy, resources will be retained and used for as long as possible, maximising gained value; capitalising on resource efficiency; minimising waste and the impact that inefficient resource use has on our environment and society.
We are looking to recruit a talented person to be part of our leadership team who is able to build and develop a high performing, collaborative and integrated team. The applicant must be a strong leader; be seen as a role model who inspires others across the function; has a proven track record of senior leadership and proven ability to build strong relationships across internal and external stakeholders. They must command credibility at all levels, deliver high quality products and be able to operate as a catalyst for change across the wider packaging reform scheme.
Fundamental to the role is the emphasis we place on the applicants’ personal qualities, which is viewed as significant to the role as that of your professional background. Having the ability to drive a positive, inclusive and authentic organisational culture is critical. You will need to take people – both within the organisation and across the wider network of stakeholders, with you by being fully committed to inspiring and empowering people at all levels. You will need to be culturally competent, having the ability to build relationships with all people regardless of their background; have excellent networking and collaboration skills to ensure operational excellence and business delivery is always achieved in this newly formed scheme, which will be part of a complex and unpredictable environment.
Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the Head of Comms and Engagement will work with partners across the recycling and packaging sectors and with regulators and administrations across the four nations of the UK to set and deliver the strategic priorities of the Scheme Administrator.
This role will be responsible for the development and implementation of PackUK’s campaign strategy including external communications and engagement. This work is imperative in ensuring acceptance, leveraging industry expertise and driving readiness for organisations across the collection & packaging value chain. In addition, this work will seek to drive the necessary behavioural and cultural changes needed to deliver pEPR’s objectives.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide strategic leadership and accountability in driving scheme values and goals and aligning with net zero objectives.
* Develop and embed the strategic priorities of the Scheme Administrator to support the delivery of pEPR objectives and functions provided from the organisation in its underpinning legislation
* Establish relationships, buy-in and effective involvement with key stakeholders across the recycling and packaging sectors, across the administrations of the four nations of the UK and their regulators.
* Promote and confirm that organisations across the recycling and packaging sectors hold a full understanding of what pEPR means for them and work with them to inspire readiness for these reforms.
* Work closely with the representatives that are developing sector-led organisations who will advise and potentially undertake operational responsibility of several PackUK functions. To Note: this could include a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO).
* Establish a clear and effective programme of communications and campaign activities that will revolutionise the cultural and behavioural changes required to meet pEPR objectives.
* Lead the Communications & Behaviour Change Technical Advisory Group to maximise productive input from industry experts, and actively support other Advisory Groups and other Governance forums.
* Collaborate with the policy teams across the 4 nations to guarantee all future pEPR policy decisions are aligned to the goals and ambitions of PackUK.
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