BT
Why BT?
BT has always been an organisation with a purpose; they connect for good. You can trace this back to the beginning as pioneers of the world’s first telecommunications company. At heart, they’re a technology company with research and innovation in their bones and a desire to be personal, simple, and brilliant for their customers – those are the values they live by whilst also creating an inclusive working environment where people from all backgrounds can succeed.
Their pursuit of progress over the past 180 years has established BT as a strong, successful brand, with a huge scale capable of achieving great things. From supporting emergency services, hospitals, banks and keeping economies around the world online, safe and secure, to delivering large-scale technology infrastructure like the creation of BT Sport.
Today in this fast-changing, always-on, digital world their purpose remains true. Yet the market conditions, regulations, and competition they face are tougher than ever before. So if you have the drive, optimism, and resilience to propel the team forward, they’ll offer unrivaled personal development, a wealth of opportunities to learn, opportunities to experience new things and pursue new careers. If that’s you and what you’re looking for, they would love you to be part of our future.
Why this job matters
The 2030 ambition is to be the world’s most trusted connector of people, devices, and machines. They’ll get there by building the strongest foundations, creating standout customer experiences, and leading the way to a bright, sustainable future. Leading the way to a bright, sustainable future is a key pillar of the Group strategy and why their digital impact and sustainability work plays such a crucial role for BT. They’re taking a leadership position on climate change, the digital skills divide, and responsible tech and human rights – all while supporting future growth. As ESG expectations grow from investors, customers, colleagues, and core stakeholders, as well as the BT board, the importance of this work, will only grow.
Building towards BT’s products, network, and operations becoming circular by 2030, and for the ecosystem in which they operate – including their suppliers and customers – by 2040. They’re taking a comprehensive approach to ensure people and businesses can buy more sustainable products, use them for longer and refurbish or recycle them. This exciting new role will be responsible for leading the strategy and execution of this ambitious programme – extending across BT Group as a whole.
This role will be a core member of the sustainability and Corporate Affairs strategy team, reporting to the Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Strategy Director. You will be a senior and valued partner to senior leaders in BT’s customer-facing units and across functions such as procurement, strategy, finance, and HR.
Responsibilities
Own circularity strategy
Provide strategic direction on circularity, including challenges about scope and pace of change. Drive full integration into the group strategy, and partner with leaders from across BT to build aligned plans, guide, and support execution.
Responsible for ensuring BT meet its 2030/2040 and interim goals, with interlocked plans in place to underpin the long-term commitments and annualised glide paths and route for BT to become a leader within our sector and amongst large UK companies.
Leads and coordinates activity across a matrixed team and dotted reporting line from environmental sustainability manager (Consumer) into this role.
Enabling a circular transformation:
Leads the change programme for circularity across BT as this becomes fundamental as a license to operate and enabler for market differentiation.
Transformation areas include:
- Rapid embedding of the strategy in key processes and ways of working, e.g. new product launches, procurement, network deployment, returns policies, etc.
- Overseeing the business model change from linear to circular device models, for BT devices and OEMs;
- Developing partnerships with OEMs and others in the sector to drive change.
- Identify and develop partnerships with NGOs and trade associations to further the CE agenda.
- Overseeing the build of new products and services that enable customers to lead more circular lives and/or transform their businesses to be more circular.
- Ensures BT develops the measures/KPIs, infrastructure processes, and reporting to underpin the plans, deliver against our commitments, and maintain a leading reputation.
Amplifying BT’s progress on circularity
Overseeing the integration of circular messages into core brand positions, customer comms, and campaigns. Establishes BT as a leader amongst external stakeholders including policymakers and opinion formers.
Leads BT’s thought leadership in circularity as the company’s go-to subject matter expert on the topic.
Senior stakeholder management:
Regularly engage with the BT Group’s Digital Impact and Sustainability (DIS) board committee and ExCo, presenting on plans and progress.
Engage with the leadership teams in the customer-facing units and corporate units, to ensure they feel a full part of BT’s circularity strategies and feel supported as they execute key parts of the agenda within their units.
Represent BT externally including up to ministerial level and lead ESG investor engagement on circularity. Oversee major external strategic NGO and delivery partnerships at the CEO level.
Required Experience:
- Strong business acumen and commercial awareness to evaluate commercial, financial, brand, and reputational risk, and take action to mitigate where appropriate
- Ensure the commercial and reputational lens are applied together for the decisions being made exemplary communication, influencing, and leadership, with the gravitas and impact to help transform and represent BT at the highest levels externally.
- Exemplary communication, influencing, and leadership, with the gravitas and impact to help transform and represent BT at the highest levels externally.
- Outstanding large-scale programme/project management.
- Brave change agent, with courage and tenacity to take positions that challenge thinking and influence at the CFU and DISC level.
- Builds very strong relationships is an instinctive challenger and active contributor to broader transformation in the team.
- Handles complex and difficult situations with thought and confidence.
- Excels at managing multiple senior stakeholders – including multiple C suite representatives in cross-sectoral partnerships; comfortable in the absence of direction.
- Relevant degree and/or masters – e.g. in sustainability and the environment.
Experience Required
- Senior corporate or equivalent experience leading a sustainability programme and team.
- Deep experience in circularity/circular systems and has developed the infrastructure required to take a circular plan from inception to successful execution.
- Experience working with brand and comms teams to advise on customer messaging.
- Experience in developing and contributing to large commercial and/or public bids.
- Ability to build external partnerships to drive change.
- Accomplished oversight of major programmes across Group level and business units which deliver business and environmental impact improvements.
Due to the interest in this role, it is suggested that candidates read the brief carefully! We look forward to your applications!
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