Job Information
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Director of Sustainability in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Reference #: JR-2024-11817 At Air Products, our purpose is to bring people together to reimagine what's possible, collaborate and innovate solutions to the world's most significant energy and environmental sustainability challenges. Grow with us as we embark on building tomorrow together by being the safest, most diverse and most profitable industrial gas company in the world.
Reimagine What's Possible
We are seeking a highly motivated, skilled and experienced professional to join our team as the Director of Sustainability. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for leading a company-wide program to prepare for comprehensive sustainability reporting under mandatory frameworks (incl. CSRD and SEC climate disclosure rule), strengthen current reporting practices, as well as play an important role in developing Air Products' sustainability strategy and orchestrating sustainability-related initiatives across the Company.
At Air Products, we have been helping our customers to become more productive, energy efficient and sustainable for more than 80 years. With approximately 23,000 employees and operations in 50 countries, we serve customers across a wide range of industries from food and beverage to medical, energy and transportation. We supply a unique portfolio of atmospheric and process gases, equipment and services.
Our Higher Purpose is to bring people together to collaborate and innovate solutions to the world's most significant energy and environmental sustainability challenges. We live it through our business strategy, reflected in ambitious sustainability goals.
In 2022, we announced our aim to reach net-zero emissions from our operations by 2050, underpinned by the supporting policy and regulatory actions needed to achieve this goal. The net-zero goal is on top of our previously announced "Third by '30" goals to reduce our Scope 1 and 2, and Scope 3 carbon dioxide (CO2e) emissions intensity by one-third by 2030.
Recognizing that every second of delay is a missed opportunity to drive decarbonization, Air Products announced in 2022 an increase in our capital commitment by $4 billion to bring our overall planned spending for zero- and low-carbon hydrogen and first-mover projects to more than $15 billion by 2027.
Projects in execution include a net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Alberta, Canada; a blue hydrogen energy facility in Louisiana, United States; a green ammonia project in NEOM, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; green hydrogen project in New York, United States. These are all real projects among the world's largest green and blue hydrogen plants under implementation today.
We are committed to and proud to be playing a meaningful role in enabling and accelerating the energy transition through our sustainable offerings in our core industrial gases business, and through real investments in zero- and low-carbon hydrogen megaprojects.
More about Air Products.
In this role, you will report directly to the Vice President, Sustainability and will work closely with multiple teams across the organization, incl. Financial Reporting, Internal Audit, Operations, Procurement, Legal, Investor Relations, Communications. Although you will not have direct reports, you will have Project Management responsibilities. Key responsibilities 1. Lead a global cross-functional team to drive preparation for sustainability reporting and assurance under key upcoming frameworks (incl. CSRD, SEC climate disclosure rule, California requirements) Identify key requirements, conduct gap analysis, design and build efficient processes, systems and controls, conduct quantitative modeling as needed, lead readiness assessments with external verifiers. 2. Lead development of annual Sustainability Report and provide thought leadership for its continuous improvement Ensure accuracy and auditability of data and disclosures, crisp narrative and messaging, meeting of evolving requirements of a broad group of external and interna stakeholders. 3. Provide thought leadership on sustainability reporting & analysis Anticipate and identify methodology aspects crucial for sustainability reporting in the next 2-3 years. Benchmark Air Products' performance and reporting practices vs peers, suggest improvement opportunities and orchestrate their implementation. Provide thought leadership to address emerging reporting challenges and opportunities. 4. Act as a thought partner for evolution of Air Products' sustainability strategy and goals, carbon management processes and systems, and commercial activities. Minimum requirements and qualifications
Demonstrated ability to quickly immerse in new subjects and regulatory landscapes, even if they are outside of immediate area of expertise.
Exceptional analytical and financial modeling skills Demonstrated excellence in applying analytical skills to conduct deep dives into financial and non-financial data, with a keen ability to sense for accuracy and consistency. Expertise in identifying discrepancies, anomalies, and trends through analytical review procedures, enabling the early detection and correction of errors in financial and non-financial reporting. Experience in building financial models for scenario analysis, projects' financial viability assessments, trade-off analysis, etc.
Minimum of 5 years of building data collection processes, establishing controls & governance for verification and reporting - in financial or sustainability role at a major international organization, or in a relevant consulting role Proven experience in developing and deploying robust processes for the systematic collection of financial and non-financial data. This includes designing workflows that ensure data accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and compliance with external requirements, as well as leveraging technology solutions to automate data collection where possible. Demonstrated ability in establishing and enhancing controls and governance frameworks to support the integrity and reliability of sustainability reporting. Expertise in identifying control gaps and implementing corrective actions to mitigate risks associated with data mismanagement and reporting errors.
Minimum of 3 years of experience leading financial reporting in an international organization, or equivalent consulting experience. SEC reporting experience preferred.
Track record of successfully managing financial and/or sustainability audits, or 3-5 years of experience in an external audit role at a major audit firm.
Curiosity and general understanding of broader sustainability and energy transition topics.
Preferred: Proven experience in Sustainability reporting Solid understanding of current sustainability reporting standards and frameworks including GHG Protocol, GRI, SASB, TCFD. Minimum of 3 years of experience in managing sustainability reporting for a large industrial organization, or equivalent experience in a consulting role.
Preferred: Understanding of upcoming mandatory frameworks incl. CSRD and SEC disclosure rule.
Preferred: Familiarity with ESG ratings (e.g., MSCI, Sustainalytics, ISS, S&P).
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage with and influence internal and external stakeholders.
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Air Products proudly values the skills, dedication, and leadership that veterans bring to the table. As a veteran-friendly organization, we actively encourage and welcome veterans to apply for various roles within our company. We recognize the unique strengths and experiences that veterans contribute, and we foster a workplace
