Group Sustainability Director

Uludağ Elektrik Dağıtım A.Ş.

Uludağ Energy Group is seeking to expand its capabilities in the area of sustainability with this newly created role and aspires to become a sustainability leader in the country.

As a new hire, the Group Sustainability Director will work collaboratively with the existing teams and colleagues across Uludağ Energy Group and be fully integrated into the senior leadership team of the Group. They will use their expertise in sustainability to drive value, assessing potential risks and opportunities for the Group, and working proactively with divisional heads to continuously improve sustainability performance.

The Group Sustainability Director is required to lead all strategic Sustainability initiatives across Uludağ Energy Group. Furthermore, Uludağ Energy Group is dedicated to operating as a responsible corporate citizen, creating shared value for all stakeholders, and implementing world classenvironmental, social and governance (ESG)standards, including health and safety initiatives across the network.

The key focus of the Group Sustainability Director will be to ensure thatUludağ Energy Groupis operating as the sustainability leader in the Turkish electricity distribution sector.

The role will require the Group Sustainability Director to define ‘sustainability leadership’ culture, develop the Group’s sustainability strategy and objectives, set annual and long-term performance goals, and report on performance to the Group’s senior leadership and the board of directors.

The role is expected to include, but not be limited to, implementing ESG processes to international best practice standards and to comply with local legislation. This involves: 

·       Ensuring, in conjunction with other departments, that policies, systems and processes are in place to:  

maintain high environmental and social standards across the Group, which align with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBDR)Performance Requirements (PRs), which are set out in the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy, 2019; and manage environmental, health & safety and social aspects of the business in compliance with local regulatory requirements and in accordance with best practice, which is likely to include the EBRD PRs, the World Bank Group (WBG) Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines, the WBG EHS for Electric Power Transmission and Distribution, and the CDC Group plc Electrical   Power Transmission and Distribution: Health, Safety and Security good practice note. 

·      Overseeing ESG related budget in conjunction with other corporate functions

·      Proactive community engagement and the development and implementation of a community investment strategy. 

·      Social impact assessment, monitoring and reporting, plus compliance with the ILO Core Conventions and (where necessary) ILO C.169. 

·      Developing and implementing a Sustainability metrics framework that is fully in line with international best practice.

·      Continuous measurable improvement in the Sustainability performance of the Group companies and its contracting relations.

·       Reporting directly to Group CEO it is expected to presenting to the board of directors and Sustainability committee (as a sub-committee to the board) and making recommendations to manage key Sustainability issues and drive value addition opportunities including, preserving and enhancing a social license to operate, preventing environmental incidents and health and safety accidents.  

Management of a diverse, multi-regional, high performing team as appropriate. 

Proven success managing Sustainability program design and implementation for a sizeable complex technical division of either a multinational or a major Turkish corporate of international repute.

Experience overseeing HSE for a multi-site, geographically spread, complex, technical operation.

Prior experience in the electricity distribution sector and experience of EBRD and World Bank Group standards, as described above, is desirable.

This is a senior leadership role within the Group, and the successful candidate will have demonstrated their ability to position themselves as a sustainability expert and build relationships with people at all levels of an organisation and across different teams.

They will bring experience of managing ESG/Sustainability strategy, sustainability reporting projects, and have developed an ability to analyse key risks, identify potential mitigants and implement a sustainability value creation plan across an organisation.

Results orientation and pragmatism, combined with driving ambition to go the extra mile, make short-term impact and set the Group up for long-term, strategic Sustainability leadership in the sector.

 This person will be an excellent presenter and communicator, comfortable with leadership of colleagues and people management, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels with external and internal stakeholders. They will be highly competent at project management with the ability to managing competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines. 

-      10+ years’ practical sustainability experience within a corporate firm.  

-      Prior exposure of working in a leadership role with knowledge of the macro trends and drivers of sustainability.

-     Track record of contributing to sustainability reporting with a good overview of methodologies, frameworks and trends.

-      Proven track record of working with senior management teams, advising on core elements of a business’ sustainability strategy and performance would be advantageous.
-      An accomplished project manager, with a track record of managing multiple concurrent projects. Proven success managing ESG program design and implementation for a sizeable complex technical division of either a multinational or a major Turkish corporate of international repute.

-      Experience overseeing HSE for a multi-site, geographically spread, complex, technical operation.

-      Experience of the electricity distribution sector would be advantageous

-      Fluent spoken and written Turkish and English, and familiar with both Turkish and international corporate culture.