Director Extended Producer Responsibility Compliance

Location: Hershey, PAIdeal location is Hershey, PA; however, we will consider candidates within a reasonable driving distance who are willing to travel to Hershey twice a month for collaboration weeks. How will you fit in the big picture? Reporting to the VP, Global Government Relations, Philanthropy and Corporate Responsibility, the Director, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Compliance leads Hershey's enterprise-wide approach to packaging EPR compliance and readiness. This role translates rapidly evolving regulatory requirements into coordinated business action, with an initial focus on the United States and Canada while monitoring emerging obligations globally. As Hershey's primary EPR subject-matter leader, you will chair the cross-functional EPR Steering Group and partner across Government Relations, Legal, Sustainability, Packaging, Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement, Product Development, Information Technology, and business teams. You will help manage compliance risk, strengthen data and reporting capabilities, assess financial and packaging implications, and enable timely business decisions. You will also provide oversight and direction to the EPR Compliance Coordinator and represent Hershey with producer responsibility organizations (PROs), industry associations, and other external stakeholders. What will you do? Own Hershey's enterprise-wide packaging EPR strategy, scenario planning, governance, compliance roadmap, and operating processes as regulatory and PRO requirements evolve. Lead the Hershey EPR Steering Group, establish priorities and accountability, resolving cross-functional issues, and bringing forward recommendations for key decisions. Direct U.S. and Canadian plastics, packaging, and EPR registrations, reporting, submissions, fee obligations, controls, and audit-ready documentation. Oversee the EPR Compliance Coordinator and coordinate business subject-matter experts to deliver required data, documentation, approvals, and payments. Serve as Hershey's primary contact with PROs and EPR administrators, managing registrations, reporting requirements, data questions, invoices, audits, and issue resolution. Design scalable EPR data governance and reporting capabilities, partnering with IS and ESG data and technology teams on systems requirements, data integrity, controls, and continuous improvement. Partner with Finance on fee modeling, forecasting, budgeting, invoice validation, eco-modulation impacts, and business cases. Develop scenario analyses to inform packaging design, material selection, sourcing, supplier engagement, capital investment, and portfolio decisions. Translate complex regulatory requirements into practical guidance and decision frameworks for Packaging, Supply Chain, Procurement, Product Development, and commercial teams. Partner with Packaging and Sustainability to evaluate packaging choices considering EPR requirements, recyclability, food safety, product protection, GHG and life-cycle considerations, and operational feasibility. Work with Government Relations and Legal to monitor U.S., Canadian, and global packaging policy developments and assess business impacts and implementation risks. Keep executive leadership informed of regulatory developments, compliance status, fee forecasts, business impacts, material risks, and decisions required. Represent Hershey in industry and technical forums and support external advocacy and communications related to packaging EPR, recyclability, labeling, and recycling infrastructure. Build EPR capability across Hershey through effective training, tools, communications, and cross-functional engagement. Manage program budgets, external advisors, vendors, and other resources as needed.

Experience: 10+ years of overall experience, including 5+ years of relevant experience in packaging compliance, environmental or product stewardship, sustainability, regulatory affairs, packaging engineering, or a related field. Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. and Canadian packaging EPR frameworks, including producer registration, reporting, fee structures, eco-modulation, PRO engagement, and compliance administration. Experience leading complex, cross-functional programs in a matrixed organization and influencing senior leaders and stakeholders without direct authority. Experience establishing compliance processes, controls, data governance, documentation standards, and audit-ready records. Strong knowledge of packaging materials, recyclability considerations, material classification, and the business implications of packaging design and sourcing decisions. Strong financial and analytical capabilities, including fee modeling, forecasting, scenario planning, budgeting, invoice validation, and business-case development. Demonstrated ability to manage complex datasets and translate regulatory requirements into system, process, data, and reporting requirements. Strong executive communication, project management, prioritization, judgment, and problem-solving skills. Experience managing external stakeholders, advisors, consultants, or vendors. Ability to travel.

Education: Bachelor's degree in environmental science, engineering, packaging science, sustainability, public policy, business, supply chain, or a related field. Advanced degree or relevant professional certification preferred.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience in consumer-packaged goods, food and beverage, retail, or another high-volume product sector. Experience implementing technology-enabled regulatory reporting or product/packaging data solutions. Working knowledge of emerging global packaging requirements, including recyclability standards, labeling, recycled content, and packaging reduction. Knowledge of life-cycle assessment concepts and recycling infrastructure. People leadership or direct supervisory experience. Experience with European packaging EPR frameworks.