Sr. Manager, Animal Welfare & Agriculture

Position Title: Senior Manager, Animal Welfare & Agriculture

Function: Global Sustainability

Supervisor Title: Senior Director, Sustainability

Location: Toronto, ON

About Sustainability at Restaurant Brands International:

Our Restaurant Brands for Good framework for sustainable business houses our three pillars of Food, Planet, People and Communities, and functions to provide a long-term focus on improving ingredients, reducing our environmental impact, sourcing responsibly, and investing in people and communities.

Our vision is that as a corporation, we believe that the delicious, affordable, and convenient meals you love must be sustainable.

We act in a way that reinforces the importance of operating in a way that supports the well-being of the people touched by our business, as well as the future of the shared planet on which we depend. We believe this is foundational to our ability to grow restaurant brands that are loved around the globe, and we have doubled down on our approach to lead with purpose.

Opportunity Description:

The company seeks a Senior Manager, Sustainability, supporting the execution of RBI’s global sustainability plans. The Senior Manager will assist in strategy development and lead implementation of the company’s sustainability efforts in strategic areas. This includes managing company-wide projects on specific issue areas, namely animal welfare and agriculture and supporting the execution of sustainability goals by other departments/functions. This role with be reporting to the Senior Director, Sustainability at RBI.

Essential Responsibilities:

Strategic Thinking:

• Lead management of RBI sustainability strategy, goal- and policy-setting process for animal health and welfare (meat, poultry, dairy, eggs and other commodities as needed) with industry best practices and regulatory requirements
• Benchmark, synthesize, and communicate external and internal trends and insights; support identification of emerging sustainability issues, and identify opportunities for collaboration and leadership.
• Project Management:
• Manage and execute elements of RBI’s sustainability plan, and oversee project management, facilitation, and execution of goals out by cross-functional departments as well as the regional and global brand teams, as it relates to the topics of animal health and welfare
• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress against animal welfare and agriculture goals and targets.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation in animal welfare and agriculture practices, leveraging industry trends, emerging technologies, and scientific research.
• Lead cross functional projects across all brands globally
• Engage with external stakeholders, including industry associations, and NGOs,
• Support and/or lead cross-functional LT-level engagement, including monthly meetings with brands and regions, monthly meetings with Chief Corporate Officer, and quarterly updates to Audit Committee and Board of Directors
• Communication & Reporting:
• Track and report progress against work plans, including external sustainability commitments, to the Senior Director of Sustainability
• Work in collaboration with the sustainability team to update external RBI communications (e.g. website, annual PDF), disclosures and third-party indices (e.g. CDP), as needed
• Represent RBI in external sustainability collaborations, managing communications with key internal stakeholders as needed
• Work with Communications teams to manage stakeholder engagement (NGO’s, media) requests as it relates animal health and welfare

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Current and clear understanding of sustainability concepts, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, particularly those in the food industry, restaurant-specific a plus
• Additional subject matter expertise across RBI areas a plus, including sustainability management, reporting and transparency, inclusion and diversity, sustainable agriculture and/or supply chain.
• Flexibility and motivation to learn new content, consider new resources, and innovate.
• Project Management expertise is also required

Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to anticipate and solve complex problems and resolve issues independently and proactively / with partnership guidance.
• Excellent organization skills, with strong ability to multitask and ability to prioritize to meet deadlines, and re-prioritize as-needed.
• Ability to develop and maintain excellent professional relationships with a variety of audiences to include various other departments within the brand, RBI business partners, advocacy organizations and issue experts, and franchise partners.
• Excellent communication, presentation and facilitation skills, including communicating and marketing sustainability efforts.
• Ability to synthesize and analyze small and large data sets into useful information, depending on the need.
• Ability to translate complex circumstances and ideas and clear, concise, and supported recommendations
• Ability to influence senior leaders in the organization and across different cross functional groups
• Fluent in both written and conversational English; fluency in a second language an advantage.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs (Excel, Word and PowerPoint).
• High ethical standards and commitment to core values of [RBI core values].
• Capacity to work and thrive in a growing, fast-paced entrepreneurial organization.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and/or highly sensitive situations.
• Ability to lead from the front, middle, and back of a group – team driven.
• Some travel may be required

Education and Experience:

• Undergraduate degree in relevant field, Master’s degree in business, operations, sustainability or a related field a plus
• 6+ years of relevant professional experience in animal welfare and agriculture top-tier consulting firm, NGO working with business, a CSR/sustainability consultancy, or sustainability focused operations or similar role in the private sector, preferably restaurant industry
• Strong understanding of animal welfare principles, agricultural practices, and supply chain dynamics within the food industry.
• Familiarity with animal welfare certification programs and standards as well as industry associations

Restaurant Brands International and all of its affiliated companies (collectively, RBI) are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers that do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, provincial or federal laws, rules, or regulations. RBI's policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities upon request.