Senior Sustainability Data & Operations Manager (all genders)

Role: Senior Sustainability Data & Operations Manager (all genders) Team: Sustainability and Compliance team at Zalando, leading strategic initiatives across the pan-European network to minimize environmental impact and drive circular economy practices. Responsibilities: - Own EPR compliance quality end-to-end, holding accountability for the accuracy of Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) submissions. - Act as expert end-user within data platforms (e.g., Databricks) to catch edge cases, audit data quality, and provide feedback to data analysts. - Manage PRO relationships and contracts across 25+ markets, including contract renewals, RFP processes, and tendering cycles. - Lead audit management for sustainability reporting audits, ensuring documentation is defensible. - Operationalize eco-modulation claims by identifying criteria, establishing operational processes, and partnering with data analysts to capture attributes in automated pipelines. - Translate regulation into data specifications and acceptance criteria for EPR reporting. - Support regulatory positioning by providing expert operational feedback on EU legislation. Qualifications: - Deep, hands-on EU sustainability regulatory experience, including managing EPR compliance across multiple European markets. - Understanding of PRO fee structures, waste categories by jurisdiction, and auditor expectations. - Strong technical data literacy, comfortable working with data platforms (Databricks, BI tools) as an expert reviewer. - Strategic process builder, translating regulatory requirements into operational processes and data specifications. - Track record of identifying compliance cost-reduction opportunities (eco-modulation, contract optimization, process efficiency). - Confidence in managing PRO and regulatory relationships, including contract renewals, RFP processes, audit proceedings, and public affairs. - Analytically rigorous and self-directed, building structure in ambiguous environments. - Precise communication skills for requirements documents, position papers, and audit responses. What We Offer: - 27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees (+1 day for every calendar year up to 30 days) - 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners - Family support, including counselling and dedicated services for parents and carers - Company pension scheme - Employee shares programme - Health and wellbeing options, including Wellhub - Mental health support and coaching - Development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review - 2 paid volunteering days a year - Relocation assistance (subject to prior agreement)