Kingsland Drinks is a well-established premier independent UK supplier of wine and spirits specialising in providing a complete category solution. Using our consumer understanding and drinks experience, we provide innovative, bespoke solutions to become the partner of choice as we create value for our customers.
Working at Kingsland, a company that is employee owned, means that you can suggest ideas and innovative ways in how we, as a collective run our business. Our most important stakeholder is our members (employees), who have also been key to our success. We have built on our heritage, with a family ethic, and always tried to encourage a positive can-do culture that encourages individual responsibility. We have always valued our members contribution and we recognise that the success of Kingsland has only been possible with everyone’s valued contributions.
Our key objective when we decided on the next step on the journey for Kingsland is for our business to continue to grow and develop and provide security for all our stakeholders. We strongly believe we have created a great legacy that we want to securely hand this on to the next generation and beyond, so the future of the business remains in its own hands. We want Kingsland Drinks Group to be a place people enjoy coming to work and a business our members feel proud of.
We are looking for passionate, professional, and fun-loving candidates to join our expanding business here in Manchester! As we’re accredited in IIP, we are invested in looking after our members and training / developing you to fulfil your careers.
Role Summary:
The Sustainability & Ethics Officer is responsible for coordinating and embedding ethical, environmental and social responsibility practices across the business. The role ensures compliance with relevant legislation, customer requirements and recognised ethical standards, while driving continuous improvement in sustainability performance and supporting the company's long-term ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) objectives.
Working collaboratively with all departments, customers and external stakeholders, the postholder will maintain the company's ethical and sustainability management systems, monitor performance against key objectives, and identify opportunities to improve responsible business practices.
As this is a newly created role, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape its development, influence the company's sustainability and ethical agenda, and make a meaningful contribution to our long-term strategy.
Key Responsibilities:
· Monitor, maintain and audit the company's compliance with ethical and sustainability standards.
· Support external ethical and sustainability audits, ensuring corrective actions are implemented and closed out.
· Develop, review and maintain Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), sustainability and ethical policies, procedures and management systems.
· Monitor changes in legislation, industry standards and customer requirements, ensuring business practices remain compliant.
· Collect and analyse sustainability and ethical performance data, producing regular KPI reports for senior management and customers as required.
· Work with the EHS Officer to support carbon reduction, waste management, resource efficiency and other environmental improvement initiatives.
· Support the business in achieving and maintaining recognised ethical and sustainability accreditations and certifications.
· Work closely with departmental managers to embed ethical and sustainable practices into day-to-day operations.
· Provide guidance and awareness training to employees on sustainability, ethical sourcing and responsible business practices.
· Liaise with customers regarding ethical compliance, sustainability performance, ESG questionnaires and supplier assessments.
· Support customers by providing sustainability and ethical information required for bids and pre-qualification questionnaires.
· Identify opportunities to improve sustainability performance, reduce business risk and deliver measurable sustainability benefits.
· Build positive relationships with suppliers, customers and external organisations to support responsible sourcing and sustainable procurement.
· Contribute to the development and delivery of the company's long-term sustainability strategy.
Person Specification
Essential
· Experience working in sustainability, CSR, ESG, ethical compliance or a related role.
· Good understanding of environmental and ethical legislation, compliance requirements and best practice.
· Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present data.
· Experience producing reports, KPIs and management information.
· Good written and verbal communication skills.
· Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments.
· Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
· Able to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
Desirable
· Experience with ISO management systems (such as ISO 14001).
· Knowledge of Sedex, EcoVadis, B Corp or other recognised ethical and sustainability frameworks.
· Understanding of responsible sourcing and supply chain due diligence.
· Relevant qualification in Sustainability, Environmental Management, CSR or a related discipline.
Key Objectives
· Continued compliance with customer and regulatory ethical requirements.
· Positive customer feedback regarding ethical and sustainability performance.
· Achievement and maintenance of sustainability certifications and accreditations.
· Delivery of sustainability improvement projects and CSR initiatives.
· Accurate and timely reporting of sustainability KPIs.
· Measurable improvements in sustainability performance and progress towards long-term sustainability goals.
The Candidate:
At Kingsland we offer a wide range of benefits:
- Highly competitive salary
- Generous holiday entitlement that increases with length of service
- Company day at Christmas, to share with your nearest and dearest
- Annual profit share based on company KPI’s
- Huge discounts on wine and spirits in our company shop!
- Flexible working options
- Life assurance cover
- A generous thank-you gift if you 'recommend a friend' to work with us too. Lots of people work alongside their loved ones at Kingsland.
- Wellbeing resources, including Mental Health First Aiders and access to an EAP with free counselling. Your wellbeing is a top priority, and there's lots of support at Kingsland.
- Well-being App to help support your mental health
- Health Checks (diabetes/blood pressure, stop smoking advice etc.)
- Training and progression opportunities open to all, including fully funded apprenticeships.
- Involvement with New product development (Wine / Spirit tasting)
- On-site free car parking
- Electric Vehicle charging
- Local Community involvement – Irlam Live ticket discounts and Rugby ticket discounts
We welcome applications from everyone. If you have got the talent, the potential, the drive, and determination there is a place for you at Kingsland Drinks Group.
Pay: £35,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
