Global R&D Circularity Program Manager (f/m/d)

Hitachi Energy is seeking a Global R&D Circularity Program Manager in Zaragoza, Spain, to optimize the lifecycle of transformer products with a focus on sustainability and circular economy principles. The role involves leading R&D projects, collaborating with external stakeholders, ensuring compliance with regulations, and enhancing product recyclability. Candidates should have at least 6 years of experience in circular economy or sustainability. Relocation to specified locations in Spain, Poland, Italy, or Sweden is required.
Description

Within the Hitachi Energy Transformers business unit (BU) we are seeking a dedicated and innovative R&D Circularity Program Manager to join us within one of our Technology Centers. As part of our commitment to sustainability and the circular economy, this role focuses on optimizing the lifecycle of our transformer products and services to ensure minimal environmental impact. The R&D Circularity Program Manager will introduce eco-design principles to enhance the durability, reparability, and recyclability of transformer materials and components. The successful candidate will collaborate both internally across the global product groups (GPGs) and externally with dismantlers, recyclers, startups and academia to drive R&D activities that prioritize efficient material separation, recovery and reuse. Moreover, the R&D Circularity Program Manager will ensure our processes and products align with current and upcoming circularity regulatory and compliance legislations, such as: the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Digital Product Passport (DPP), and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive... ensuring that we not only meet but exceed requirements.

We are looking for candidates located, or willing to relocate to the following locations:
• Spain: Cordoba or Zaragoza
• Poland: Lodz
• Italy: Monselice
• Sweden: Ludvika

Your responsibilities
• Lead and contribute to R&D projects including technology scouting aimed at integrating eco-design principles, enhancing product circularity, including material recovery, innovative recycling technologies and lifecycle assessment
• Conduct feasibility studies and pilot projects to test new circular solutions and coordinate industrialization in manufacturing
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with external stakeholders (e.g. dismantlers, recyclers, external labs, research centers, universities) to enhance circularity initiatives and optimize end-of-life processes for our products
• Maintain up to date knowledge of evolving regulations (e.g. ESPR, EPR, REACH, RoHS, DPP, Take-back-Programs, WEEE...) relevant to circular economy initiatives. Ensure that all R&D circularity initiatives comply with regulations
• Provide guidance and knowledge to internal teams on regulatory requirements and best practices for circularity. Facilitate such information exchanges to envelope best practices among partners to improve recycling and reuse rates
• Collect, analyze, and report data on circularity metrics, including recycling rates, material recovery, and environmental impacts to measure the success of circularity initiatives
• Develop and implement business solutions that connect stakeholders across the value chain for the sustainable management of transformer products
• Assist our corporate teams in updating the sustainability checklist to assure optimal content leveraging within product development with specific regard to eco-design principles
• Actively participate in transformer related external circularity standardization committees and industrial initiatives

Your background
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in circular economy, sustainability, or a related field
• Strong understanding of EU and WEEE regulations pertaining to electronic waste and circular economy and ability to translate into R&D actions
• University degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Sustainability, or a related field
• Proven track record of leading R&D projects and driving innovation
• Strong general quantitative and qualitative analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience working with dismantlers and recyclers in a manufacturing or product development context is a benefit
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate complex information in clear, understandable ways to internal and external audiences
• Ability to work closely with large and complex remote teams and in a multi-country & -cultural environment
• Excellent project management skills with demonstrated capacity to take initiative, structure and prioritize own work, works effectively, independently and deliver on committed schedule
• Strong written and oral communication skills, fluent in English, other European languages are a plus