HNI Corporation Careers

HNI Corporation is a global family of brands for the workplace and home dedicated to enhancing the spaces where we live, work, and gather. We pride ourselves on fostering an environment where we make a positive impact on others; upholding our beliefs in integrity, inclusion and belonging.  

WHAT WE NEED  

We are looking for a Sustainability Manager to join our HNI team.  The Sustainability Manager sits within the Corporate Legal Team and reports to the Director of Product Compliance and Sustainability.   

This position serves as a subject matter expert on topics such as product chemistry, chemical transparency, lifecycle assessment and End-of-Life (EOL) Management. This role will partner with our marketing teams to accurately describe HNI’s compliance with product certifications. This role will also produce documentation and counsel operations teams regarding product chemistry and life cycle analysis present to clients on HNI’s Corporate Sustainability activities and goals.  

While there is a strong preference for candidates who can travel periodically to Muscatine or for client presentations, this position is eligible to be remote.  

WHO YOU ARE  

Ideally you have experience in both life cycle analysis and product chemistry. However, we understand these are different subjects and we would consider a candidate with experience and technical ability in either area of expertise (chemical or life cycle analysis).    

You are a sustainability professional with experience evaluating products to determine the compliance of their materials with regulations such as Prop 65 and PFAS and with transparency disclosures such as Declare Labels or Health Product Declarations. And, you have experience conducting and analyzing Life Cycle Assessments. You understand the technical requirements and data required for the analysis, you can interpret the results and help to identify hot spots, or areas where we can drive improvement to reduce impacts. You can prioritize LCA activities across product categories to maximize impact. In addition to technical skills, you are an effective communicator and can present to internal and external customers on HNI’s sustainability goals, progress, and practices.    

- OR -  

You are a material scientist or engineer with a chemistry background. You are a subject matter expert on topics such as chemicals used in manufacturing and can suggest safe alternatives for chemicals of concern. And you are interested in transitioning from hands-on research or analysis to corporate-level strategy and communications.  

- OR -  

You have a solid background in life cycle assessment, how to conduct life cycle assessments and reduce impacts of products. And you are interested in transitioning from hands-on research or analysis to corporate-level strategy and communications.  

WHAT YOU WILL DO  

Documentation, Labeling, and Transparency  

• Support the development and strategy for environmental product declarations and product sustainability improvements to lower embedded carbon to meet corporate and customer goals.   
• Support development of corporate restricted chemical lists, prioritize targeted chemical elimination, and drive corporate-level strategy and effort around chemical transparency.    
• Manage and maintain comprehensive chemical inventories, ensuring adherence to regulations such as REACH, RoHS, and California Prop 65.  
• Lead efforts to enhance chemical transparency across the supply chain, collaborating with suppliers to obtain full disclosure of material compositions.  
• Conduct risk assessments of chemicals and materials, proposing safer and more sustainable alternatives when necessary.  
• Lead sustainability-related responses in customer proposal documents, and specific customer sustainability reporting requests, and drive process improvements in this area to increase productivity, e.g. create a searchable FAQ database.    
• Support HNI brand sales and marketing teams by providing customers, dealers, and influencers with the appropriate information on the HNI sustainability position.  
• Manage sustainability data-related customer portals (e.g. Ecomedes, mindful MATERIALS, etc.).  
• Assist in developing and documenting processes, and drive accountability for sustainability within the HNI brands.   

Product Certifications  

• Manage product certifications such as BIFMA Level and Indoor Advantage.  
• Work with product and supply chain teams to gather the necessary data and perform analysis required for certifications.   

Sustainability Strategy  

• Assist brands with setting and executing short-term and long-term strategies, policies, and goals and certifications around chemical transparency, life cycle assessment (LCA), and recyclable packaging, among others.   
• Collaborate with ESG team on scope 3 emissions reductions and alignment with product LCA data and strategy.  
• Partner with R&D, procurement, and manufacturing teams to integrate sustainable practices into material selection and product design.  
• Drive innovation by identifying and integrating eco-friendly materials and processes into the company’s operations.  
• Seek opportunities to improve collaboration with the HNI brand management teams.  
• Prepare and present reports on sustainability performance for leadership and external compliance audits.  
• Stay updated on emerging regulations and industry trends in material science and chemical sustainability.  

WHAT YOU HAVE  

• Bachelor's degree (Master’s preferred) in Sustainability, Environmental Science/Management, Engineering, or Materials Science.   
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with Sustainability, embodied carbon analysis and reduction, life cycle analysis, and/or chemical transparency initiatives.   
• Technical knowledge of product chemistry and targeted chemical elimination.  
• Familiarity with declare labels and/or chemical transparency sheets.  

WHAT YOU’RE GOOD AT  

• Managing complex projects and driving collaboration across a large organization  
• Completing product life cycle analysis, interpreting and managing data sets, and using LCA software (e.g. Sphera)   
• Analyzing and aggregating complex data  
• Engaging stakeholders in multiple roles and levels throughout an organization   
• Utilizing effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.   

We look forward to hearing from you!