EPR & Product Stewardship Specialist

Position Summary

The EPR & Product Stewardship Specialist will report directly to the Senior Associate General Counsel. As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs rapidly expand across jurisdictions, you will serve as the primary execution resource for EPR, product stewardship, and environmental product/packaging compliance across the United States and Canada, with secondary support for ESG and sustainability compliance initiatives. The position requires hands‑on management of regulatory filings, data collection, consultant oversight, and cross‑functional coordination to maintain compliance and audit readiness across packaging, electronics/batteries, vehicle/boat components, bottle bills, plastics/PFAS, recycling labeling, and other emerging product stewardship programs.

This role will also support the development of compliance policies, procedures, and internal training materials. This position will be based in Springfield, Missouri.

• Execute or coordinate execution of EPR registrations, reporting, and filings across U.S. state packaging EPR programs and Canadian provincial programs; maintain or coordinate maintenance of Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) relationships.
• Coordinate or support other departments in coordinating electronics and battery stewardship and vehicle/boat component programs (e.g., lead‑acid batteries, tires) in the U.S. and Canada.
• Own emerging product stewardship program responsibilities as new regulations develop, including registration, takeback/recycling coordination, data capture, and reporting.
• Implement and coordinate product stewardship obligations, including labeling requirements and handling logistics with Stores/Ops.

• Support governance of environmental labeling and claims (recyclable/compostable marks, chasing‑arrows, "plastic free," "biobased," etc.) in coordination with Legal and Marketing; maintain a substantiation library.
• Monitor plastics and PFAS‑in‑packaging/products regulatory developments and translate requirements into practical design and labeling guidance for packaging and product development teams.

• Build and maintain data flows from PLM/ERP/PIM systems, supplier declarations, and 3PLs; implement EPR tooling, controls, and audit trails.
• Prepare or coordinate preparation of annual fee budgets and quarterly forecasts by state/province; reconcile actuals and prepare variance narratives. (Budget ownership and approval remain with the responsible departments.)
• Maintain audit‑ready evidence files and furnish documentation within established SLAs.

• Manage third‑party consultants, including statements of work, deliverables, timelines, and knowledge transfer.
• Coordinate with external advisors to support regulatory filings, data validation, and program implementation.

• Assist in developing compliance policies, procedures, and playbooks for EPR, product stewardship, and environmental labeling.
• Assist in developing training materials for internal business partners on product stewardship, EPR, and environmental compliance topics.
• Support circularity and takeback pilots with Operations and vendors.
• Coordinate ESG and climate disclosure readiness activities with Finance, including monitoring SEC, California, and Canadian regulatory developments.

• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments in EPR, product stewardship, PFAS, packaging, and sustainability; proactively identify compliance risks and communicate impacts to the Senior Associate General Counsel and internal business partners.

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, sustainability, business administration, or a related field required.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in regulatory compliance, environmental compliance, or a related field, preferably in retail, consumer products, or manufacturing. Experience with product stewardship or EPR programs is a plus.
• Hands‑on experience preparing regulatory compliance reports and filings, preferably across multiple jurisdictions.
• Working knowledge of, or…