Osapiens/EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Project Manager (Contractor)

Macmillan Publishers is seeking a Project Manager who will be supporting the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and production team's EUDR Compliance initiative and will be responsible for the end-to-end planning, execution, and successful delivery of Macmillan's comprehensive EUDR compliance program. As a member of the Project Management Office (PMO), this pivotal role requires a strategic thinker with robust project management skills and a keen understanding of supply chain dynamics and regulatory compliance. The person will lead a complex, cross-functional effort to ensure that all paper and derived products placed on or exported from the EU market meet the stringent traceability and deforestation-free requirements of the EUDR, minimizing business risk and upholding Macmillan's commitment to sustainability. A key aspect of the role will include the onboarding and advancement of EUDR compliance platform, Osapiens. Rapid, seamless data exchange between Osapiens, EU Traces, and our purchasing systems will be crucial for successful delivery.

What you'll do:

• Program Leadership & Strategy:
  
  
  
  • Lead the development and implementation of Macmillan's EUDR compliance strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with global business objectives and sustainability goals.
  • Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, and success metrics in close collaboration with Executive leadership and key stakeholders across the organization.
  • Develop and maintain a detailed project plan, including timelines, milestones, resource allocation, and budget for the entire compliance program.
  
  
  
  
• Cross-Functional Coordination:
  
  
  
  
  • Serve as the central point of contact and orchestrator for all EUDR compliance efforts across affected departments, including Supply Chain, Production, Sales & Distribution, Legal, IT, Finance, and Marketing.
  • Facilitate regular working sessions, workshops, and communication forums to ensure seamless collaboration, information flow, and alignment among diverse stakeholders.
  • Manage interdependencies between various workstreams and ensure integrated problem-solving.
  
  
  
  
• Supply Chain Due Diligence & Traceability:
  
  
  
  
  • Drive the implementation of robust due diligence processes to ensure all in-scope materials (paper, wood products) are deforestation-free and legally harvested.
  • Oversee the collection, validation, and management of required traceability data, including geolocation coordinates, throughout the supply chain.
  • Work closely with procurement and suppliers to ensure their ability to provide compliant data and adherence to EUDR standards.
  
  
  
  
• System & Process Implementation:
  
  
  
  
  • Collaborate with the IT department to assess, select, and implement necessary technological solutions (e.g., SaaS platforms for supply chain compliance) to support data collection, risk assessment, and reporting.
  • Design and embed new operational processes and workflows across relevant departments to ensure continuous compliance.
  • Facilitate and lead technical and operational internal working groups specifically focused on the integration points between internal business systems (e.g., BiblioSuite) and the chosen EUDR compliance platform.
  • Serve as the primary contact for Osapiens, the EUDR compliance platform, engaging with account management on a weekly basis to resolve onboarding and system development issues
  
  
  
  
• Risk & Issue Management:
  
  
  
  
  • Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and compliance issues related to EUDR, developing contingency plans as needed.
  • Monitor regulatory developments and adapt the compliance program to evolving requirements.
  
  
  
  
• Reporting & Communication:
  
  
  
  
  • Establish and manage clear, regular reporting mechanisms on project status, compliance progress, risks, and KPIs to senior management and relevant stakeholders.
  • Ensure all necessary documentation for internal and external audits is meticulously maintained.
  
  
  
  

What you'll bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Environmental Science, Business, IT, or a related field.
• PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification are highly preferred.
• 5+ years of demonstrable experience managing complex, cross-functional projects, preferably in regulatory compliance, supply chain transparency, or sustainability initiatives.
• Understanding of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its implications for businesses is a significant advantage.
• Strong experience in supply chain management, procurement, and/or manufacturing processes within a consumer goods or publishing context.
• Knowledge or experience with supply chain compliance SaaS platforms (e.g., Osapiens HUB, Tracex, etc.) is a significant advantage.
• Exceptional communication (written and verbal), interpersonal, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, from technical teams to senior executives and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate diverse teams in a matrixed organization.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities with meticulous attention to detail.
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving regulatory environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the publishing industry or with paper/packaging supply chains.
• Experience implementing and developing APIs and system integrations
• Familiarity with other ESG regulations (e.g., CSRD, CSDDD, LkSG).
• Experience with change management in large organizations.

This role will have an hourly rate of $90-$110/hour and will be hired through a third party vendor.

Macmillan Publishers is the U.S. trade company that is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned group of media companies headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group's publishing companies include prominent imprints around the world that publish a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats.

U.S. publishers include Celadon Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Flatiron Books, Henry Holt & Company, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, The St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Tor Publishing Group. In the UK, Australia, India, and South Africa, companies in the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group publish under the Pan Macmillan name. The German publishing company, Holtzbrinck Deutsche Buchverlage, includes among its imprints S. Fischer, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Rowohlt, and Droemer Knaur.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are actively seeking job applicants who reflect a broad representation of differences, including race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical ability, neurodiversity, age, family status, economic background and status, geographical background and status, and perspective. We believe that the best companies reflect the incredible diversity in viewpoints, backgrounds, and identities of the world in their staffs, and are committed to inclusive hiring across departments and levels. The successful candidate for this position will be an employee of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.