Next Gen Producer Ecosystems Senior Lead
Canopy is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial thinker to join the India program as Senior Lead for Next Gen Producer Ecosystems.
This role requires someone who can catalyze industrial ecosystems, support different parts of supply chains to advance together, and can navigate from ambiguity to building and executing shared ambitions from the ground up.
You will focus exclusively on the supply side of the circular/low-carbon economy: pulp producers, paper mills, packaging, converters, and aggregators. You will be the bridge between brand demand and industrial production.
Why This Role Matters
Canopy is at a pivotal moment in our campaigns, and the world is at a critical juncture for stability. We need someone with the ability to move supply chains, not just individual ventures. Substituting lower-impact raw feedstocks into a commodity supply chain requires multiple actors to make decisions and shifts from business as usual, sufficient volumes to be manufactured to achieve economies of scale and diversity of suppliers to meet market expectations. While each business makes individual decisions Canopy approaches these challenges from a sector development perspective giving us a unique role within the ecosystem and latitude to create the “how”. This position will help us translate brand ambitions for a lower environmental impact and more resilient supply of paper and textiles into an industrial reality.
Location
Remote (within 4-hours PST)
Position Type
Full-time, Permanent
Reports To
India Hub Lead
Collaborates With
Next Gen Team; Investment team
Compensation
INR 5,000,000 – 6,000,000
Start Date
ASAP
Application Deadline
July 16
Desired Outcomes
- Build the institutional knowledge for the organization and brands.
- Establish trusted relationships with priority mills and producers who are ready to engage (build or expand Next Gen pulp production) as brand demand materializes.
- Commercialization pathways developed for priority Next Gen materials, addressing barriers to scaling (including those related to aggregating feedstock, infrastructure investment, technology choices, and economics).
- Provide critical supply-side intelligence that informs broader organizational strategy and India Hub priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Primary Focus
- Build and steward producer and manufacturing relationships
- Drive commercialization and scaling pathways
- Support product development and coordination
- Deliver producer-facing convenings and ecosystem engagement
- Develop the ecosystem that hosts a pipeline for commercial pulp production that investors can take forward
Internal Collaboration
- Collaborate with the Pack4Good brand, Producer, and Next Gen teams to ensure brands and producers have what they need on technology confidence, supply chain structure, and pricing — preventing unnecessary green premiums from being layered through the value chain and supporting good choices by producers to meet brand demand
- Work with the Producer and Next Gen teams to identify and map priority producers in target regions of India; understand their customer base, feedstock relationships, and readiness to engage with a cohort of brand customers that Canopy will drive towards the producer partners and a readied supply chain
- Engage with feedstock aggregators to ensure a steady supply of non-wood cellulose is established for each mill that scales non-wood pulp production
- Collaborate with the Investment Team to identify investible projects for scaling production of Next Gen pulp. Support cross-team coordination to ensure supply chains are pre-aligned and ready to present to cohort brands when windows for activating procurement commitment arise
Key Qualifications
Qualifications and Experience
- 10-12+ years of experience in industrial supply chains, manufacturing, packaging, pulp and paper, materials innovation, circular economy, or related sectors
- Demonstrated venture-building experience — someone who has helped catalyze an ecosystem, set up a venture, or scaled a new sector in India (e.g., EV charging infrastructure, textile recycling, agricultural supply chains, or rapid scaling of recycling manufacturing capacity)
- Proven ability to confidently engage directly with producers, manufacturers, mills, or industrial ecosystem stakeholders
- Exposure to commercialization, product implementation, pilot coordination, or industrial scaling processes — someone who understands what it actually takes to move from pilot to commercial production
- Strong project management skills; able to track multiple workstreams, manage competing demands, and maintain momentum across a complex portfolio
- Negotiation and facilitation skills; comfortable managing conversations between parties with differing interests to reach workable agreements
- Strategic thinking with the discipline to stay focused on organizational priorities — able to identify relevant opportunities without being diverted by tangential opportunities
- Entrepreneurial and adaptive problem-solver; comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-moving contexts without a defined road map
- Excellent collaborator; proven ability to work across internal teams and break down silos to advance shared objectives
- Comfort operating in a dynamic environment with multiple moving parts and evolving opportunities
- Passion for environmental conservation, social impact, and mission-driven work strongly preferred
- Embrace a “Yes, AND...” mindset to foster innovation and collaboration (link to https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-does-mean-say-yes-change-jordan-hirsch/)
Key Qualities
- Creative problem-solving and lateral thinking: Ability to connect dots that others don't see and thrive without a roadmap.
- "Go-getter" with an entrepreneurial mindset: Takes ownership, moves fast, and does not wait to be told what to do. You push through complexity.
- Navigational intelligence: Ability to read the room, succinctly pitch a producer in 60 seconds, and navigate complex business hierarchies with confidence and respect.
- Clarity of communication: Ability to make a point, negotiate, and align stakeholders across technical, operational, and ecosystem conversations.
- Non-territorial team player: Low ego. High negotiation skills. Collaborates without silos and puts mission over domain ownership.
This role includes domestic and international travel, estimated at approximately 3–4 trips per quarter (weighted to within India). As Canopy works with partners globally, flexibility in working hours is important to support collaboration across time zones.
How to Apply: Please submit your CV, a cover letter, and a separate response to the prompt below. Applications missing either the cover letter or the prompt response will not be considered.
Cover Letter
A standard cover letter expressing your interest in Canopy and this role, specifically.
Prompt Response
Please answer the following question in a clearly labelled section within your cover letter document: As we deepen our work in India, there is no singular roadmap for scaling Next Gen packaging. Success requires creativity, navigational intelligence, and the ability to build trust with legacy, family-owned, industrial businesses. Choose one of the following scenarios and respond: 1. The 60-Second Pitch: Write your pitch to a skeptical mill owner in rural India who has never heard of Next Gen materials. 2. The No-Roadmap Scenario: A global brand asks you to map their Next Gen supply chain in four weeks. Walk us through your first three specific actions in week one. Please keep your response to 300–400 words.
On AI Use and Authenticity
You may use AI tools to brainstorm, edit, or proofread, but please do not use AI to write your cover letter or prompt response for you. We want to hear your voice, experiences, and perspective, not a polished, generic version generated by a model. If you use AI for minor editing assistance, please add a short note at the end of your prompt response (e.g., "I used [tool name] to proofread this response"). Applications written in a genuine, original voice will be prioritized.
Canopy is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require accommodations at any stage of the hiring process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Canopy embraces equity and diversity and is committed to a workplace that is enriched by the people, needs, and desires of our diverse community. We thank all applicants; however, we will only contact candidates who successfully secure an interview.
For applicants outside Canada, the salary will align with a benchmarked salary band based on location. Please reach out to Anna for more information. We believe in fostering a supportive work environment where employees can thrive. We also offer comprehensive benefits packages, professional development opportunities, and a supportive workplace culture dedicated to environmental conservation. At Canopy, we prioritize the well-being and growth of our team members, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to excel in their roles and contribute meaningfully to our mission.
About Canopy
Our work is bold, collaborative, and rooted in the belief that thriving forests mean a thriving future.
Canopy is a solutions-driven not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting forests, species, and the climate. For 25 years, we’ve been transforming wood-based supply chains - from publishing and packaging to fashion and textiles - to eliminate fibre from the world’s most critical forests and help secure a thriving planet for all.
