Senior Program Manager – GLEC and Strategic Emission Accounting Projects

Job description

⏰ Hours: 40 hours/week 
 ⚓ Location: Amsterdam (hybrid work) Preference is 2 days per week in office location
 ⌛ Starting date:  July/August 2026
       Salary Range: €5,416.00 – €5,833.00 gross per month inclusive of 8% holiday allowance

Are you passionate about reducing the climate impacts of transport, freight, and logistics?

Would you like to work alongside some of the world’s largest companies, NGOs, and industry leaders to help drive the transition towards a decarbonized freight sector?

Stichting Smart Freight Centre is seeking an experienced, strategic, and dynamic Senior Program Manager to lead our Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Program and support a growing portfolio of strategic initiatives focused on emissions accounting, methodology development, and industry alignment, including leadership on initiatives with partners such as SBTi and CDP, that are mission critical for SFC.

This is a highly visible international role that combines program leadership, stakeholder engagement, technical coordination, and strategic project oversight across one of the most recognized emissions accounting frameworks within the logistics sector.

About Smart Freight Centre

Smart Freight Centre is a globally active non-profit organization driving climate action within the freight and logistics sector.

We are enablers for organizations that believe in collaborative action to reduce logistics greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. SFC brings together multinational corporations, freight forwarders, carriers, NGOs, technology providers, and governments through collaborative initiatives, training programs, and global partnerships.

Together, we help organizations solve business challenges related to freight emissions measurement, reporting, and reduction.

Our ambition is to guide industry efforts to reduce freight emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030 and support the transition towards zero-emission logistics by 2050 or earlier.

About the Position

The Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Program is one of SFC’s flagship initiatives and plays a central role in shaping how companies measure, report, and manage freight emissions globally. The GLEC Program also is the base for a community of approved GLEC emissions calculation tools and experts as well as the base for SFC engagement in market-based measures. Expanding the use of primary data in particular in road freight is of particular concern.

The program focuses on all aspects of emissions accounting within the logistics sector, including:

• Maintaining and further developing the GLEC Framework 
• Addressing methodological gaps and emerging industry needs 
• Supporting data and digitalization topics to drive industry alignment in primary data in particular in road freight
• Approving tools for compliance with the GLEC Framework and convening and managing the tool provider community
• Delivering training and knowledge-building activities 
• Supporting alignment across industry and regulatory initiatives 

The GLEC team currently consists of seven technical managers and project managers working across a broad portfolio of international projects and partnerships. This role sits within SFC’s Methods, Standards & Assurance (MS&A) team and collaborates closely with colleagues across our regions, modal programs and communities.

Alongside leading the GLEC program, this role supports key strategic partnerships for SFC including; 

• Managing and coordinating technical input to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to support the development of transport sector standards
• Driving engagement with the Alliance for Clean Air, particularly the Clean Air Fund, to advance corporate action on air pollution
• Partnering with CDP to strengthen transparency and consistency in logistics emissions disclosure, including analysis of industry disclosures.

The primary focus of this position is to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across the many aspects of the GLEC Program and associated strategic projects, ensuring alignment between technical workstreams, organizational priorities, member engagement, and external partnerships.

The successful candidate will work closely with SFC’s Technical Director, CTO, CEO, multinational member companies, NGO partners, and international stakeholders across the sustainability and freight sectors.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the GLEC Program and strategic initiatives, including direct management and coordination of a team of technical managers and project managers. 
• Define and execute program strategy, priorities, targets, and annual workplans aligned with wider SFC organizational objectives. 
• Oversee coordination and prioritization across multiple projects and initiatives to ensure strategic alignment and effective delivery, including SFC’s approach to primary data and related implications on data gathering in identified gap areas. 
• Ensure the GLEC Program continues to provide value and technical leadership to SFC’s global membership community of 220+ organizations. 
• Facilitate and lead technical discussions related to freight emissions accounting, methodology development, and industry alignment. 
• Oversee the annual update-process, rollout and communication of GLEC Framework updates and associated knowledge-sharing activities.
• Shape the future of the GLEC Framework in light of an evolving standards landscape
• Manage strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives related to emissions accounting, including engagement with organizations such as SBTi, CDP, GHG Protocol, Clean Air Fund, HORIZON Europe projects, regulatory bodies, and other global initiatives. 
• End-to-end project coordination on selected initiatives with aforementioned partners such as emerging SBTi sector methodologies or transportation-related research with CDP data.
• Provide day-to-day oversight of program delivery, timelines, risks, governance, and cross-functional coordination. 
• Manage and monitor annual program budgets, including oversight of project budgets managed by project managers within the program. 
• Review and contribute to training materials, assessment tools, case studies, technical publications, and external communications. 
• Collaborate closely with funding, communications, and business development colleagues on program-related initiatives and opportunities. 
• Represent SFC at international conferences, external meetings, industry working groups, and collaborative projects. 
• Provide effective people leadership and line management to team members within the GLEC Program, including supporting employee development, setting objectives and priorities, monitoring deliverables and deadlines, conducting regular check-ins, performance reviews, coaching, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team environment.

As the Ideal Candidate You Will Demonstrate:

• Demonstrated experience in formal people management and line management responsibilities, including goal setting, performance management, employee development, coaching, and supporting high-performing teams. 
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to connect organizational priorities and program strategy to operational project delivery. 
• Strong program and project management experience within complex stakeholder environments.
• Minimum 7+ years of professional experience within sustainability, climate change, freight, logistics, or transport-related sectors. 
• Technical knowledge of emissions accounting methodologies and the decarbonization challenges facing the freight and logistics sector. 
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, including experience working with multinational corporations, NGOs, and cross-sector partnerships. 
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced international environment. 
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts into accessible and engaging content for broader audiences. 
• A proactive, solution-oriented, and collaborative working style. 
• Fluency in English, comparable to a native English speaker. Additional language skills are considered an advantage. 
• Experience facilitating workshops, trainings, or industry engagement sessions is preferred. 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across teams and functions. 
• Motivation to contribute to meaningful climate action and work within a purpose-driven international organization. 

❤️Join a culture of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. What you will get:
At Smart Freight Centre, we believe in collaboration, creativity, and sustainability. We value everyone’s ideas and create a welcoming space where you can grow and make an impact. 
Take time for yourself: Enjoy 27 days of holiday and 10 public holidays to relax, recharge, and do what matters most to you. 
Right where you need to be: Our office is located in the heart of Amsterdam, offering the perfect base for hybrid working. 
Travel made easy: If you’re in the Netherlands, we’ll provide you with an NS Business card, so commuting is one less thing to worry about. 
Bike loan scheme: Prefer cycling? We’ll help you get rolling with our bike loan program. 
Grow with us: We provide learning opportunities; you can keep building your skills and knowledge. 
Care for your mind: Full access to OpenUp means you can connect with psychologists, join mindfulness classes, and explore courses to support your mental health. 
Good times guaranteed: Whether it’s a creative workshop, a fun challenge, or some drinks and bites, join our team-building activities and enjoy time with your colleagues. 

About us