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Environmental Innovation SME - Carbon, Chemistry, and Circularity Innovation (3Ci)
AppleCupertino, California, United States$157,200 - $236,7007+ years
Apply Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, great ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish.
The people here at Apple don't just create products — they create the kind of wonder that's revolutionized entire industries. It's the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it.
Apple is seeking a technically grounded, operationally driven innovator to accelerate progress on its Carbon, Chemistry, and Circularity Innovation (3Ci) team. The ideal candidate thrives in undefined territory — someone who can take a high-stakes, ambiguous challenge and turn it into a structured initiative with momentum, while also bringing the commercial acumen to engage suppliers and drive results on cost and scale.
Apple's Environment & Supply Chain Innovation team is seeking an Environmental Innovation SME to drive its growing portfolio of 3Ci projects — spanning novel material chemistries, low-carbon manufacturing processes, supplier technology development, and circular material supply chains.
The person in this seat will be Apple's forward scout on technically complex problems that don't yet have a clear owner, framework, or obvious path. They are capable of driving discussions deep in the subject matter expertise with scientists, engineers, and suppliers — and convert ambiguous opportunities into structured initiatives with clear owners, timelines, and drive these initiatives to scale.
Critically, this role is designed to flex. When the portfolio demands it, this person will step into commercial engagement — leading supplier negotiations, applying should-cost analysis on emerging technologies, and providing the commercial rigor needed to advance 3Ci programs at scale. The ideal candidate is as comfortable in a deeply technical conversation about chemistry topics as they are in discussion as they are in a commercial negotiation.
The role will collaborate across Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Finance, and external suppliers and research partners. It requires someone who is equally energized by deep technical work and by the operational and commercial challenges of bringing that work to market.
- Technical & Commercial Scoping: Serve as Apple’s forward scout for 3Ci technologies. Convert ambiguous climate tech opportunities into structured roadmaps by defining technical milestones, ownership, and scale-up strategies.
- Supplier Sourcing & Evaluation: Evaluate pilot-line capabilities at supplier sites to identify physical scaling bottlenecks and vet advanced manufacturing technologies.
- Commercialization & Negotiation: Partner with Procurement and internal teams to draft, negotiate, and execute Joint Development Agreements (JDAs), proof-of-concept scopes, and pilot programs with early-stage chemical, materials, and hardware startups.
- Financial & Process Modeling: Apply should-cost analysis and Techno-Economic Assessments (TEA) to unproven, pre-commercial manufacturing processes to drive "green premium" reduction and commercial viability.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Drive multi-year project execution across Operations, Environmental Technologies, Finance, and external research partners, synthesizing deep technical findings for senior leadership to secure buy-in.
- BS/BA in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field
- 7+ years of experience in technical program management, engineering, procurement, or supply chain roles
- Commercial acumen — experience with supplier negotiations, should-cost modeling, and competitive sourcing strategies
- Experience engaging directly with R&D teams, scientists, or advanced manufacturing suppliers on technically complex projects
- Proven track record driving initiatives from early-stage ambiguity through to structured execution and measurable outcomes
- MS or PhD in a relevant technical discipline
- Familiarity with circular supply chain challenges, including low-carbon materials, recycled or renewable materials, or novel chemical processes
- Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to synthesize complex technical and commercial findings for senior leaders
- Exceptionally adaptable — intellectually curious, with a demonstrated hunger to learn new domains quickly and apply knowledge across contexts
- Systems thinker who can identify key leverage points across complex, interconnected supply chains and technical portfolios
- Ability to define and drive multi-year project roadmaps, establishing yearly targets and identifying opportunities to accelerate
- Comfortable making sound decisions with incomplete information
- Self-starter with high integrity, sharp attention to detail, and passion for Apple's environmental mission.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (~10–20%)
- MBA a plus