Technology, infrastructure and investment are accelerating the circular economy, but none create change in isolation. Behind every successful circular business are the people developing the strategy, building the operation, winning customers and turning ambition into execution.

Founded in 2017, RL People specialises in recruitment and executive search across the reverse logistics, circular economy, sustainability and supply chain sectors, connecting businesses with the people they need to build, scale and transform. The business now makes 100+ placements every year, has accumulated 200+ five-star Google reviews and built an audience of 18,500+ followers on LinkedIn.

At the heart of RL People are three things: process, people and partnerships. That means understanding what a business is trying to achieve, identifying the people capable of making it happen and building long-term relationships across a specialist industry.

In circular markets, the value of talent extends far beyond an individual role. Customer and supplier relationships, technical knowledge, market intelligence and years of sector experience all contribute to what someone brings into a business.

Combined with strong processes and industry partnerships, great people fundamentally change what a business is capable of.

Earlier this year, RL Equity was integrated into RL People, bringing its M&A activity and market perspective into the wider business.

Recruitment provides visibility into where businesses are hiring, which capabilities are in demand and where specialist talent is moving. Brokering acquisitions offers another perspective, showing what makes businesses attractive, where buyers see opportunity and what contributes to enterprise value.

The two are highly complementary. Technology, infrastructure, contracts and intellectual property all contribute to the value of a business, but so do the people behind it. Strong leadership teams, specialist expertise, customer relationships and institutional knowledge materially influence how a business is viewed by potential investors and acquirers.

Working across both talent and M&A reinforces the same principle from two different directions. People aren't simply a cost to a business. They enhance enterprise value.

Technology and investment will remain critical to the circular economy, but ultimately it is people who turn those resources into action.

For RL People, the focus is on understanding the businesses, people and wider market shaping the circular economy, and using that perspective to create better outcomes across talent and M&A.

Whether you're hiring, considering your next career move, looking to acquire a business or exploring an exit, RL People wants to hear from you.

Connect with RL People:

📧 [email protected]
🔗 https://www.rl-people.com/ / https://www.rl-equity.com/

Looking for your next move? Explore RL People’s current opportunities here. We’ve also selected the following standout roles from across circularity, sustainability and reverse logistics.

Sustainability Solution Designer
🏢 Lenovo
📍 Farnborough, Hampshire
Apply

Circularity & Green Materials Transformation Lead
🏢 Schneider Electric
📍 London, UK, Paris, FR, or Boston, MA (hybrid)
Apply

Country Returns Manager
🏢 MediaMarkt Turkey
📍 Istanbul, Turkey (hybrid)
Apply

Director, Service Logistics
🏢 Thermo Fisher Scientific
📍 Netherlands (remote)
Apply

Global Returns and Chargeback Lead
🏢 Meta
📍 Sunnyvale, CA
Apply

Senior Program Manager, Trade-in and Certified Pre-Owned
🏢 Google
📍 Mountain View, CA
Apply

Director, Capital Projects
🏢 Cyclic Materials
📍 Toronto, ON (hybrid)
Apply

Director of Circular Solutions
🏢 Revolution Sustainable Solutions, LLC
📍 Dallas, TX
Apply

Inventory & Returns Management Specialist
🏢 Jabil
📍 Austin, TX
Apply

Senior Sustainability Manager - Circular Systems and Innovation
🏢 CHANEL
📍 Singapore or Hong Kong
Apply

Senior Manager, Sustainability Enablement
🏢 adidas
📍 Kwun Tong, Hong Kong
Apply

Refurbishment Circularity Project Lead
🏢 Dyson
📍 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Apply

Business Development Manager - Japan
🏢 Cyclic Materials
📍 Tokyo, Japan (remote)
Apply

RL People recently became a Circular Connect Member and we think you should too.

Join the business network connecting companies across the circular economy. Raise your profile, reach new customers, build valuable relationships and unlock new commercial opportunities.

Discover Circular Connect Membership 👇

Have a superb week and we’ll see you again on Friday!

Cheers to circularity,

#TeamCircularConnect #ConnectingTheCircularEconomy