| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Environment, Health and Safety |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Sustainability Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 4 years in sustainability, data or coordination |
Sustainability Executive job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Sustainability Executive
Department: Environment, Health and Safety
Reports to: Sustainability Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Sustainability Executive supports a company's sustainability work with data collection, tracking and coordination. They gather energy, emissions, water and waste data from sites, maintain trackers, support reporting, and help run sustainability initiatives. The role reports to the Sustainability Manager. A good sustainability executive keeps sustainability data complete and accurate, follows up with sites so nothing is missing, prepares clean inputs for reports, and helps keep initiatives on track with reliable coordination.
Key responsibilities
- Collect energy, emissions, water and waste data from sites on schedule.
- Follow up with site teams to close gaps and correct data errors.
- Maintain the sustainability data trackers and dashboards accurately each cycle.
- Prepare inputs and evidence for ESG and sustainability reports.
- Support sustainability initiatives and projects with coordination and records.
- Help prepare presentations and updates on sustainability performance for leadership.
- Keep methodologies and supporting evidence organised and audit ready always.
- Support internal and external assurance by providing the requested data.
- Coordinate sustainability awareness activities and campaigns across the whole workforce.
- Track action items from reviews and follow up to closure.
Requirements
- Graduate or postgraduate in environment, science or management
- Good MS Excel skills
- Interest in sustainability and ESG
- 1 to 4 years in sustainability, data or coordination
KRAs and KPIs for a Sustainability Executive
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Data completeness | Site sustainability data collected complete and on time each cycle |
| Data accuracy | Data validated with errors below the agreed level before reporting |
| Reporting support | Report inputs and evidence prepared accurately by the deadline |
| Follow-up | Data gaps and action items closed within the agreed turnaround |
| Audit readiness | Evidence and methodologies kept organised and audit ready |
| Coordination | Assigned initiatives and campaigns supported to plan |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: MS Excel and Power BI, ESG data systems, Data trackers, Presentation software, Email.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Sustainability Manager, ESG Analyst, Environment Engineer
Interview questions for a Sustainability Executive
- How do you collect sustainability data from many sites reliably?
- How do you validate data and catch errors before reporting?
- How do you follow up with a site that keeps missing its data submission?
- How do you keep evidence organised and ready for assurance?
- How do you prepare a clear update on sustainability performance?
- Tell me about a time your follow up kept a report on track.
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What does a sustainability executive do?
A sustainability executive supports a company's sustainability work with data collection, tracking and coordination. They gather energy, emissions, water and waste data from sites, maintain trackers, prepare report inputs, and help run initiatives. They keep data complete and accurate, follow up with sites, and keep evidence audit ready for assurance.
What qualifications do you need to be a sustainability executive?
Most sustainability executives are graduates or postgraduates in environment, science or management with good Excel skills and an interest in sustainability and ESG. Employers look for reliable data collection and validation, discipline in following up with sites, organisation, and clear communication. It is a common entry into a sustainability career.
How do you grow from sustainability executive to manager?
A sustainability executive grows into a manager by mastering the data and reporting, then taking ownership of projects and analysis rather than only collecting data. Learning ESG frameworks, running reduction initiatives, and engaging site teams builds the skills. A postgraduate qualification or ESG certification supports the move into a manager role.