| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Environment, Health and Safety |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of Sustainability |
| Direct reports | Sustainability Executive |
| Experience | 5 to 9 years in sustainability or ESG |
Sustainability Manager 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 Manager
Department: Environment, Health and Safety
Reports to: Head of Sustainability
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Sustainability Manager runs a company's sustainability programmes and ESG data, turning strategy into projects and reliable reporting. They collect and analyse sustainability data, run reduction projects, prepare disclosures, and engage teams and stakeholders. The role reports to the Head of Sustainability. A good sustainability manager delivers measurable progress on energy, emissions, water and waste, produces accurate ESG data for reporting and assurance, and builds sustainability into everyday operations across the business.
Key responsibilities
- Collect, validate and analyse sustainability and ESG data across the business.
- Run projects to reduce energy, emissions, water and waste in operations.
- Prepare ESG disclosures and inputs for the sustainability report.
- Track progress against sustainability targets and report to leadership.
- Support external assurance of sustainability data with evidence and controls.
- Engage operations, procurement and site teams on sustainability actions.
- Benchmark performance across sites and identify new reduction opportunities regularly.
- Manage sustainability initiatives, external partnerships and relevant certifications for the business.
- Build awareness and training on sustainability across the workforce.
- Keep sustainability records, methodologies and evidence audit ready at all times.
Requirements
- Postgraduate in environment, energy or management
- ESG or sustainability certification is an advantage
- Experience in sustainability or environment
- 5 to 9 years in sustainability or ESG
KRAs and KPIs for a Sustainability Manager
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 |
|---|---|
| Target progress | Energy, emissions and resource targets on track against the annual plan |
| Data quality | Sustainability data validated and passing assurance with no major finding |
| Project delivery | Sustainability projects completed to plan and delivering expected impact |
| Reporting | ESG disclosures and inputs delivered on time and accurate |
| Engagement | Site and function sustainability actions completed to the agreed plan |
| Records | Methodologies and evidence kept audit ready at all times |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: ESG reporting software, Carbon accounting tools, MS Excel and Power BI, Data collection systems, Assurance frameworks.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Sustainability Manager, Head of Sustainability, ESG Lead
Interview questions for a Sustainability Manager
- How do you collect reliable sustainability data across many sites?
- How do you prepare data so it passes external assurance?
- How do you prioritise reduction projects with limited budget?
- How do you engage operations teams to act on sustainability?
- How do you track progress against sustainability targets?
- Tell me about a sustainability project you delivered and its impact.
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What does a sustainability manager do?
A sustainability manager runs a company's sustainability programmes and ESG data. They collect and analyse sustainability data, run projects to cut energy, emissions, water and waste, prepare disclosures, and engage teams and stakeholders. They deliver measurable progress on targets and produce accurate data for reporting and external assurance.
What qualifications do you need to be a sustainability manager?
Most sustainability managers hold a postgraduate degree in environment, energy or management, and an ESG or sustainability certification helps. Employers look for experience in sustainability or environment, strong data management and analysis, knowledge of ESG reporting and assurance, and the ability to run reduction projects and engage operations teams.
What is ESG reporting?
ESG reporting is how a company discloses its environmental, social and governance performance, such as emissions, energy, water, safety and governance practices. In India, listed companies file a business responsibility and sustainability report. A sustainability manager collects the data, ensures it is accurate and assured, and prepares these disclosures.